A writer of wonderful books, Donna Smith, wrote a short piece about Old Christmas in Rodanthe, North Carolina (Hubpages.com). In 1582 the Julian Calendar was replaced with the Gregorian Calendar and thereby the date of Christmas was moved eleven days. The folks in eastern North Carolina celebrate Old Christmas was a rather lavish celebration. The date for Christmas has always been arbitrary since no one really knows when Jesus was born. It was celebrated mostly in the spring from January through May until what we call modern times.

Why not Hanukah or Passover? Both are very important holidays and appear on most calendars. It would seem that since Christians are so linked to the Old Testament and the history of the Jews that their holidays would be Christian holy days. But, that is not the case.

Christians only have to holidays or celebrated events: Christmas and Easter. The reason is quite simple; both are connected with The Christ, Jesus. Christians commemorate the events more so than celebrate a dates. It is hard to separate celebration and commemoration in the commercialized and pop religiousness of the twenty-first century. Although the Jewish historical events are important to Christians, all praise honor and glory belong to God and His Son. Christmas and Easter are significant because of Christ and for that reason only. Holidays and celebrations belong to secular society and are recognized as such by the Church whether Catholic or Protestant.