Just noting that 99% of all alleged Christmas anything we see out there in the public sphere and the music we hear on the radio has nothing to do with the actual religious significance of the holiday. Most atheists even celebrate Christmas in the exact same manner as most Christians out there do- secularly. You all decorate your homes, give gifts, eat tons of food, watch crappy Hallmark movies, and spend time with family.
For the most part, I agree. The"Christmas" most people are celebrating this year, or any before is the secular variation of the holiday. Snowmen, Christmas lights and trees, tinsel... nothing particularly Christian about any of those things. Which is why it's so odd to hear Christians complain about these things being taken out or removed from public display. It's like they want to have their cake and eat it too, and God help anyone that would grant the same amount of time and space to any other holiday that falls during this time year. No, it's gotta be all Jesus all, the time. Everywhere. That's why snowmen on paper cups are so important to the celebration.
There is little to no difference in how most Christians and non-Christians in America celebrate (and we all know many non-Christians DO actually celebrate it as a secular holiday).
Where exactly are you going with this. Both points you've made so far are plainly obvious. All I said was that Christmas is not a season... That's just a fact. The seasons are spring, summer, fall and winter. There's no additional seasons that I'm aware of. Christmas is one holiday that falls on one day in the middle of one of those four seasons. And the only reason it's dragged out so long is for the Almighty Dollar. That is the true meaning of Christmas in the US and the only reason anybody really cares about Christmas outside of Christianity, and even then....
Again, I find it odd that Christians would try so hard to defend such a farce of a holiday, especially when you consider everything the bible says about money and material possessions. Forget about the idolatry and pagan iconography.
I personally call the secular version, "crissmiss." Takes the "Christ" right out of it.
Very few give to the poor and spend time in church partaking of the Eucharist focusing on what makes it a true holy day.
Well that to me, sounds more like a failing of the church. Not something to blame on secularists and non-Christians who aren't under any seasonal obligation to help the poor.
And- Christmas is a season to some of us- one that doesn't occur during the Nativity Fast (what you all call Advent)- but rather for twelve days after until Theophany.
And that's perfectly fine with me.