I think Christmas should be regarded as two separate holidays that happen to have the same name and occur on the same date. There is the secular/pagan celebrati

I think Christmas should be regarded as two separate holidays that happen to have the same name and occur on the same date. There is the secular/pagan celebration, which gives everyone an excuse to put up lights, bring green things into our homes, visit friends and family and generally brighten up a dark time of year. Then there's the religious holiday, which has its own customs and traditions. If anything, the commercialization of Christmas is ruining the secular holiday, by changing its focus to consumerism, when it should be about merry-making. The religious traditions, which take place in churches and in homes, are well-insulated from the other Christmas taking place outside.