Christmas Holiday: Against The Establishment Clause?

[jankren]

So why USA only grants holiday for Christmas? Why not other religious celebrations? Doesnt this count as favoring one religion over the others?

I mean even in Indonesia we have holidays for all the major religions: Ramadhan (Islam), Christmas (Christianity), Confucius Day (Chinese Buddhism) and Silent Day (Hindu).

[Mythos]

So why USA only grants holiday for Christmas? Why not other religious celebrations? Doesnt this count as favoring one religion over the others?

There is the alternative of no religious celebrations at all. Perhaps you should be happy for what you have?

[Mithie]

I think we've reached the point of commercialization where Christmas no longer has any religious connotations attached to it.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

I think we've reached the point of commercialization where Christmas no longer has any religious connotations attached to it.

Basically. Christmas is no longer a Christ mass, its a crazy holiday with Santa Claus and Christmas trees.

[AqD]

We celebrate in Christmas too, and most people don't even know why
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[Rich86]

There is the alternative of no religious celebrations at all.

And there is an alternative of having a holiday for each of the established religions? He has a very valid point - the establishment clearly favours one religion above the overs.

[Yorkshireman]

And there is an alternative of having a holiday for each of the established religions? He has a very valid point - the establishment clearly favours one religion above the overs.

In the majority of countries in the world, a nations, state, official or predominant religion is normally favoured. Whats so strange about a predominately christian country, founded by christians, favouring christianity above other religions.

[Juvenal]

Although not explicitly stated, I would imagine that the Establishment Clause was assuming "Religion" to mean "Christian Denomination". It was aimed at preventing the creation of a State Church in the USA akin to the Church of England. Many of the New England colonists were non-conformists who had come to America to escape the restrictions of the union between English Church and State, so they obviously didn't want a new one created.

[AngryTitusPullo]

In the majority of countries in the world, a nations, state, official or predominant religion is normally favoured. Whats so strange about a predominately christian country, founded by christians, favouring christianity above other religions.

What's strange because a country that promotes equality regardless of religion and races are unable to accept holidays/celebrations for followers of other religion rather than the dominant ones.

[Trey]

What's strange because a country that promotes equality regardless of religion and races are unable to accept holidays/celebrations for followers of other religion rather than the dominant ones.

I can tell you've never been in the USA during Christmas time. If the Christmas (actually "holiday") season resembles anything remotely religious, you can kick me in the balls. If it doesn't, well, .

I've realized why I get so frustrated here sometimes: No one will ever admit they're wrong.

[the_mango55]

So why USA only grants holiday for Christmas? Why not other religious celebrations? Doesnt this count as favoring one religion over the others?

I mean even in Indonesia we have holidays for all the major religions: Ramadhan (Islam), Christmas (Christianity), Confucius Day (Chinese Buddhism) and Silent Day (Hindu).

Christmas holidays are also a good excuse to give your students/employees a break so they won't be overworked, while also knowing that all the other companies out there are giving their employees a break, so you won't fall behind.

If you want to take a day off for another religion, most places are fine with it.

[Garrigan]

I dont see a problem with it really. It is (like said above) a predominantely Christian country, founded by Christians.

A while back the Local Council of a Birmingham borugh banned calling Christmas lights, "Christmas lights" and asked for them to be called "Winter Lights" or "Holdiay lights" because of Birminghman's fairly large Muslim population. This in fact severely pissed off (quite rightly) most of the local muslim leaders, as they didnt like being painted as intolerrant to England's tradiotional religious views.

I just think that if there was a holiday for every religion, it'd get religious, and if you didnt. How would you pick the one's that did? 5%+ of the population subscribe to said faith?

[Moosferatu]

I dont see a problem with it really. It is (like said above) a predominantely Christian country, founded by Christians.

A while back the Local Council of a Birmingham borugh banned calling Christmas lights, "Christmas lights" and asked for them to be called "Winter Lights" or "Holdiay lights" because of Birminghman's fairly large Muslim population. This in fact severely pissed off (quite rightly) most of the local muslim leaders, as they didnt like being painted as intolerrant to England's tradiotional religious views.

I just think that if there was a holiday for every religion, it'd get religious, and if you didnt. How would you pick the one's that did? 5%+ of the population subscribe to said faith?

I remember last Christmas on GMTV (I only watched it for the weather ) there was a story, feature, whatever about them banning nativity plays in some schools. Most people thought this was a right farce, and it had a few political correctness gone mad supporters worrying of other religions getting offended about it. The funny part was there was a huge amount of non-christians, particularly Muslims, texting and emailing in saying that they thought navity plays were good and shouldn't be banned because it helped their children learn about other religions, amongst other things.

[Garrigan]

Heh. Thats typical.

Although, that would never happen where I live, waaay too conservative. Most people here are offended by those "Dirty, foreign Poles"

[Pivra]

I got mad at my lil bro once cuz he wanted to celebrate Christmas... lol.....

[Garrigan]

meh, I'm with South Park about Christmas, without the commercialism it'd be nothing for me

[Serious Spamurai]

Technically Christmas and Easter are regional-cultural celebrations, and not religious, considering there were festivals celebrated at those times in most Pre-Christian religions across Europe.

[Pivra]

I... personally believe..... that.....the US America ..... should....have Christmas_______so that_____the people___in the Iraq___and South Africa___and the Asian countries___ and such as_____can have maps...

[MaximiIian]

So why USA only grants holiday for Christmas

It doesn't. There are over ten major Federal Holidays, and dozens more Public Holidays. Christmas particularly is used because it's a cultural thing, and a hugely important part of the fiscal year. Christmas is a major economic holiday.

Why not other religious celebrations?

The national government doesn't recognize any religious celebrations. Christmas is a Federal Holiday celebrated for valid secular reasons, mainly cultural and fiscal. Supreme Court ruled on it in 1999.

[MaximiIian]

Personally, I wouldn't want to be inundated with Christian religious imagery and stuff around that time either. Secularization of Christmas is the way to go. At least in terms of public establishments, like public schools, government offices, etc. As shown by the SCOTUS in 1999, Christmas is a valid secular holiday.

Anyway- I still celebrate Christmas as a family thing. So does the rest of my family, and the majority of them are atheists and agnostics. We ignore the Christian religious stuff and just deal with the secular edge of it.
Myself, being Wiccan, I celebrate Yule four days prior.