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Americans are divided over many religious issues, but Christmas is not one of them. In a CNN poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation, 94% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas; nearly three quarters send Christmas cards and have a Christmas tree in their home. Oh, well, people do that for the kids? Nope, more than seventy percent of Americans who have no children at home put up a Christmas tree. Religious people, right? Nope. Even Americans who rarely go to church put up a Christmas tree. But what kind of tree? That's where things are changing. Ten years ago, a third of Americans put up a real tree. Now that number is down to twenty two percent. Today most Americans use artificial trees. Maybe because it's cheaper than buying a new tree every year; maybe because it is safer; maybe because people are more environmentally conscious, or maybe it is just easier. Putting up Christmas lights is not easy. But nearly six in ten Americans do it including this woman in Los Angeles who happens to be Jewish.
I don't think Santa Claus tucking snowman and flying reindeer and candy-cane trees have any religious significance at all.
She happens to live in an orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Are her neighbors offended? Some are, others are not.
I am not an orthodox Jew,(Okay) and I think it's unusual that Merry puts on, but you know, it is ok. Doesn't faze me. I think it's pretty.
Christmas is less and less likely to divide churchgoers and non churchgoers, people with and without kids, even Christians and non-Christians. They can all agree on one thing: it is pretty.
Bill Schneider, CNN, Los Angeles.
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