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Because it's always the first step. Next'll come the claim that those who celebrate Christmas are pagans. You've seen the influence these folks have had on Halloween. When I was a kid growing up in the South, we went trick-or-treating every year, as did all the other kids in the neighborhood. Now the fundamentalist preachers rale against Halloween as a "pagan holiday" and hardly anyone around here trick-or-treats any more; a number of parents of my acquaintance refuse to allow their kids to dress up "in honor of a pagan diety."

Christmas is the one season of the year I feel like a kid again. I love the lights and the music and the feeling of peace and joy which permeate the world. With the publication of this article I can see the handwriting on the wall for the season. There are folks out there who will not be happy until everyone is as miserable as they are.

I tend to agree with you, Junior. At first, the left would try go tear down traditions (especially if they had any religious/spiritual connection) and then some people from the "religious" right got started, but from a different perspective.

I'm a Christian who grew up celebrating both Halloween and Christmas. Still do. I love the Christmas music, the decorations and the stories of Santa Claus, all the while celebrating the religious aspect as well. Just because the holiday has a religious meaning to me doesn't mean that I can't enjoy some of the other elements I just described. This goes for Halloween as well. I used to dress up and go trick-or-treating and still went to church on Sundays. The idea that celebrating Halloween makes one a pagan is just ridiculous.

I thought it was the left that was excessive in their political correctness. They act as if wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" is the equivalent of a racial slur. Now we have to worry about those on the "religious" right (notice my quotation marks).

So in summary, I'm a Christian that celebrates all the aspects of Christmas and has fun doing it. Just like millions of other Christians. I'm not concerned what the left or far right says. I enjoy it. At least until someone bans it.

Christmas is what it is. It definitely has pagan origins and this info is not new - it's been out there for years. But I doubt Christmas will ever take on the negative connotations that Halloween has, simply because Halloween has some truly evil aspects involving pretty icky stuff, much of which has carried over into celebrations today. Think about it - I suppose it's fun to be scared sometimes, but witches and goblins and skeletons etc are not really pleasant little kid fare.

If Christians feel convicted to refrain from traditional Christmas celebration (and I know some that do, in fact I went through some very serious soul-searching myself), that's their prerogative. In our family, we have a tree and plenty of gifts (with the emphasis on the GIVING and those who have little, such as our Colombian child we sponsor), but our focus is to continually remind our daughter (5) and son (almost 2) that Jesus gave us the best gift of all. We have chosen to tell her that Santa is just a story that came out of a really nice man named St Nicholas who lived a long time ago, but Jesus' birth really happened. She's fine with that, gets to enjoy the magic of Christmas while celebrating Jesus' birth.

Anyway, celebrate however you see fit. I love the lights and the music and good will too. No one will ruin it for you, I promise. :)

My whole household is totally free from this tradition and not only happy all year round, but full of His joy. And we do not judge Christians who celebrate this season, to each is given a measure of faith and responbility. In my case, much understanding has been given and much is required. You and thousands must do what you must do, enjoy Christmas, feel really good, all is fine as long as you haven't gotten His call to stop it. That does not mean that the Truth should be knocked down, for you might be battling with the King of Glory. When Christ affects you deeply and you get into a relationship with Him, there will be "feeling good", joy, love, enjoying like a child, a giving heart and so on on a 24/7 year round. That's the true miracle of His having come as a human baby the first time.