What's religion got to do with it?

It's that time of year.

Every year at this time, I enjoy sitting around a warm TV getting into the holiday spirit. The familiar tunes and themes fill my heart with an indescribable glow of well-being, like so many sugar plums dancing.

What I don't understand is why so many people have a problem with Christmas. Over the past few years, schools, cities and even retail stores seem to feel uncomfortable saying “Merry Christmas.”

I don't get it. Don't they like Santa Claus? Does he present a bad image for attempts to curb obesity? Are a few cookies and low-fat milk really all that bad?

What have they got against Rudolph? Is it because he's a Santa enabler? Is there something wrong with red noses? That seems a bit intolerant, especially for the politically correct diversity crowd.

Is it the gang that Santa and Rudolph hang out with? – Frosty the Snowman? Jack Frost? The Miser Brothers? The Abominable?

What's wrong with jingling bells? One-horse open sleighs? Pumpkin pies and coffee? Popping chestnuts? Is there something politically incorrect about snow falling and people calling “yoohoo?”

Maybe some people don't like sitting around the fire while it's up to your knees out there. Do they think cuddling under the mistletoe will necessarily lead to an increase in teen pregnancies?

Maybe Christmas critics don't like the endless retelling and rewriting of the Scrooge experience. Can't figure that, because New Agers are often into ghost stories and other metaphysical forces – just look at the success of Jennifer Love Hewitt's “Ghost Whisperer.” Maybe they think if more individuals are encouraged to be charitable, it will diminish enthusiasm for governmental largess.

I suppose I could see where some Grinch groups might be chilled at the thought of Christmas coming. Gun control advocates, for example, can't be happy about Ralphie's infatuation with a Red Ryder BB gun in “The Christmas Story.” And PETA is bound to frown at the thought of millions of turkeys being savagely gnawed.

I can also understand why some in the Occupy Wall Street crowd would object to the crass capitalism promoted by retail outlets at this special time of year. That just benefits the one percent.

But, other than that, I can't think why any reasonable person would object to Christmas. Wait – my wife just told me that some religious as well as anti-religious entities such as the ACLU might say there's too much religious symbolism associated with Christmas. Now that's something I just don't see. Am I missing something? What's Christmas got to do with religion?