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To me, it's the separation of two ideas I have about the holidays:
The "holidays", aka the secularized Christmas, other religious/non-religious holidays, and New Years, are a time to get together, be merry, and to make a lot of cookies and eat a lot of food. It's a time to buy gifts and give gifts, and to receive said gifts. It is a time to put up a decorated tree, lights around the house, and festive decorations. The "holidays" are largely secular--they are Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, etc.
Christmas, to me...the actual HOLIDAY of Christmas, is about the birth of Christ. That piece is separate from the "holidays". It's about realizing what I have received through my faith. To me, it's a time for spiritual reflection and thanksgiving.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas in a religious manner, and that's fine. The fact is that we have to recognize that not everyone celebrates Christmas, religion or no, and as members of a multicultural society we have to find a middle ground. Personally, I don't care one way or another if someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, because to me there's little distinguishment as the majority of the population means the secularized Christmas.
I'm sure this post didn't make a lot of sense...but in my heart Christmas and the celebration of it (in the religious/spiritual sense) is a deeply personal thing.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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