Study: If There's a 'War on Christmas' Not Many People Care

Yes, Virginia, the "War on Christmas" is fake news.

The results of a Pew Research Center study on how American society feels the Christmas holiday should be commemorated are in and the verdict is: the public doesn't care.

Religious right groups and Fox News have been touting "The War on Christmas" for over a decade but, according to Google trends, concern about fictional attacks on the institution of Christmas have been on the steady decline since hitting a peak in 2006.

Still, that hasn't stopped religious-based anti-LGBTQ hate groups like the the Family Research Council and Liberty Counsel from stirring up animus and fear by publishing year "Naughty or Nice" shopping guides. These guides slap a proverbial scarlet (with green) letter "A" (for atheist) on any brand that uses the inclusive greeting "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

In fact, it became one of the more ridiculous promises in President Trump's campaign for the White House.

"We're going to be saying 'Merry Christmas' again" he vowed.

But according to results from Pew, a rising share of Americans say they don't care if they're greeted with "Merry Christmas" in stores during December or actually prefer hearing "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings."

As everything these days, the preference is split across party lines with Republicans most bothered by "Happy Holidays," and Democrats least concerned about not hearing "Merry Christmas."

Naturally, white evangelical protestants seem most upset to see (what they perceive) a shrinking role of religion in Christmas. Nearly six in ten evangelicals say it "bothers them a lot." Nearly four in ten Catholics believe that religion's role in Christmas hasn't changed much.