The last first.
Stores around here all have Christmas Sales
Most, but not all, stores are closed on Christmas, mainly because there isn't enough traffic to be open - or their union agreement specifies Christmas day as a holiday.
Union agreements also account for no mail, school closings, courthouse closings..and many other businesses.
The Senate sets their own holidays, they choose to take a recess at this time.

Why was there a bible in front of the Houston courthouse in the first place?

The purpose of the Bible display is to encourage people to read the Bible. What other purpose could there be for prominently displaying an open Bible in an illuminated case tilted toward passers-by in a heavily frequented plaza in front of the main entrance to the courthouse?

FYI

The monument, recently removed during courthouse renovations, had been in place since 1956 to honor a Houston businessman for helping the homeless.

Removed because a Lady sued as she found it offensive.

I will respond to 'Stores can't advertise Christmas Sale.'

They can. They aren't part of the government and the only reason stores might choose not to use 'Christmas' in their advertising is that they don't want to exclude any potential shoppers who don't celebrate Christmas. It's a marketing choice though, not a law or government regulation.

Stores close because most people don't shop on Christmas. Most workers refuse to work. Again, it's a business decision.

BTW, my sister works for CVS and I think they'll be open on Christmas Day.

Here's something that makes me glad we live in the Bible belt. Please "scroll on by" if you don't want to know...

I had to be at the county courthouse very early one morning last year. It was on a Friday, I think. Anyway, even though it is a 3-story building, there is one main floor with an open lobby in the middle and the various county offices around the perimeter. A few minutes before the offices opened at 8:00 AM, county employees who worked in the offices began gathering in the lobby. A pastor from one of the local churches came in and prayed aloud, then everyone scurried into their offices and began their workday.

I asked one of the employees what was going on. She said that one day a week (and I do think it was Friday), they have a different minister come in from a local church and say a short prayer. Employees who want to participate can stand out in the lobby during the prayer - those who don't want to aren't required to. Somehow that just touched me...made me grateful that I live in a community where this kind of thing still happens.

:-)

You can scroll by this one too!

My Non-Profit Organization started with a prayer every morning. No one was expected to pray if they didn't want to. We also, asked for prayer requests.

It was very refreshing.

Gayle

I can't comment on the practices of churches, stores, etc., but...

The reason that the post office, the courts, and indeed all government offices, including Congress, are closed on Christmas Day is because it's a federal, i.e. national, holiday. So all those closings are mandated. I wonder why CNN didn't answer that question!

Christmas has been a Federal holiday since 1870, and that is why mail is not delivered on Christmas Day.

I am not particularly religious, but I love Christmas and I am happy that it is an official holiday.

I would say to any who complains that they should be glad Christmas is a Federal holiday rather than worrying about it.

I am ALL, COMPLETELY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY, 100 PERCENT for the politically correct wish of "Happy Holiday." But, if someone wants to question why the PEOPLE who work at these places are not supposed to be allowed to celebrate the holiday, I've got a real big problem. Are they suggesting the buildings should be open unmanned......with no constituents/patrons......just wasting tax payers' money to pay the light and heating bills? No! They are complaining that it's a religious holiday - a holiday recognized, acknowledged, and celebrated by 95 percent of the country - and no one should be allowed. It isn't about not receiving mail on Christmas day. It's about the mail is not delivered by pigeon courier.

Oh, Gayle. Those are not good questions at all.

FYI, Gayle. There is no historical evidence that Christ's birth took place on Dec. 25. In fact I have heard biblical scholars state that it most likely DID NOT take place on Dec.25. Now most religions/cultures have some sort of celebration around the winter solstice to celebrate the time when the sun started to return and the days began to lengthen. Often the mythology associated with this celebration referred to the birth of the god associated with the sun. When Christianity began to reach the Celtic nations, the native folk accepted the new religion but didn't want to give up their old celebrations and customs. The early priests solved the problem by incorporating and assigning Christian beliefs and meaning into formerly pagan celebrations. Therefore the pagan holiday of the winter solstice or Yule became the Christian holiday of Christmas and a celebration of Christ's birth. There are still references today to Yule as in Yuletide Greetings. Listen to the lyrics of "Deck the Halls". Easter is another example, it relates to the pagan holiday, Eostar a celebration of the world's rebirth in Springtime. So, my point is there is nothing wrong with celebration these holidays as secular holidays, neither is there anything wrong with celebrating according to your religious preferences. No one is preventing you or any individual from saying Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Bah, Humbug. As has been said previously, large stores make their decisions on whats best for their businesses and government institutions should be neutral.

How long will it take to have this post pulled? Inquiring minds want to know.

From what I've read on other boards (especially the Discussion side of Home Decorating or on Hot Topics), this is pretty tame, thank goodness LOL.

Please, please let an interesting thread continue.
I, personally, am not PC and will continue to refer to a Christmas tree and Christmas lighs and Christmas this and Christmas that. I respect others' celebrations around this time of year, but I'm observing 1 holiday...Christmas.

"I, personally, am not PC"

Neither am I, LOL. I am Jewish and DH is Catholic. We celebrate both Chanukah and Christmas, Passover and Easter. If you look at it from a historical point of view, the only thing we differ on is semantics.

"What it really comes down to, my friends, is everything's just fine, fine, fine." - Alanis Morissette

We're all in this together ;o)

Please pull the post!

Once again...I'm sorry.

Gayle

Why pull it, and why on earth are you sorry?

I, like many others have enjoyed it, and so far no one has announced that they were offended by the discussion about PC.

Sue

This year there was a near-riot in a Long Island town. They put up a 20 foot electric menorah next to a seven foot Christmas tree to celebrate the season. There were many objections, they took down the tree and replaced it with a 20 foot tree.

I also hope they don't pull the post. There have been 2 or 3 very similar posts they didn't pull. Why this one? Gayle, you have no reason to apologize. It's a ridiculous letter to me, but hey you didn't write it. You just showed it to us. Nevertheless, not everyone will agree with it. I sure don't and could sock the person who wrote it LOL. I certainly was not attacking you, just disagreeing with you over the perceived and qualitative value of the questions.

continuing....

What I said was not meant to make you feel you did anything wrong or offensive.

I'm not offended, gayle.

As a matter of fact, I don't watch CNN (I'm a Fox new junkie *grin*), so I appreciate knowing what is going on with the other networks.

Just checked in my local newspaper to make sure. Guess we are not PC correct here as most of the business advertizing is for Christmas Open Houses not Holiday Open Houses.
Another Fox News junkie.
Lois in Iowa

Just to add to the information about Easter, while its name and certain traditions may derive from pagan Europe, its date and the most important events derive directly from Passover. In fact, I would bet that with the use of computers the actual date of the original Easter has already been determined. There might be a two-three year range, depending on when Jesus was born. But whereas we will probably never know even the season of the first Christmas, there's no doubt about Easter.

This is a nice conversation; I don't see anything controversial here. I am Jewish and I love the Christmas season, including nativity scenes anywhere and saying "Merry Christmas". This is a 95% Christian country, for heavens' sake!

Gayle,
I think we must have been watching the same program. I thought it was a great question, too, even though I doubt the e-mailer was really expecting an answer.

Wireweiners, well explained! The Catholic Encyclopedia has more details of Wireweiners' explanation of its history.

Personally, I'm just grateful that it is declared a holiday which means I have a whole day off with pay! LOL... Wish every day is a holiday =o)

Regardless of what we celebrate, a national holiday of any kind is a good excuse for family and friends gathering. It's the only time that most everyones are off!