War On Christmas

During his 2016 election campaign, Donald Trump promised at his rallies that we would be hearing ‘Merry Christmas’ once again were he to be elected. I argue that Trump leading his troops into a ‘War on Christmas’ could be a very dangerous thing indeed — both for those seen as…

Controversy over public religious Christmas displays in America is fueled by differing beliefs regarding Christmas and American history. The so-called “War on Christmas” has become an annual feature of the holiday season in the U.S., with much of the debate centering around religious displays on publicly-owned property. I argue that this cultural conflict is fueled by disparate understandings of Christmas and American history between religious conservatives and secular…

As the holiday season continues, so does commentary on the supposed ‘War on Christmas’. I look at the recent history of Christmas controversies, including the claim made this month by Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly that Santa Claus “just is white.” …

The "war on Christmas" is a term that is often used by certain individuals and groups to describe the supposed efforts of non-Christians to downplay or eliminate the celebration of Christmas. …

Why conservatives are sorta right (but mostly wrong) about the war on Christmas. It’s here again: The “War on Christmas.” In my book, The Myths that Stole Christmas, I argue that the war on Christmas is a fantasy. Historically, claiming that a group is waging a “War on Christmas” has been an extremely effective way of demonizing that group. Henry Ford did it…

Kirk Cameron’s attempt to hijack the holidays is horrific. Christmas is a bit of an academic hobby of mine. I have a bookshelf full of Christmas books, I teach a class on Christmas, and [I even wrote a book] The Myths That Stole Christmas: Seven Misconceptions that Hijacked the Holiday (and How We Can Take It Back). It’s about…