Why can't we call it Christmas Break?

By ANGELINA GERVASIO

"Winter Break" starts Dec. 13 for Napa schools, and most of the kids can't wait!

I know, as do most kids, that we have "Winter Break" to spend time with our families and celebrate Christmas without school getting in the way, so why don't we just call it "Christmas Vacation?" Oh, right, it is because if one group of people gets “offended” because they don't celebrate Christmas, we shouldn’t "hurt their feelings," so we have to change it.

Ridiculous!

In the US, 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas. 

Less than 2% of the US population is Muslim, and almost 3% are Jewish, both of which don't celebrate Christmas. The other 96% is made up of around 23% Catholics, and the remaining 73% are Christian, both of which celebrate Christmas.

Even though I wasn't able to find the percentages for California, I would make a wild guess it would be about the same, maybe even with more people celebrating Christmas since there a lot of Latino/Hispanic people in California, and well, almost all Mexicans (and we know most of the Latino population in California comes from Mexico) celebrate Christmas as well . 

Since it is obvious that the majority, by FAR, celebrate Christmas in the US, please tell me again why is it called "Winter Break"?

So many people are trying to make everyone happy, but that is impossible. Everyone has a different opinion, some are similar, some are the total opposites of each other. Why should we be re-inventing traditions so we cater to the minority's whines? Rather, treat them equally with respect and without changing our own ways and long time traditions.

I don't celebrate Hanukkah, but I enjoy watching people who do, and no matter what they tell me, I will only celebrate Hanukkah if I convert to being Jewish. We should not personally celebrate holidays that we don't observe or believe in since they are not part of our religion simply because someone else might get "offended" in some way if we don't. 

I'm tired of having to give up things I believe in just to make a "handful of people" somewhat happy.                              

Since the vast majority of Californians celebrate Christmas, our three week vacation should be called "Christmas Break." Just like since the majority of Americans wanted Obama for president, he will become President!

Angelina Gervasio is a seventh-grader at Redwood Middle School in Napa. She writes when she's caught up on homework and mom says it is OK to do a new column. She can be reached by contacting Register Online Editor Dan Ross at dross@napanews.com.

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