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That distinction would be an almost wholly Roman Catholic (or possibly Greek Orthodox) one. Joel Send a noteboard - 01/06/2012 01:47:12 AM
I think that the relative distinction here is that Christmas appears on church calendars as a Holy Day. As does Easter, All Saint's Day, Holy Week, Pentecost, etc.

Thanksgiving may have been started by religious people, but as far as I'm aware, it doesn't appear on any religions list of "Holy Days of Obligation".

Even Protestant churches preserving Roman Catholic religious holidays do just that: Preserve Roman Catholic religious traditions inherited from before the Reformation. In the case of the Pilgrims (who essentially protested a Protestant church by leaving it) commencing Thanksgiving in America, that does not really apply, but its inception was no less religious for that. Though, to the extent the traditional Thanksgiving origin story is reliable, it is odd pilgrims who left their church and native country because they felt their neighbors insufficiently Christian nonetheless initiated Thanksgiving by inviting pagans to a religious feast. :P

Nonetheless, religion and organized religion are not synonymous (particularly in the US.) From our origin we justly lionized national heroes who habitually and publicly declared themselves deeply religious but repulsed by churches. Thus they also from our origin recognized a day of religious thanksgiving distinct from any church(es.)
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This message last edited by Joel on 01/06/2012 at 04:03:37 AM
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For Our Nordmenn: What Happens to Federal Religious Holidays in the Absence of a State Church? - 27/05/2012 01:33:20 PM 1177 Views
Nothing, they are federal holidays still because of strong unions, not religion - 27/05/2012 06:58:52 PM 599 Views
Hypocrisy FTW, eh? - 27/05/2012 11:04:38 PM 740 Views
No. - 27/05/2012 11:16:11 PM 557 Views
Nothing. - 27/05/2012 07:03:07 PM 552 Views
Replacing it with another, secular, holiday seems the responsible thing to do. - 27/05/2012 11:15:11 PM 520 Views
People. Don't. Care. - 27/05/2012 11:29:07 PM 578 Views
Most of them are stolen from heden traditions and have nothing to do with christianity. - 27/05/2012 07:15:55 PM 836 Views
It's all about watching Kalle Anka and Karl-Bertil Jonsson - 27/05/2012 07:40:45 PM 599 Views
YES! *NM* - 27/05/2012 10:48:06 PM 576 Views
Thanksgiving isn't a religious holiday. - 27/05/2012 08:43:58 PM 629 Views
That is rather debatable. - 28/05/2012 12:08:53 AM 696 Views
The Distinction - 29/05/2012 07:41:47 PM 642 Views
That distinction would be an almost wholly Roman Catholic (or possibly Greek Orthodox) one. - 01/06/2012 01:47:12 AM 544 Views
This succession of two long weekends is rather nice, yes. - 28/05/2012 01:41:05 AM 538 Views
I think Grunnlovsdagen ate Ascension Day. - 28/05/2012 02:57:27 AM 642 Views
It's funny how you use "federal" to mean "mandated by national government". - 28/05/2012 03:49:17 PM 562 Views
I was thinking more "central" government, but OK. - 28/05/2012 04:26:38 PM 583 Views
Re: I was thinking more "central" government, but OK. - 28/05/2012 04:50:32 PM 547 Views
Re: I was thinking more "central" government, but OK. - 01/06/2012 02:03:40 AM 752 Views
I think you've got the Scotland Act backwards. - 01/06/2012 09:48:36 AM 675 Views
I did, though the practical effect is much the same. - 01/06/2012 08:41:03 PM 647 Views
There's a lot of countries that call "devolution" federalism, though. - 01/06/2012 09:52:23 PM 651 Views
What about when most of the country is still under central control? - 02/06/2012 10:25:47 AM 563 Views
I wasn't saying the UK is a normal federal country. - 02/06/2012 10:17:08 PM 603 Views
There is a Campaign for an English Parliament. - 03/06/2012 10:12:21 AM 556 Views

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