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[[File:Trump Christmas.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|"They don't use the term [[Christmas]] because it is not [[politically correct]]... Well, guess what, we're saying Merry Christmas again." - [[Donald Trump]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAQ1pNg9eeQ We're Saying Merry Christmas Again!' Trump Praises 'Judeo-Christian Values' To Conservatives | TIME]</ref>]]

[[File:Trump Christmas.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|"They don't use the term [[Christmas]] because it is not [[politically correct]]... Well, guess what, we're saying Merry Christmas again." - [[Donald Trump]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAQ1pNg9eeQ We're Saying Merry Christmas Again!' Trump Praises 'Judeo-Christian Values' To Conservatives | TIME]</ref>]]

The '''War on Christmas''' refers specifically to the controversy surrounding the celebration or acknowledgment of the [[Christmas]] [[holiday]] in government, media, advertising and other [[atheist|secular]] environments. Modern-day controversy occurs around the world, and stems from the holiday's significant annual role in celebrating cultural values in Western society. See ''[[The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought]]''. [[Fox News]] has been particularly vocal in the War on Christmas, trying to prevent secular censorship of Christmas celebration.<ref>"War on Christmas." Fox Nation. http://nation.foxnews.com/topics/war-on-christmas/</ref> [[Bill O'Reilly]] had devoted numerous segments on [[The O'Reilly Factor|his show]] in recent years to the War on Christmas.

The '''War on Christmas''' refers specifically to the controversy surrounding the celebration or acknowledgment of the [[Christmas]] [[holiday]] in government, media, advertising and other [[atheist|secular]] environments. Modern-day controversy occurs around the world, and stems from the holiday's significant annual role in celebrating cultural values in Western society. See ''[[The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought]]''. [[Fox News]] has been particularly vocal in the War on Christmas, trying to prevent secular censorship of Christmas celebration.<ref>"War on Christmas." Fox Nation. http://nation.foxnews.com/topics/war-on-christmas/</ref> [[Bill O'Reilly]] had devoted numerous segments on [[The O'Reilly Factor|his show]] in its later years to the War on Christmas.

== Militant atheists and Christmas ==

== Militant atheists and Christmas ==

==As Part of the Culture Wars==

==As Part of the Culture Wars==

[[Culture War]] is a term used to describe the swaying of what is acceptable in a society between culturally conservative and [[liberal]]. To that end, the War on Christmas is a major skirmish in that war. Each year, more and more secular progressives work to eradicate the right of major retailers to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas" in favor of the more benign, and ultimately godless "Happy Holidays." The term "[[Christmas Tree]]" is also being replaced by "Holiday Tree" in some places.<ref>Levitz, Jennifer. "Tree Lighting Sparks Protests in Rhode Island." December 7, 2011. ''Wall Street Journal'' Dispatch. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/12/07/tree-lighting-sparks-protests-in-rhode-island/</ref> When the retailer gives in, they are less likely to begin using the older terms again, and, in order to save money and time, will simply acquiesce to the will of the liberal protesters, saying "Happy Holidays" from that time on.   

[[Culture War]] is a term used to describe the swaying of what is acceptable in society between culturally conservative and [[liberal]]. To that end, the War on Christmas is a major skirmish in that war. Each year, more and more secular progressives work to eradicate the right of major retailers to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas" in favor of the more benign, and ultimately godless "Happy Holidays." The term "[[Christmas Tree]]" is also being replaced by "Holiday Tree" in some places.<ref>Levitz, Jennifer. "Tree Lighting Sparks Protests in Rhode Island." December 7, 2011. ''Wall Street Journal'' Dispatch. http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2011/12/07/tree-lighting-sparks-protests-in-rhode-island/</ref> When the retailer gives in, they are less likely to begin using the older terms again, and, in order to save money and time, will simply acquiesce to the will of the liberal protesters, saying "Happy Holidays" from that time on.   

Conservatives argue that this is a form of censorship by the [[liberal]] minority in society, tasked with the purpose of removing even the smallest mention of the Christmas Holiday. An obvious danger for conservatives is the notion that such an issue will become a [[slippery slope]]. Once the issue is removed from public discourse, the next removal becomes that much easier.

Conservatives argue that this is a form of censorship by the [[liberal]] minority in society, tasked with the purpose of removing even the smallest mention of the Christmas Holiday. An obvious danger for conservatives is the notion that such an issue will become a [[slippery slope]]. Once the issue is removed from public discourse, the next removal becomes that much easier.

==True Christians and the War on Christmas==

==True Christians and the War on Christmas==

True [[Christian]]s know that the Christmas is all about celebrating the [[Incarnation]] of [[Jesus Christ]]. They recognize that the War on Christmas focuses largely on the commercial or otherwise non-religious aspects of modern Christmas celebration, and has little to do with the true Miracle and message of Christmas.<ref>Wallis, Jim. "The Real War On Christmas... By Fox News." December 15, 2011. Huffington Post. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-real-war-on-christmas_b_1151709.html?ref=religion&ir=Religion</ref> It should not matter how people greet each other at malls or other retail establishments, or what name they give to a festively decorated [[evergreen]].

