Wrapping paper lays strewn across the living room floor, and I am happily stuffed with turkey, dressing, and my grandmother’s legendary (at least in our family) macaroni and cheese.

My mind, as it always does this time of year, goes back to my childhood and waiting with anticipation for the opening of gifts and to see what Santa left under the tree for me on Christmas morning.

One of the fondest childhood memories I have of Christmas past is listening with my mother to her old holiday record albums.

More than receiving gifts, which steadily became less and less important to me with age, or the wonderful sweets and holiday meals, which did not, I dwell with pleasure throughout the season on those happy, simpler days.

Whether I was underfoot while mom decorated the tree or I was getting ready to go to school for the last few days before Christmas break finally arrived, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, or Frank Sinatra were regular guests in our home each December.

“Christmas in Killarney” by Crosby was one of my personal childhood favorites. But I did not come to fully appreciate the crooner’s most popular hit, “White Christmas,” until I became older. Irving Berlin, who composed the song, received assurances from Crosby that it would be popular.

But at the time there was some now obviously unfounded concern that the song’s lack of a religious context would make it otherwise.

Today I merely wonder at the decided reversal in attitudes. Gone are the days when one might wonder if a non-religious themed song can become a success. The seeming innocence of the “good old days” and a scrupulously clean and child-friendly Hollywood are now replaced with not only something quite different but the actual suppression of the very word “Christmas.”

For example, Hollywood recently made a remake of “Miracle on 34th Street.” But you won’t see a remake of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Why? Clarence is an angel sent from heaven and these days Hollywood wants nothing to do with that.

Still, it seems odd to me that there is no concern afforded a Santa Claus in “Miracle on 34th Street,” but an angel or anything to do with Jesus is unacceptable.

Why? Both are historical facts. Saint Nicholas was a venerated bishop of Smyrna, in what is modern-day Turkey. He lived in the fourth century and, according to legend, was wealthy, generous and loved children; often throwing gifts through the windows of the poor among them.

Jesus is also a historical fact and, though the Bible is enough for me, there is also evidence of His existence outside the Scriptures. Yet Santa can appear on public land and a manger scene cannot.

Though St. Nicholas bears very little resemblance to the jolly and fat Kris Kringle of today, Santa is nevertheless a Christian symbol. Modern society is responsible for affecting a commercialistic corrosion on this symbol, but the image of Santa is nevertheless based on a Christian bishop with Christian accouterments and morals.

Perhaps the secularists feel more comfortable with St. Nicholas in the red suit, conveniently forgetting or ignoring the traits he’s taken on over the years from Jesus. Similarities such as being kind, loving, generous and, tellingly, truly knowing your heart (if you’ve been naughty or nice).

Though historians disagree, it is most probable that celebrating the Nativity of Christ began in the fourth century, replacing the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.

The solstice usually occurred around Dec. 25 on the Julian calendar and the ancient Romans celebrated the event by feasting and by the giving of gifts. As the Gospels do not note the actual date of Jesus’ birth, the Roman Catholic Church chose Dec. 25 to give Christian meaning to these existing pagan rituals. In the ensuing centuries Christianity spread throughout Europe and across the globe.

During this expansion the local rituals and celebrations, incorporated into the celebration of Christ’s birth, eventually developed into the various traditions and customs surrounding modern-day Christmas.

These traditions and customs are all well and good; from mistletoe to gift giving, they bring a lot of joy and happiness into many lives. There is no point in an attempt to separate these elements from the celebration of Christ’s birth — what to me is the very reason for the celebration in the first place.

There is also no point in an attempt to separate the celebration of Christ’s birth from the mistletoe and gift giving, either. But I, of course, recognize that Christmas is, like most things in life, what you yourself make of it.

God gave us free will, and the manner in which we celebrate or do not celebrate His son’s birth is our choice.

If it is simply a time to give gifts and eat well, it is yours to decide. I’ve no right to try to force you to attend a Christmas service at church or to go caroling with “Silent Night” on your lips. Or, if you choose to ignore Christmas, avoiding the near-trauma of attempting to buy anything during the month of December, that is also your choice.

Again, nobody will try to force you to go see a church Christmas play or kneel in prayer. Likewise, for many it is a time of reflection and thanksgiving for the birth of Christ. Take no offense that I or others say to you “Merry Christmas” instead of “happy holidays.”

And if you are offended by the sight of a manger scene or feel somehow “threatened” by a lapel pin that reads “Jesus is the reason for the season,” you’re the one with the problem.

That is the one point in this otherwise joyful season that irritates me; the whining few who become offended by hearing Merry Christmas. In fact, they really offend me. I’m rankled by loads of things I see and hear every day, but you don’t see me hiring an attorney to take away a classroom’s (or an entire school system’s) right to sing Christmas songs that mention Jesus.

If a Muslim wished me well during Ramadan or a Jew a Happy Hanukkah, I would neither scowl nor deride them. Indeed, I would happily discuss both their faith and my own.

Perhaps that is the difference between most of us and the few complainers. I can positively state for myself, and I’m confident in others’ beliefs as well, that most of us are completely secure in our faith, whatever that faith may be.

We have no fear that we’ll suddenly turn atheist if somebody says to us “there is no God” or that we’ll lose our beliefs if we encounter someone who does not share the same ones we have. If we do, we really had no faith to begin with.

So happy holidays to everyone, but as for me and my house, we hope you and yours had — even though it wasn’t white — a very merry Christmas!

Jeff O’Bryant is an amateur historian and holds two degrees, a bachelor’s in education and a bachelor’s with honors in history. He is a columnist and staff writer for The Catoosa County News and can be contacted at jeffobryant@catt.com.