Xtians Will Hate This.

[Dr H]

In the US Christmas is a National Holiday, aside from it's religious connections.  In the 2½ centuries of the country's existence all of the widely celebrated holidays have taken on a raft of particular conventions, the sum of which makes them part of American cultural tradition.

What the people ranting about a "war on Christmas" are really complaining about -- although some of them may not consciously realize it -- are perceived disruptions in this cultural tradition.  This is, of course, how traditions evolve and develop in the first place, and consequently one can visit virtually any point in history and find someone complaining about how a given holiday has lost its meaning because the old traditions are no longer being observed.

But there are also always those around adept at converting any sort of public expression into seeming support for their personal or political position.  I hardly need to name names here...