Xmas Activities in the Workplace

[MN Dave]

Appropriate or not? Obviously lots of people think it's fine to celebrate these things in the workplace, out of habit I guess.

[Don]

Although jewish, I don't have any problem with these activities.  It's a break from work and usually leads to early departure from the office.

[uffeviking]

The Workplace is a place to work. Xmas is a religious observance and belongs into a Christian house of worship. Simple! 

Anybody knows who, or what President, or what Congress and when, elevated this Christian religious observance into a national holiday? 

[Don]

The Workplace is a place to work. Xmas is a religious observance and belongs into a Christian house of worship. Simple! 

I don't know about where you live, but in my neck of the woods the religious aspect of Christmas doesn't get much priority.  It's more about HAPPY TIMES WITH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

[Don]

I think this would be a pretty ideal Christmas celebration:

1.  We all go out for a generous lunch.

2.  Santa gives us our gifts when we get back to the office.

3.  All employees are released at 2 PM.

4.  I meet my girlfriend at a nice hotel for the remainder of the afternoon.

5.  I go home for an affectionate evening with my spouse and children.

6.  I slip out the door at 1am for some romance with another girlfriend.

7.  Upon returning home, I listen to a Christmas Cantata by Bach.

Who's greater:  Bach, Santa or the girlfriends?  Depends on the gifts offered.

Now that's what Christmas is all about.

[karlhenning]

The Workplace is a place to work. Xmas is a religious observance and belongs into a Christian house of worship. Simple! 

Anybody knows who, or what President, or what Congress and when, elevated this Christian religious observance into a national holiday? 

Christmas was a religious observance in the English-speaking world long before there was a United States, Lis.  So it's not a question of any branch of the government "elevating" it.  It has always been an annual event in the lives of the majority of the population.

[david johnson]

Appropriate or not? Obviously lots of people think it's fine to celebrate these things in the workplace, out of habit I guess.

of course it's appropriate.  even scrooges are invited.

dj

[Wendell_E]

Anybody knows who, or what President, or what Congress and when, elevated this Christian religious observance into a national holiday? 

According to Wikipedia (I know, I know, but I was able to verify it elsewhere) it was declared a Federal holiday (we don't actually have national holdays in the U.S.) in 1870, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.

[Don]

According to Wikipedia (I know, I know, but I was able to verify it elsewhere) it was declared a Federal holiday (we don't actually have national holdays in the U.S.) in 1870, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.

That's fitting, since Grant was certainly a guy who knew how to celebrate.

[Mark]

I think this would be a pretty ideal Christmas celebration:

1.  We all go out for a generous lunch.

2.  Santa gives us our gifts when we get back to the office.

3.  All employees are released at 2 PM.

4.  I meet my girlfriend at a nice hotel for the remainder of the afternoon.

5.  I go home for an affectionate evening with my spouse and children.

6.  I slip out the door at 1am for some romance with another girlfriend.

7.  Upon returning home, I listen to a Christmas Cantata by Bach.

Who's greater:  Bach, Santa or the girlfriends?  Depends on the gifts offered.

Now that's what Christmas is all about.

I'm with Don and the above plan. Different hotel, but I'm okay sharing the girlfriends as long as he is.

[Don]

I'm with Don and the above plan. Different hotel, but I'm okay sharing the girlfriends as long as he is.

No problem.  Christmas and sharing the joys of the flesh go well together.

[uffeviking]

According to Wikipedia (I know, I know, but I was able to verify it elsewhere) it was declared a Federal holiday (we don't actually have national holdays in the U.S.) in 1870, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.

Thank you, Wendell, for clarifying my question! Of course I goofed when I called it a 'national' holiday instead of 'federal'. 

Just thinking: What would the US population think if a future President is Jewish and declares Hanukkah a Federal holiday, the entire period? Oh the possibilities of celebrating day after day in the office and hotel room!