True [[Christian]]s know that Christmas is all about celebrating the [[Incarnation]] of [[Jesus Christ]]. They recognize that the War on Christmas focuses largely on the commercial or otherwise non-religious aspects of modern Christmas celebration, and has little to do with the true Miracle and message of Christmas.<ref>Wallis, Jim. "The Real War On Christmas... By Fox News." December 15, 2011. Huffington Post. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/the-real-war-on-christmas_b_1151709.html?ref=religion&ir=Religion</ref> It should not matter how people greet each other at malls or other retail establishments, or what name they give to a festively decorated [[evergreen]].

Some Christian churches, sects, and communities reject the observance of Christmas for theological reasons. Christian sects that don't celebrate Christmas include [[Jehovah's Witnesses]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/why-not-celebrate-christmas/.htm |title=Jehovah's Witness on Christmas |publisher= www.jw.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> [[Armstrongism|Armstrongites]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3___tE12R0|title=Christmas Unveiled—What God Says!|accessdate=December 30, 2017}}</ref> some adherents of [[Messianic Judaism]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.christianpost.com/news/messianic-judaism-the-followers-of-christ-who-do-not-celebrate-christmas-64328/ |title= Messianic Judaism: The Followers of Christ Who Do Not Celebrate Christmas |work= The Christian Post |date= 8 December 2011 |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> most [[Sabbath in seventh-day churches|Sabbatarian]] denominations, such as the [[True Jesus Church]] and the [[General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh-Day)|Church of God (7th-Day)]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/FAQs.html |title= Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |publisher= churchofgod-7thday.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> the [[Iglesia ni Cristo]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iglesianicristowebsite.com/Pages/7-faq-answers.html |title= All About Iglesia ni Cristo: Frequently Asked Questions |publisher= iglesianicristowebsite.com |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> the [[Christian Congregation in Brazil]]; the [[Christian Congregation in the United States]]; certain [[Reformed churches|reformed]] and [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] churches of various persuasions, including some [[Independent Baptists]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libcfl.com/articles/becker2.htm|title=The Truth about Christmas|first=Greg|last=Wilson|publisher=}}</ref> [[Holiness movement|Holiness Christians]], [[Oneness Pentecostalism|Oneness Pentecostals]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prime.org/|title=Jesus Name Apostolic Holiness Church - Oneness Pentecostal|publisher=}}</ref> Amish-Mennonites, and Churches of Christ congregations.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tjc.org/showArticle.aspx?aid=7219 |title= Is Christmas Biblical? |publisher= tjc.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.christianchronicle.org/article/christ-in-christmas-churches-of-christ-and-the-holiday-season?A=SearchResult&SearchID=4375144&ObjectID=4364696&ObjectType=35|title= 'Christ' in Christmas?: Churches of Christ and the Holiday Season |work= [[Christian Chronicle]] |accessdate= 22 January 2017}}</ref>

Some Christian churches, sects, and communities reject the observance of Christmas for theological reasons. Christian sects that don't celebrate Christmas include [[Jehovah's Witnesses]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/why-not-celebrate-christmas/.htm |title=Jehovah's Witness on Christmas |publisher= www.jw.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> [[Armstrongism|Armstrongites]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3___tE12R0|title=Christmas Unveiled—What God Says!|accessdate=December 30, 2017}}</ref> some adherents of [[Messianic Judaism]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.christianpost.com/news/messianic-judaism-the-followers-of-christ-who-do-not-celebrate-christmas-64328/ |title= Messianic Judaism: The Followers of Christ Who Do Not Celebrate Christmas |work= The Christian Post |date= 8 December 2011 |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> most [[Sabbath in seventh-day churches|Sabbatarian]] denominations, such as the [[True Jesus Church]] and the [[General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh-Day)|Church of God (7th-Day)]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.churchofgod-7thday.org/FAQs.html |title= Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |publisher= churchofgod-7thday.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref> the [[Iglesia ni Cristo]];<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iglesianicristowebsite.com/Pages/7-faq-answers.html |title= All About Iglesia ni Cristo: Frequently Asked Questions |publisher= iglesianicristowebsite.com |accessdate=1 January 2013}}</ref> the [[Christian Congregation in Brazil]]; the [[Christian Congregation in the United States]]; certain [[Reformed churches|reformed]] and [[fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] churches of various persuasions, including some [[Independent Baptists]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libcfl.com/articles/becker2.htm|title=The Truth about Christmas|first=Greg|last=Wilson|publisher=}}</ref> [[Holiness movement|Holiness Christians]], [[Oneness Pentecostalism|Oneness Pentecostals]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prime.org/|title=Jesus Name Apostolic Holiness Church - Oneness Pentecostal|publisher=}}</ref> Amish-Mennonites, and Churches of Christ congregations.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tjc.org/showArticle.aspx?aid=7219 |title= Is Christmas Biblical? |publisher= tjc.org |accessdate= 1 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.christianchronicle.org/article/christ-in-christmas-churches-of-christ-and-the-holiday-season?A=SearchResult&SearchID=4375144&ObjectID=4364696&ObjectType=35|title= 'Christ' in Christmas?: Churches of Christ and the Holiday Season |work= [[Christian Chronicle]] |accessdate= 22 January 2017}}</ref>