Christmas is about absolutely anything that anyone wants it to be about, Ian. I see little justification for you getting all pissy and nasty about the fact that some religiously minded people don't think it's about exactly what you think it's about. If you are bothered by small-minded chauvinism, snide self-righteousness, and rank prejudice, maybe you should look in the mirror to find some more of it to get upset about. ;-D

As for your description of it being "all about Santa, Morcambe and Wise, James Bond, Dad getting pissed up, Mum making him "wear" his Xmas dinner, opening presses, putting up cheap decorations, sending cards to people you hardly know and don't actually care much for"....

....that's funny! ;-D Yup, that's the general moronic norm when it comes to Christmas, and you appear to be in favour of it? This is like sayin', "Okay, a couple of thousand years of collective cultural heritage doesn't mean shit to me...but don't suggest that I shouldn't get pissed up, spend money like a drunken sailor, put silly lawn ornaments in front of my house, and go broke buying stuff for people I don't even like!"

Sounds like you're arguing in favour of the Neanderthal lifestyle to me, Ian, even though you yourself KNOW it's stupid. This proves that familiarity will always trump common sense, good taste, and rationality, doesn't it? ;-D

As for your oafish observations regarding the symbolic and ancient story of the Virgin Mary, they show all the dimwitted perception of a pissed-up water buffalo attempting to comment on the Mona Lisa. Have another ale, for God's sake, and piss off.