Thank you all for this illucidating conversation on Christmas! This is my first post.
I am atheistic. But I grew up with Christmas and have a very dim view of those who try to remove that title from this celebratory day!
Personally I don't make a big day of it! I grew up poor and have never become rich though I support free enterprise. I am a musician who provides for himself and am happy with that. So celebrating by giving gifts - well, I'd rather give gifts when I want to than when some community appointed day suggests it. But I like the idea that by bringing a green tree inside we preserve life that has pretty much gone dormant in the nature ouside. (I live in the Northeast) And the candles, too, are to me a symbol of that life. And then we have the beautiful music. Christian or not - this art, is awe inspiring, even if I sometimes have to choke at certain texts! I grew up with it and it's uplifting in a nostalgic as well as artistic sense.
I've been with older folks in an assisted living facility who were told to call the Christmas tree a "Holiday tree". Hey - C'mon let's let them have their joy!