Q. So what is Christmas all about?
A. The best way of answering this is by asking which Christmas. There are really two different holidays. There is the secular Christmas with its focus on family gatherings, gifts, and food. Then there is the religious holiday that involves a church service (often on Christmas Eve), nativity scenes, and religious Christmas carols. There is some overlap between the two, but the secular one is the dominant one in the United States. The number of churches that closed their doors on Christmas Sunday this past year is fairly conclusive evidence of this.

Q. What about making Macy's use "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays"?
A. Well, how much religious meaning can you really attach to those words given the source? I think the pressure behind this is a result of Christians (especially the Religious Right) not realizing that there are two different holidays that happen to share a name and a date - or at least they disagree with this idea. They probably assume Christmas has always been celebrated this way.

Q. Let's get back to the religious Christmas. Why three kings?
A. Matthew mentions magi (transliterated from the Greek). The magi could have been priests, astrologers or magicians. The Greek lexicon does not support the use of kings. Matthew does not mention how many magi showed up. The traditional number oscillated for several hundred years before settling at three. This is probably due to there being three gifts. It is also possible that Psalm 72:10 was applied to the magi - thus the usage of kings and perhaps the number three.

Q. Isn't it odd how little attention the birth of Jesus receives in the Bible?
A. Only Matthew and Luke mention it of the four gospels. Given the importance of his crucifixion and resurrection, it's not surprising that his birth did not receive as much coverage. This is just one good reason why Easter should be given much greater emphasis in the Church.

Q. Speaking of Easter, I heard..
A. Oh no, let's not pursue that right now.