Christmas and Separation of Church and State

[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.