I thought I would burst! I stared with wide eyes as her hands came toward my mouth with a piece of bread the size of my fist, soaked in a honey-peanut butter mixture. As I opened my mouth to beg – “please, I can’t eat another bi-ghrrr…” – her small hand found its target and I did burst…with laughter.

Looking back I’m surprised that peanut butter didn’t come out of my nose. Watching her veiled head, and those of her co-conspirators, shaking with laughter, I wiped the sticky honey-peanut butter paste from my chin and grinned with shared delight.

In this small town not far from Kutahya Turkey generosity is measured in calories and our hosts insisted that we eat our fill – then eat another plate. Moments like this one, often revolving around a communal meal have more to do with faith than any proclamation of belief.

As I read, watch and listen to the growing number of reports about the ‘war on Christmas’ I am reminded of this experience. At the table together, I, my fellow American guests and our Turkish hosts were not Muslims, Christians or Atheists – we were fellow eaters, breathers, laughers, lovers, siblings, parents, spouses, etc…we were fellow humans. All this concern for labels and public recognition, from Atheists and Christians alike, obscures the cultural significance of the holiday season.

In a recent conversation, a brilliant professor and long-time mentor of mine expressed his disdain at our preoccupation with origins. Though important, he explained, the origin of an idea, practice or institution does little to explain its contemporary impact or significance. In this line of thinking I would like to propose that we, in a public and cultural way, let go of the ‘origins’ of Christmas.

This proposition is for religious and non-religious Americans alike. Regardless of how Christmas began or where the symbols, traditions and customs originate from, it has a cultural worth and significance independent of those origins. It has taken on a life that is so much larger than its Christian expression. I want to clarify that I am in no way suggesting that Christians themselves should forfeit the religious significance of Christmas and its liturgical celebration. Rather, I am suggesting to Christians and Atheists alike that they recognize that the Holidays have almost nothing to do with Christmas as a Christian holiday anymore – regardless of such origins.

The Holidays – as refers to the four-month marathon between October and January – have become an American celebration of togetherness and generosity. It is a short moment to be appreciative, regardless of our ethnic or religious backgrounds, of our shared humanity, expressed in a peculiarly American way. This is a time of year when our celebrations revolve around food and faith. Food is a universal expression of hospitality and generosity and despite our characteristic overindulgence, shared holiday meals are the most important marker of togetherness. Likewise, the smallest gesture of generosity is the most profound expression of faith that has nothing to do with creedal religion.

Faith in each other, in our capacity to love and be loved regardless of our differences, and faith that our differences can bring us together rather than divide us.

This is a faith that Christians claim as the center of their religious life, and as the center of the religious expression of Christmas. One that, regardless of its manifestation and label in the public square, should be recognizable as a worthy expression of the ‘Christmas Spirit.’

It is also a faith that has nothing to do with religious labels. It is not dependant on the myths and symbols of the religious celebration of Christmas that Atheists are so opposed to.

It is a faith that requires us to relinquish our attachment to public labels. We spend so much time arguing over who owns the right to name this holiday season, and what labels need to be recognized in the public square that we forget to celebrate!

So, this holiday season let’s share some laughs, share some foods and, most importantly, let’s make room for one another in the public sphere.