How did Christmas get corrupted from a religious holiday to a capitalist holiday?

Mad Max: How did Christmas get corrupted from a religious holiday to a capitalist holiday?
I think it is pretty clear that Christmas is largely no longer a religious holiday, but a capitalist holiday. How did this happen, has it always been like this or is this a recent historical development?

Answers and Views:

Answer by I’m a Christian
i blame the pagans.

Answer by Mothman Lives!
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Any time $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ is involved, a religious holiday becomes secular. Any religious holiday that doesn’t bring $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ most likely will never become secular. Notice Thanksgiving disappearing and becoming less important? I know a lot of families now who just get together on Thanksgiving so they can shop for gifts together.

Answer by Lance
Christmas was stolen from the Pagan beliefs. Christmas is celebrated by everyone as just a holiday to have with family and friends. It’s not just a Christian holiday.

Answer by A Dave You Know
with open arms..

Christians ARE capitalists.

Answer by Believer
For some it is about the birth of the Savior of the world…

for others, it is an excuse to shop….

Sad

Answer by Tim
A similar way it was corrupted from a cultural one to a religious one: people with power wanted it to be.

Answer by Rishi
This is good business and best of this goes to Jesus killers. They made few years back this holy day as capitalist’s day. In europe people used to buy candy or fruits and give the kids on Christmas, now you may have to buy Ipod or fur coat for your love.