Because most of us have grown up with associating Christmas with a Tree, as children we knew a Christmas tree meant that soon we would have presents to open up very soon! we have lost sight with with the true meaning of Christmas. As my favorite holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life, conveys a message to George Bailey from the Angel, *No Man is a Failure who has Friends* Love Kindness and doing for other's would be Jesus's message IMO on why we should celebrate his birth.
Well it's pretty hard to have celebrations without symbols. Maybe we should be happy about this story then?
(soap-box)
"It's a Wonderful Life" is NOT a "Christmas movie"!!!!
(off soap-box now...) ;-)