Nevertheless, regardless of whether the date for Christmas has a pagan origin or not, it cannot be disputed that there is evidence for non-Christian influences on the celebration of Jesus' birth. For example, the Christmas tree probably reflects the belief of the ancient German people in sacred trees. Moreover, over the centuries some of the revelry associated with Christmas (e.g., excessive drinking and eating) seemed to have had a distinctly non-Christian flavor, so much so that some Christians, such as the Puritans, refused to celebrate Christmas (they also opposed Christmas because they saw it as being linked to Roman Catholicism).
Still, most modern-day American Christians celebrate Christmas with little guilt. The pagan origins of some Christmas traditions have been largely forgotten and/or these customs are seen as having been sufficiently "Christianized." Nonetheless, I would argue that the modern American Christmas continues to reflect some pagan influences--albeit of a more contemporary kind. The emphasis on gift-buying and parties, as well as on such secular Christmas figures as Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman--the whole commercialized aspect of American Christmases--reflects a materialistic outlook that is in conflict with the spiritual focus that Christians should have. While I would not suggest that it is absolutely necessary for Christians to reject all of these things, I do feel that believers really need to take care that they do not allow latter-day paganism to lure them away from a focus on what Christmas is supposed to be about--the coming of God Himself in the flesh to live among us and to bring us salvation.