Results: Have Yourself A Very Merry (Secular or Religious) Christmas!

Christmas has become more and more a secular holiday celebration than a purely religious one. Although Christmas is celebrated by virtually all Christians (96%), only two-thirds see it as a religious holiday. They are less likely to attend Christmas religious services and to believe in the virgin birth. And most non-Christians see the holiday as more of a "cultural" event than a religious occasion. Do you celebrate Christmas in your home?

As a Jewish child, growing up, we always "adopted" the secular meaning of the holiday, and gathered together on Christmas day, exchanging gifts, feasting on a huge dinner with family and friends, enjoying the time together. We didn't equate the holiday in any way with God and certainly not with Jesus. Most of the classic songs and movies that celebrate Christmas don't even mention God or Jesus. Santa doesn't check church attendance to decide whether he's going to give a child a present—he checks whether she's been naughty or nice. He's the perfect secular judge of moral fiber. We grew up believing that if we were good--did our chores, were kind to our friends and family, didn't lie or hurt anyone--we would get on that Santa list. Which of these symbols of Christmas do you think best represents Christmas to you?

Secular Christmas references, movies, stories and songs have become increasingly popular due in part to the adoption of the holiday by many non-Christians who celebrate the holiday. Here are just a few of the many secular Christmas stories that are popular this time of year. How many are you familiar with?

Of course, every year, many complain about the replacement of the word "holiday" in place of Christmas as in "holiday tree" or "holiday concert". My thinking is that because many do not celebrate Christmas in any way, sometimes it is more appropriate to use the word "holiday", but not all the time. After all, school concerts celebrate many different holidays at this time, not just Christmas. And the two weeks off for a school break is not just for children who celebrate Christmas, but for all children attending school. But yes, I do agree that Christmas should still be used as a greeting. It does not bother me when someone says "Merry Christmas" -- I say it right back. It is a Christmas tree. It is a Christmas carol. Which of these do you agree should be kept "Christmas" and not "holiday"?