What Miss Jean said... Christmas is what you make it.

Being Quaker, the belief that no single day is any less than others that we've been given, means that any proclaimed holiday is secular in nature. Or, another way of looking at it is that every day is sacred. Hence, I have no problem with shifts in language to things such as "winter break", "holiday gift wrap", etc. From my perspective those of us in the northern hemisphere need some kind of holiday celebration to break up the dreariness of winter. I don't confuse "Christmas" with my religious beliefs.

With the that said, just this week I composed a letter to my parents thanking them for the many Christmas/holiday memories they gave me. The smell of a fresh navel orange in my Christmas stocking; going out along the mountain side to gather large icicles so we could make hand cranked ice cream; waxing the runners of our sleds; having my aunts and uncles over and spying on the grown-up conversations way past my bed time; the smell of a fresh cut pine tree; watching with anticipation for the moment my father would plug in the lights on the Christmas tree; waking on Christmas morning to the smell of homemade Christmas pudding, getting my first real bicycle, these were just a few of the memories they provided. For me holidays, regardless of when or what, are a time to take a step back from the daily routine and appreciate that which is around you. This hasn't changed over time. There is little marketing/sales and other distractions can do to change that. Christmas is indeed what you make it.