"Christmas survives into the 21st century as a thin place where people attempt to step out of the stress and nastiness of everyday life and show love and charity and know peace. It is a nice time of year, a nice holiday. ...
"And yet there are certain shared rituals which sociologists speak of as being necessary for a society's 'ontological security,' and Christmas remains among the greatest of them -- along with the inspiration of some of Western culture's most magnificent music and moral and sacred narratives."
Two views of Christmas and the holiday music:
Christmas as a private holiday
Christmas music every day of the year