In John Grisham’s novel Skipping Christmas, which is now a hit movie, Luther and Lora Krank decide to take a year off from all the clutter of Christmas. They spent $6,000 last year on Christmas with very little to show for it. Their daughter is now serving in the Peace Corp so maybe it is time for something different! For one year there would be no rooftop Frosty, no company party, not even a tree—just the two of them setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. Does such a scenario sound enticing to you?

Does Christmas really make any difference? If Christmas is simply Frosty the Snowman in a winter wonderland, some of us might rather join Kenny Chesney longing for a deep, dark tan with our feet in the sand. If Christmas is simply business, then most of us could use a break. Even in the culture w…