ACLU of Kentucky

Every December 25th, millions of Americans celebrate Christmas. For many children, Christmas is the favorite holiday of the year. It is a time for families and friends to gather together. For many Christians it is one of the holiest days of the year. Some popular movies and television programs evoke the nostalgia of Christmas and have themselves become part and parcel of American culture: White Christmas, Miracle on 34^th Street, A Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Holiday Inn. Stores value Christmas not only because of the spirit of the season, but because it contributes to the busiest and most profitable shopping time of the year. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge's counting house in 19th century London, American stores, businesses, museums, and government offices are typically closed on December 25th. Even the ACLU closes on Christmas! [For an ACLU expression of Christmas cheer, read this USA Today op-ed.]

In recent years, the cry that there is a "war on Christmas" has become a recurring theme of several commentators. One who happily describes himself as a "culture warrior," Bill O'Reilly, imagines that there are forces at work trying to end the public celebration of Christmas and even any mention of the holiday. Rush Limbaugh claimed back in 2005 that public officials were "trying to get Christmas, you know, out of the public consciousness" (according to a Media Matters transcript). Like fish declaring that "There is no water!" (because they can't see what surrounds them), these culture warriors seem unable to see what is staring them in the face. Christmas is pervasive in the public and private square, and, except when the government is being used to promote religious beliefs, it is entirely constitutional.

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