Is Christmas a religious holiday in the U.S.? Not anymore.

Creche depicting the birth of Christ, or shortly afterward actually.

Is Christmas a religious holiday in the U.S.? Not anymore.
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As the name suggests, the holiday is named after Christ. The ending “-mas” meant a religious ceremony that Catholics today still call the Mass. In English, the Catholic Mass (or celebration) on December 25 was and is to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. This date almost definitely was not the actual birthday but was selected for other reasons. This is how the name was born. Many followers protested against the Catholic Church, so are called Protestants. These churches rejected the rule of the Pope and associated beliefs. The founders of our country were devout Christians, but they were not Catholic.

The vast majority of Americans identify themselves as Protestant Christians. Catholic Christians number less than 25% of non-Catholic Christians. So, Catholics have always been a minority in the U.S. (Please note that I was raised in the Catholic Church but have not followed it for a long time.) Every President of the U.S. has been Protestant, except Catholic John F. Kennedy. Jewish, Moslem, and all other religions comprise only a few percent in the U.S. The U.S. is a Protestant nation.

Children acting in a living creche. They are not Arabs.

But Christmas in the U.S. is not very religious these days, if it ever was. This could be because though Catholics are required to attend Mass on December 25, attending religious services is optional for Protestants. Some church congregations erect tableau that re-enact Christ’s birth in the manger with the farm animals. (see photo)  Sometimes, people use statues of various sizes for the people and animals. At other times, volunteer actors dress up like shepherds and put on a show for the audience. These re-enactments are known as “crèches,” which is actually a French word meaning nursery I think. I once saw a “living crèche” with live animals, including a real camel, sheep, cows, etc.

Crèches are only allowed on church grounds or private property. Government buildings and plazas are not allowed to have the displays, because they are so obviously Christian. Some people put crèches in their front yard, along with a lot of other lights. When I was growing up, we had Christmas lights but nothing like today. Everyone can now have a Disney Christmas in the yard, complete with animated reindeer, capering elves, and inflatable snowmen. The inflatable Santas look so sad by light of day when not operating. Without the cheerful lighting and air pressure in the belly, the sagging, deflated plastic looks like a hung over derelict.

Some neighborhoods urge residents to join annual cooperative lighting schemes. Just before Christmas, after dark, hundreds of people line up in their cars to slowly cruise past the light show. Many towns and cities have their own “Christmas Tree Lane” that is completely lit up with all sorts of lights and displays. As with most things, people can be competitive in a friendly sort of way. Each year the competitors try to exceed each other with novel additions and revisions to their Christmas display.

Christmas in the U.S. means all of this and so much more. Naturally there is shopping for bargains, buying and exchanging gifts, Christmas trees, lots of food and drink, plenty of parties, and usually a family reunion or two. Christmas is the culmination of the year’s holidays, probably the most important one to Americans. Government and businesses are closed on Christmas and everyone stays home or visits family and friends.

From time to time, various religious groups launch campaigns “to put Christ back in Christmas” but with little success. Santa Claus and the Christmas tree favor no special religion or belief, except perhaps, in Christmas spirit. Lots of immigrants set up Christmas trees even if they are not Christians. Some people re-use artificial trees every year, but millions of small trees are raised and cut every year to supply the disposable trees used by most households. Again, this has no religious connection.

Maybe I am wrong, but religion seems to play only a tiny part in the American celebration of the holiday, even though other religions and cultures also celebrate holidays in the last two weeks of the year. These days, I can always feel safe with “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” This expression does not assume the other person actually celebrates Christmas on December 25, yet still communicates good will and friendliness. “Holidays” includes both December 25 and January 1, so it is not religious. But then, I will have really “taken the Christ out of Christmas” and will be left with merely Happy Holidays. At least I will be politically correct.