i don't know if there are countries that have roughly equal numbers of different religions.

i think that part of it is about the seperation (or not) of church and state. the statuary holidays and whether things have to close or whether people may choose to work through.

i guess it is a hard one...

i often wonder how hard 'christmas' is for people of jewish faith (and other faiths that don't celebrate jesus) when the traditional stereotype of people not getting into christmas is that they are stingy / not giving /.

more harm than good?

perhaps... probably yes.

yeah, solstice came first... not only that, though, but solstice was about the shortest day. the days would start warming up. i guess that is quite important in those days before central heating and the like.

childrens day? christmas seems to be a day for the kids now fairly much...

i just have trouble with the state supporting / condoning religious holidays because IMHO it is nothing to do with the state and it can be positively harmful for people of different faiths...