Christmas and Separation of Church and State

[dellinger63]

I understand the atheist complaint of not wanting a nativity scene on Government property but why no complaints of Government Offices and Schools being closed?

It's the perfect year to keep congress in session and the president in DC.

BTW Tuesday December 25th would be a perfect day to renew my license plates at the DMV on my way to Christmas dinner. Shouldn't be too crowded that day.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I understand the atheist complaint of not wanting a nativity scene on Government property but why no complaints of Government Offices and Schools being closed?

It's the perfect year to keep congress in session and the president in DC.

BTW Tuesday December 25th would be a perfect day to renew my license plates at the DMV on my way to Christmas dinner. Shouldn't be too crowded that day.

[Antitrust32]

Happy Holidays Dell!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Happy Holidays Dell!

You too. Can't wait for them to be over.....

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

You too. Can't wait for them to be over.....

i'm going up to PA to spend them with the fam. Excited for that. I've spent about 2 total days with my parents in the past 14 months, so it will be good to see them.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

i'm going up to PA to spend them with the fam. Excited for that. I've spent about 2 total days with my parents in the past 14 months, so it will be good to see them.

That's cool. Had my bro in from Miami for T-Giving and that was awesome. Fortunate enough to see my mom about once a week. My dad I haven't seen in 23 years and I'm thankful and blessed for that. Holidays have never been the same since my G'ma and G'pa died.

Enjoy

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I understand the atheist complaint of not wanting a nativity scene on Government property but why no complaints of Government Offices and Schools being closed?

It's the perfect year to keep congress in session and the president in DC.

BTW Tuesday December 25th would be a perfect day to renew my license plates at the DMV on my way to Christmas dinner. Shouldn't be too crowded that day.

Because it's a legal secular holiday in the eyes of the gov't, proposed by Congress and signed into law by Ulysses S Grant:

An Act making the first Day of January, the twenty-fifth Day of December, the fourth Day of July, and Thanksgiving Day, Holidays, within the District of Columbia. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following days, to wit: The first day of January, commonly called New Year's day, the fourth day of July, the twenty-fifth day of December, commonly called Christmas Day, and any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States as a day of public fast or thanksgiving, shall be holidays within the District of Columbia, and shall, for all purposes of presenting for payment or acceptance of the maturity and protest, and giving notice of the dishonor of bills of exchange, bank checks and promissory notes or other negotiable or commercial paper, be treated and considered as is the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and all notes, drafts, checks, or other commercial or negotiable paper falling due or maturing on either of said holidays shall be deemed as having matured on the day previous. APPROVED, June 28, 1870 by President Ulysses S. Grant.

Fun facts, Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a holiday, in 1907. Alabama was the first, in 1836.

While the majority of Americans are Christian and celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, in the eyes of the US government it is, technically a secular national holiday for reflecting on the philosophy of "good will towards men."

So, really, when you wish someone "Happy Holidays" you're actually acknowledging the religious holidays this time of year, while "Merry Christmas" can be taken as a secular greeting, much in the way "Happy 4th of July" or "Happy Thanksgiving" is. Don't tell the Religious Right.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Because it's a legal secular holiday in the eyes of the gov't, proposed by Congress and signed into law by Ulysses S Grant:



Fun facts, Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a holiday, in 1907. Alabama was the first, in 1836.

While the majority of Americans are Christian and celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, in the eyes of the US government it is, technically a secular national holiday for reflecting on the philosophy of "good will towards men."

So, really, when you wish someone "Happy Holidays" you're actually acknowledging the religious holidays this time of year, while "Merry Christmas" can be taken as a secular greeting, much in the way "Happy 4th of July" or "Happy Thanksgiving" is. Don't tell the Religious Right.

[Crown@club]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Because it's a legal secular holiday in the eyes of the gov't, proposed by Congress and signed into law by Ulysses S Grant:



Fun facts, Oklahoma was the last state to recognize Christmas as a holiday, in 1907. Alabama was the first, in 1836.

While the majority of Americans are Christian and celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, in the eyes of the US government it is, technically a secular national holiday for reflecting on the philosophy of "good will towards men."

So, really, when you wish someone "Happy Holidays" you're actually acknowledging the religious holidays this time of year, while "Merry Christmas" can be taken as a secular greeting, much in the way "Happy 4th of July" or "Happy Thanksgiving" is. Don't tell the Religious Right.

Interesting since Oklahoma didn't become a state until late in 1907

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Crown@club

Interesting since Oklahoma didn't become a state until late in 1907

but how can they be the last state, if several were admitted after them? i guess when they were still territories, alaska and hawaii already accepted them as holidays?

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Crown@club

Interesting since Oklahoma didn't become a state until late in 1907

I only repeat what I read on the wiki answers. Because if it's on the internet it must be true.

To get more specific, Christmas was already recognized as a holiday in the territories that joined the US after 1907. Christmas was not recognized in Oklahoma until after it became a state, so that's why Oklahoma gets the award as being the last state to recognize it as a holiday. Basically, they wouldn't do it until they had to.