As we gear up for the holidays, Christmas - its decorations and music - will start manifesting immediately after Halloween. The injuries at store openings and campouts of Black Friday could very well indicate the business to religion ratio is skewed. It's easy for the 'when did it change' question to pop up.
Christmas traditions we think of fondly, including trees, Santa and presents, started in the 19th century in churches and homes.
What do the numbers say?
About one third of Americans said the holiday is more cultural than religious - but less than 50 percent said they planned to attend Christmas religious services.
Eight out of 10 non-Christians in America celebrate the holiday, Pew found, including 87 percent of those who don't have a religious affiliation.
What this suggests is that Christmas is not so much a religious holiday as it is a cultural holiday with a religious aspect. People overwhelmingly can enjoy all the traditional aspects of Christmas without having to go to church.
Enter The Immortal Nicholas. A fictional story about Glenn’s take on the man whom we fondly call Santa Claus. A book that will provoke us all to think differently about St. Nick and hopefully help me think a bit more about the real meaning and spirit behind the holiday season. It’s not about gifts. It’s about family, friends and the spirit of giving.