Christmas in America is really about the Winter Solstice.  Americans are quite out of touch with Nature, the reason for seasonal changes and the Importance of the Solstices.  What is the common denominator for all these religions, in their Holiday displays in Olympia, that has all these religions vying for "their most important day" on or near Dec. 25th?  It is the Winter Solstice.   Humans have celebrated the Winter Solstice for millenium.  It could be argued that the Winter Solstice is the single most influencal and important event of the year.  We're hardwired to appreciate the end of short days and that day's lengthening to more sun and longer days.  Many, many holidays conform to this time and celebrate on or near Dec 25th. The Winter Solstice, Dec 21, and the Summer Solstice, June 21, are the most dramatic of the Natural Holidays.   Many, many candles are lit on this shortest of nights, in many religions, in many countries and in many customs outside of Christianity.

All honest Biblical scholars (Christian and non Christian) admit and agree that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25.  Dec 25 became the consensus date, and logical way, to assimilate the pagan, and Earth based, Winter Solstice gatherings into the Christian religion.  The writings in the Bible contradict the creation of Christmas on Dec 25 because of weather.  The shepherds and their flocks were not "in the fields", they were in shelter; no one travelled in mid winter (it was too hard) and the manger at night on Dec 25 in Bethlehem was literally freezing.  Their whole journey started at another time of the year.

Since 336 AD in Christian Rome, we have had Dec 25 designated as Jesus' birthday.  Before that date, there were many myths very similar to the Biblical account of Jesus' life that circulated in the Middle East for hundreds of years before Jesus.   In these myths, the hero was always born near the Winter Solstice.  Roman 'Attis' was a son of the virgin Nana, born on Dec 25 and died onMar 25 (Spring Equinox) after being crucified on a tree.  Greek 'Dionysus', Persian 'Mithra' and Egyptian 'Osiris' have been worshipped since Neolithic times and were all born on Dec 25.

The display in the Capitol of Olympia should show all possibilities of religion and spirituality in our state, including the honesty that Dec 25 and the word Christianity were hijacked to supplant the natural outlook & the Natural Holidays that is our world on Dec 21, the Winter Solstice.  Truth, the Earth and her seasons & cycles are way more important than a self described religion.  Sometimes the arrogance of religions is maddening.

According to most sensible researchers, the date of Jesus' birth is September 29, 5 BCE.

Is Jesus "the reason for the season"?  Sure, with qualifications, because history, spirituality and common sense show us that Jesus is just "one of the reasons for the season".  In America, the religion of Santa Claus is stronger.

Nevertheless, the "real reason for the season" is the Winter Solstice.