Source: Ecumenical News International
http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=2563
Hundreds of people showed up in Olympia, the capital of Washington state, for a two-hour rally to protest against Christmas with a "winter solstice" sign. The gathering was sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which calls religion a "myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds".
It's all part of a war of words about who owns what is known in the United States as "the holiday season". While New Year on 1 January has long been celebrated in many nations, the time of Nativity or Christmas marking the birth of Jesus on 25 December was seen by Western Christians as the reason for rejoicing at the end of the 12th month.
During the end of the year season there is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BC (Before Christ) or BCE (Before the Common Era) as it is also referred to. Hanukkah can fall from late November to the end of December on the Gregorian calendar[.] In 2008 it begins on 21 December.
There is also Kwanzaa, a week-long holiday that honours African heritage observed from 26 December to 1 January each year. It was created by African American author Ron Karenga and was first celebrated in 1967.
Americans will often say, "'tis the season of Hanukkah dreidels, Kwanzaa drums, Christmas carols", but they are all drawing fire from outspoken non-believers in North America.
Humanists, agnostics and atheists throughout the United States have grown in local and national associations over several years, and there is evidence their organizations are gaining traction in mainstream culture, while "non-believers" have started their own celebrations.