Celebrating Christmas has NOT always been an American tradition. In fact in the early days of America the leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony so disdained Christmas that in 1659 they passed a law prohibiting the public celebration of the holiday, punishing "anybody who is found observing [it], by abstinence from labor, feasting, or any other way." The law was repealed 25 years later, but the prejudice against Christmas remained strong. Judge Samuel Sewall was delighted to be able to report in his diary in 1685 that he did not see a single person celebrating the holiday. Following the American Civil War retailers began to see in Christmas the opportunity to market their merchandise. Until the retailers got involved the holiday attracted little of the attention it does now. It was retailers who made Christmas exciting. It was they who turned Santa Claus into a national icon. Montgomery Ward gave us Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer. Coca-Cola helped popularize the smiling Santa. Retailers discovered the commercial possibilities of Christmas after the Civil War. Only then did newspapers regularly begin to feature advertising sales associated with the holiday. (George Mason University's History News Network - http://hnn.us/articles/479.html)
Thus I process slowly my feelings against the ACLU and others for “trying to take Christ out of Christmas...!” After all, CHRISTIANITY grew, and still SEEMS TO GROW BEST, when UNDER PERSECUTION. Witness the growth in New Testament times. Perhaps these much publicized “remove the Ten Commandments” and “no crèche scenes in our public square,” are actually beneficial for Christianity.
Alas, for me I still get upset... after all “Christ is the reason for the season.”
Blessings and Merry Christmas from Bill and Charliece
