Some may do this, but I believe most simply want to have a celebration at the end of the year, and don't want their kids to feel left out while all the gentile kids are having their orgy of consumerism. At least that's the way it was when I was growing up.
Well, that's pretty damned insulting. I have never thought of CHRISTMAS as an "orgy of consumerism." Thank you for your kind words about my religion and our customs, perhaps you and the Rabbi are related?