Christmas still means something bigger

There are 10 official federal holidays, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. They range from the controversial (Columbus Day) to the benign (Washington’s birthday, a.k.a. Presidents Day), while all but one are essentially of a secular nature.

Only Christmas is steeped in organized religion, as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And while it’s still a deeply meaningful holiday for millions of Christians, it’s more secular every time it rolls around.

You’d think that, in a nation that’s three-fourths Christian, it would be the most sacred of all U.S. holidays. Perhaps it once was, but I’d say that’s a stretch nowadays. Instead, it has become more of an economic stimulus, supporting retail and entertainment as no other holiday does.

A few years ago, a survey was taken to gain insight into how contemporary Americans views Christmas, and the results might surprise you. Or, maybe not.

The survey was done by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank that collects data and provides information about a variety of social and political issues in the U.S. The poll found that more than 90% of adults would be celebrating Christmas but only about half of them considered it a religious holiday.

Christmas has become more of a social and family holiday more than a religious one. And regarding Santa Claus — a secular interpretation of Christmas if there ever was one — about two-thirds of the households surveyed said they’ll “pretend” Santa will be visiting their home on Christmas Eve — if they have a child in the house. In households without a kid, one in five will celebrate Mr. Claus.

One of the more telling findings from this survey — one that projects our national direction when it comes to valuing Christmas as a holiday — is that young people see it as a cultural holiday more so than older people. Only about a third of adults under age 30 see Christmas as a religious holiday, while two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older see it that way.

The rise in consumerism is undoubtedly a big reason for the secularization of Christmas. While a lot of people still view it as “the season of giving,” for others, it’s more of a time for receiving. Sure, Americans — who are typically generous people — buy tons of presents for friends and family, but we’re also spending more on ourselves. One estimate is that we spend an average of $270 per child for Christmas, while spending another $135 on ourselves.

Given this context, I suppose it’s no surprise that some believe Christmas is under attack. To them, “Happy Holidays” is replacing “Merry Christmas” as the season’s greeting, and that offends them.

But, really, aren’t we all to blame for the secularization of Christmas? Even Thanksgiving, a quasi-religious holiday that’s supposed to be a day of gratitude, has become more of a holiday for aggressive consumerism. Let us give thanks, we seem to be saying, to the Almighty Dollar.

Nevertheless, I’m still touched by the spirit of generosity that shows itself during the Yuletide. I like the old Christmas movies, far-out fantasies and all, the music — and especially the kids and their belief in magic and love and the better side of everyone. I can still feel the presence of something bigger, something that has no price tag on it, bringing joy into our lives.

Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico Community News Exchange. Contact him at:

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