Appeals Court Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Christmas.

The observance of Christmas as a federal holiday does not violate the separation of church and state, a federal appeals court has ruled.

In a brief order issued Dec. 19, the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling dismissing the lawsuit against Christmas, which was brought by Cincinnati lawyer Richard Ganulin.

Ganulin, who is Jewish, told the Cincinnati Post he objects to the government celebrating a Christian holiday. "It's not that I'm against Christmas," he said. "I'm seeking the dignity of equality for non-Christians." Ganulin said he disagrees with the lower court, which held that although Christmas is a religious holiday, the government's reason for observing it can be secular.

The Cincinnati-based attorney said he plans to appeal the Ganulin v. U.S. case to the U.S. Supreme Court.