Jonah, the holiday is particularly important in Scotland, precisely because it is not religious. The Presbyterian Church deeply disapproved of Christmas celebrations. Accordingly, the Scots saved all their celebrating for a secular festival that happened to fall within the Twelve Days of Christmas. When I was a lad, Christmas Day was a normal working day in Scotland, but no-one moved there on January 1st, or indeed January 2nd. Given the importance of the Scots in the settlement of America, it’s no surprise to me that they brought their most important holiday with them.