As the end of the December nears, Zhang & Associates, P.C. would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Each year, Christmas is celebrated on the 25th day of December, which falls on a Monday this year. Christmas was only a religious holiday, celebrated by the Christians, which marks the birth of Jesus. Despite the religious aspect to the holiday, the Christians combined certain secular traditions with Christmas.

Over the years, Christmas has become more and more a secular holiday and as a result of this, it is recognized as a Federal Holiday in the Unites States, and celebrated by almost all, not just Christians anymore. The declaration of Christmas as a federal holiday did not sit well with some, as they felt it was a violation of the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court dealt with this issue in Ganulin v. United States (1999) and again in 2000 and both times declared that “the establishment of Christmas Day as a legal public holiday does not violate the Establishment Clause because it has a valid secular purpose.”

On Christmas Day, it has become a tradition for people to spend the entire day with their family and friends, as well as have a big meal together. To show their job and happiness, as well as extend warm wishes, people exchange cards and gifts on Christmas with their friends and family. Rewarding the good behavior of children is also marked by giving them gifts and toys. The exchange of gifts and cards among family and friends has also become an important aspect of Christmas. Also, Christmas is a joyous time, as people throw parties, schools put on children’s pageants, and carolers go from door to door to singing Christmas carols.

Many major figures and images are associated with Christmas, including Santa Claus, reindeers, elves, and Christmas trees. For years, parents have told their children that Santa Claus, who lives in the North Pole, rides on his sleigh driven by reindeer and delivers presents to all the children’s houses that have been good. The image of Santa Claus that we know today was created by Thomas Nast in the late 1800’s. Today, Santa Claus is depicted as a portly old man with a white beard and wearing a red coat, with white trim.

Through the ages, many movies have come to depict and encapsulate the Christmas spirit. Notably, movies like The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, A Christmas Carol, and It’s a Wonderful Life all show what Christmas time is all about – happiness and wishing well towards others. One movie in particular, Miracle on 34th Street, embodies the Christmas spirit and takes place in the Macy’s Department Store on 34th Street in New York City, a block away from Z&A’s NYC offices.

Decorations are also a very big part of Christmas. Many people elaborately decorate the inside and outside of their homes with lights, wreaths and ornaments, spending a lot of time doing so. The Christmas tree, where the wrapped presents are placed on Christmas Eve, is also decorated with great care and has become a tradition for many families.

The commercialization of Christmas has caused it to have a major impact on the economy. Around the holiday season (which normally starts the Friday after Thanksgiving Day), businesses begin to roll out new products and have sales to try to sell as much stuff as they can. The Christmas shopping season goes up until Christmas Day, meaning there is about a month of shopping. This increase in shopping, manufacturing of products and introduction of new items causes a boom in the economy.

Christmas is not simply about giving presents and buying stuff, rather it is about spreading happiness, peace, love, and goodwill to all. By exchanging presents, people are showing their love and happiness for each other. Furthermore, many volunteer their time and money on Christmas Day and during the holiday season to help those who are in need of help.

Zhang & Associates, P.C. would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and the very best for the remainder of the year. We know how the holidays can be very joyous and hectic at the same time. For this reason, we would like our clients to know that we are working hard for you and for our potential clients to know that we will work equally as hard on your cases.