Interesting fact I just learned about Christmas in America.

[frazzled]

11. And then there are a lot of us who do not celebrate Christmas at all today

We are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, etc. And we've been here throughout the history of the nation as well.

It's true that we are a "Christian nation" to the extent that apparently 70% of Americans identify as being "Christians." So there should be a national holiday, and we should respect that a majority of Americans celebrate it in one way or another. Of the 30% of us who are not Christians, a good percentage are atheists or "no religion." Whether they celebrate Christmas in a secular way or not, I suppose varies.

But many of us, honestly, do not celebrate the holiday either religiously or secularly. At all: we go to a Chinese restaurant or a movie or stay home and watch tv or read books. Yet we enjoy the season with our Christian friends by wishing them well, by giving gifts to close friends or office mates, and sometimes even going to friends' houses for dinner, when invited (in return, we invite them to our houses to enjoy latkes for Hanukkah, for instance).

So whatever. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Who honestly cares? It's just like saying "Have a nice day." It doesn't mean a thing either way except wishing someone well.