Merry Christmas Holiday

“The establishment of Christmas as a national, legal public holiday by the government enhances the status of Christians in our society and diminishes the status of non-Christians.” Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. Some people consider aspects of this religious holiday, such as giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree, to be secular rather than explicitly Christian. Most American holidays recognize events or people from U.S. history, although two are shared in common with many other countries: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Private businesses often observe only the “big six” holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). The holiday season in the winter traditionally runs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, which encompasses the Winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Pursuant to the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 (taking effect in 1971), official holidays are observed on a Monday, except for New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

In the U.S., most retail businesses close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but remain open on all other holidays.

Neither are private employers required to observe federal or state holidays, although many businesses will close at least for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and Christmas Day are observed on the same calendar date each year, unless one falls on a weekend. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are observed on the previous Friday, and those that fall on a Sunday are observed the following Monday.

Some public schools in the U.S. re-name the vacation taken near and after Christmas “Winter Holiday” or “Winter Break”, to avoid the implication that all students are obligated to observe Christian or nominally Christian holidays.

Generally the president will provide a reasoning behind the elevation of the day, and call on the people of the United States to observe the day “with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” There is no requirement that business or government close on these days, and many members of the general public may not be aware that such holidays even exist. Holidays proclaimed in this way may be considered “national” holidays, but are not “federal” holidays. Constitutionally, there are no “national holidays” in the United States because Congress only has authority to create holidays for federal institutions (including federally owned properties) and employees, and for the District of Columbia.

Not all of these are observed ‘federal holidays,’ but rather popular holidays or days of festivities commemorated by most Americans. Other federal holidays include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day. Of the aforementioned national holidays, Christmas is by far the most popular and most widely celebrated holiday - not only in the United States, but around the globe.

The wonderful diversity of foods, music and songs, prayers and stories all make Christmas the holiday of holidays in the United States. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are the busiest times of the year at airports, train stations and bus depots. All America is on the move and Americans are on their way to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Norwegian “Berlinerkranser” is a wreath-shaped cookie, dozens are made, but few are left by Christmas morning! Candy doesn’t remain for long, either, during the holiday weeks. Hard candies such as peppermint candy canes and curly green and red ribbon candy are traditional gifts and goodies. Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Going home for Christmas is a most cherished tradition of the holiday season.

Of the 75 million people crammed mostly along the banks of the Nile River, approximately 15 percent are Christians”mostly Coptic Orthodox. Along the streets of Cairo, holiday lights and decorations commemorate Christmas and the Muslim majority goes out of its way to share in the holiday spirit just as many Christians do during the month-long celebration of Ramadan. Journalists are often invited to company iftars (the meal to break fast) as a way of networking and exchanging in the holiday spirit. While this is an absolutely comical (and unusual) incident, Christmas is by no means a laughing matter in the Arab world’s most populous nation.

LYNCH is said to signify a reduction in the separation of church and state, and provide instead a constitutional mandate for the “accommodation” of religious belief. Mr. Ganulin, a city solicitor for Cincinnati, denied that he was the “grinch” portrayed in the news media, or that he was trying to “steal Christmas” as one newspaper columnist suggested. He declared that any celebration of Christmas should be personal, and not treated as a federalized holiday.

The majority expressed the opinion that instead, the holiday collage of symbols depicted “historical origins” of Christmas and served a secular purpose.

Although largely considered a Christian holiday, Christmas is also observed as a cultural holiday by many non-Christians. Easter is another traditionally religious holiday when Christians celebrate their belief that Jesus Christ was rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and your local Christmas Tree professional.