Why Christmas Is America’s Favorite Holiday Again

A recent Rasmussen Reports national survey shows that Christmas has once again regained its status as America’s most important holiday, with 55% of American adults saying it’s among the nation’s top celebrations and another 30% placing it “somewhere in between.” 

 This return to prominence is more than a post-Christmas aside. It signals a wider shift in American values and identity that has developed over the last decade, especially under President Donald Trump.

In a time marked by debates over national identity, tradition, and the meaning of the holiday season, Americans seem to be re-embracing Christmas not just as a secular celebration of lights and gifts, but as a symbol of heritage, faith, and the country's moral core.

At its core, Christmas is a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, a key event in Western history and America's moral foundation. Unlike secular celebrations that avoid spiritual language, President Trump’s approach consistently highlights the Christmas narrative.

From public remarks in which he prominently uses “Merry Christmas” rather than the politically correct but spiritually vacuous “Happy Holidays,” to his holiday appearances and speeches, Trump has signaled a return of cultural confidence rooted in America’s Judeo-Christian heritage.

This contrasts with recent years under the Biden administration when leading figures like Vice President Kamala Harris paid unusually broad attention to holidays such as Kwanzaa. While about 3 percent of Americans recognize Kwanzaa as a cultural celebration, it is a relatively recent creation rooted in 1960s cultural movements and was first celebrated in 1966 by its founder, Maulana Karenga, drawing from African harvest traditions.

Critics highlight complexities in Kwanzaa’s origins, including Karenga’s activism and controversial past, arguing that elevating the holiday in the national cultural conversation could shift focus away from the traditional narrative that has supported America for centuries. In 1971, Karenga was imprisoned for beating and torturing two women.
Although the goal of Kwanzaa’s supporters is to honor African-American community and heritage, it remains a non-religious holiday celebrated by a minority of Americans and is often misunderstood as a counterbalance to Christmas. This misunderstanding has fueled broader debates about whether the American holiday season should focus on secular multiculturalism or reaffirm the Christian roots that have influenced the country’s moral and ethical foundations.

In this cultural context, the return of Christmas as the favorite holiday is important. It shows that most Americans are pushing back against secular ideas and cultural splits, instead holding onto a shared tradition that goes beyond politics, ethnicity, and age groups. 

The force behind this shift isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a deliberate reaffirmation of values. Trump’s messaging, which resonates deeply with social conservatives and many everyday Americans, confirmed that Christmas should be celebrated openly and proudly, not disguised under euphemisms that diminish its significance.

This pattern is intentional. For years, Americans have heard holiday greetings that either avoid mentioning Christ’s birth or broadly celebrate various cultural traditions in ways that many believe dilute the true meaning of the season.

The reinstatement of Christmas as the centerpiece reflects a broader cultural movement aimed at reaffirming American traditions rather than replacing them with innovations that often lack historical or spiritual significance. The Rasmussen Reports finding, showing Christmas at the top once again, demonstrates that most Americans still want the season to embody something more meaningful than just commerce or cultural tokenism.

Furthermore, Christmas’s return as the leading holiday aligns with a renewed focus on its religious importance as part of America’s cultural heritage, something that Trump’s public statements and policies consistently highlighted. Other recent Rasmussen Reports surveys similarly showed that large majorities consider Christmas important to American heritage.

This is not just a sentimental preference; it mirrors a wider cultural and political affirmation that the values embodied by Christmas - faith, family, hope, charity, and community - remain at the heart of the American identity.

In conclusion, the resurgence of Christmas as America’s favorite holiday reflects the nation’s cultural heartbeat. Amidst competing stories and social shifts, Americans reaffirm their connection to a holiday that captures the spiritual essence of the season.

Under President Trump’s leadership, the open use of “Merry Christmas” and the Christian messages it conveys have solidified this change. It shows not a move away from inclusivity, but an acknowledgment that some traditions – especially those based on faith and history – are worth defending and celebrating in public.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. 

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