Protestants historically anti-Christmas

Tom Breen, "Religion Today" (AP, December 12, 2007), writes:

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — As Christmas draws near, Pastor John Foster won't be decorating a tree, shopping for last-minute gifts or working on a holiday sermon for his flock. After all, it's been 50 years since Christmas was anything more than a day of the week to him.

He's one of very few American Christians who follow what used to be the norm in many Protestant denominations — rejecting the celebration of Christmas on religious grounds.

These tendencies seems to be still most alive among those denominations with some sort of Puritan (e.g., Scottish Covenanter, Reformed Presbyterian) background. I have known Christian communities that would not celebrate Christmas, and some who would turn around and celebrate St. Nick's day in early January when they would all exchange presents. Go figure. Out the front door and back through the rear window.