December in Maine conjures a number of images: Strings of blinking lights, red ribbons on evergreen wreaths and plastic iconic figures on lawns, all under a coating of white, frosty snow.

While no human agency on earth has been able to bring the Lakes Region area its traditional dusting of snowflakes this year, some members of the Windham community have brought back what they consider an important part of the spirit of December:

Christmas.

More specifically, the word “Christmas.”

A national debate erupted last year over schools, government agencies, and businesses that had phased out the word “Christmas” in favor of the more general term “holiday.”

Those in favor of the practice point out that not everyone celebrates Christmas and it can make those people uncomfortable. Switching to the word “holiday” encompasses other December celebrations, such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Years, as well as the countless lesser-known cultural events, such as the Vietnamese Tet.

It has also been suggested that when schools hold Christmas events, they are promoting Christianity in defiance of the Constitution.

Critics say a lot of Christmas celebrations are still being observed but given new, politically-correct names. Retail chain Target, for example, sells indoor evergreen trees that are normally associated with Christmas, but refers to them as “holiday trees.”

“It’s nobody else’s holiday,” said Bill Darling, the owner of Gulf of Maine Gunsmithing, a firearms store in Raymond.

“Businesses are willing to make money off of it, but not acknowledge its name. That’s wrong to me,” Darling said.

Some critics say that Christmas has religious origins, but has become a part of the American culture, even for those who are not religious.

A Fox News poll conducted in 2004 found that the number of Americans who celebrate Christmas is greater than the number of Americans who say they are Christians.

Other critics argue that America is a Christian nation and Christmas should be observed and recognized by the government.

The American Civil Liberties Union recognizes Christmas as a religious holiday. Its members support individuals and businesses that wish to mention it by name and celebrate it openly, but believe government offices and schools should use the term “holiday.”

“I’m a Christian, and I think what Jesus preached was tolerance,” said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, the local branch of the ACLU.

“The best spirit of Christmas is reaching out across religious lines,” Bellows said. “Children who grew up in non-Christian homes should not be made to feel like outsiders in our communities, courthouses, the legislature and the public schools.”

The Windham Town Hall has an artificial pine tree bejeweled with ornaments on display. Town Manager Anthony Plante said it is common sense that it be referred to as a “Christmas Tree.”

This year, national chain Wal-Mart reversed its policy from years past and changed “holiday” back into Christmas for its promotions.

“We listened to our customers and associates, they let us know that Christmas is important to them,” said spokesperson Marisa Bluestone.

While Santa made a visit to Windham’s Wal-mart earlier this month and some employees can be seen wearing droopy red and white hats, the store still sells items tailored for other December holidays.

Bluestone said Wal-Mart employees are told to use their own discretion when they choose to say either “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” to customers.

Colene Legere, the manager of Seasons Home and Cottage Store in Windham said her employees say “Happy Holidays” to customers.

“We just try to cater to everyone,” Legere said.

“Christmas is a holiday that we recognize,” said Allen Faraday, chief administrative officer of Bushmaster Firearms in Windham. Faraday said employees gave more than $5,000 to Windham Human Services this year and the business provided gifts to four needy families.

Jason Phillips, who owns Skyway Games in Windham, a computer-gaming center, decorates the outside of his store with blue and white lights, the color scheme of the store’s logo. He said he uses the term “Happy Holidays.”

“We don’t want to offend anyone, but we remain committed to our holiday festivities,” Phillips said.

Jane Raeburn, the president of the Maine Pagan Clergy Association said she is not offended when someone wishes her a Merry Christmas, but will respond with a “Happy Holidays.”

Raeburn, who is an author and lives in Wells, said she chooses to celebrate Christmas with her father each year.

“It’s an important part of our cultural heritage, whether you believe in it or not,” Raeburn said.

Raeburn calls the conical tree she sets up in her house each year a “Yule tree.”

“A lot of the traditions of Christians do not come from Christianity,” she said. Raeburn said the Christmas Tree was adopted from Pagan customs.

Her Yule tree is decorated with ornaments such as dragons and a Red Sox World Series winner’s icon. On top, instead of an angel or a star, is a wooden sun she bought at Pier 1 Imports.

Raeburn, who celebrates the Winter Solstice, Yule and Saturnalia in December, said her views and customs do not represent all Pagans in the area.

“If you ask 12 different Pagans, you’ll get 14 different answers,” Raeburn said.

“Different times of the year are special to different groups,” said David Bergman, president of the nearby Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue in Portland. He said that Hanukkah is often falsely portrayed as a similar holiday to Christmas.

“It’s just not an equivalent,” Bergman said.

“‘Happy Holidays’ means happy holy days,” said Pastor Dave Thorp of Faith Lutheran Church in Windham.

Thorp said using a generic term avoids offending people, but does not honor the diversity of religions in the world. Thorp said using specific terms would help “open up a space for dialog” between people with different religious views.

“Maybe if we spoke to one another more often, then we wouldn’t have religious wars and conflicts.”

“We do not presume that people in the community should call it something that makes them uncomfortable,” said Rev. Sally Colegrove of the Windham Hill United Church of Christ.

“It doesn’t matter to us what you say, it’s about the intention,” said Amy Cousins, administrative assistant of the Unity Church in Windham. “Their intention is to wish love upon another person,” said Cousins.

“The ideal is a government that is being respectable to a diversity of religious views,” said Bellows of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

“In this day and age, we’re very aware of different cultures,” said Sandy Prince, superintendent of the Windham school department.

Prince said the school does not have an official policy on December holidays, but that school employees use their own judgment on celebrations and activities. There have been no complaints from parents, he said.

“It’s up to the teacher,” agreed Donna N. Stephen, principal of Windham Primary School.

“We try to observe the holidays, but not make a big deal out of Christmas specifically. We have a variety of students who observe the holidays in different ways,” said Principal Cindy Curtis of Windham’s Manchester Elementary School.

The Windham schools featured various holiday band and chorus performances that took holiday songs from a variety of cultures.

“The Supreme Court has found displaying multiple religious symbols representing a diversity of religious messages Constitutional,” Bellows said.

The Aubuchon Hardware in downtown North Windham is covered with lights and red ribbons for the holidays. Manager Brett Needham declined to comment on where the store stands on the holiday issue, but did share his frustration with a bigger controversy this year.

“We’re kind of depressed that there’s no snow. It’s not even cold,” Needham said.

holiday1: Donna Johnston, who owns The Craft Shop in Windham with her husband, holds a handmade Christmas sign at her store on on Route 302. “We like to emphasize Christmas,” Johnston said.holiday2: Donna Johnston, who owns The Craft Shop in Windham with her husband, holds two Christmas ornaments at her store on on Route 302. Johnston designed and made the pine cone snowman, while the candy cane was her husbands work. “We like to emphasize Christmas,” Johnston said.holiday3: Evergreen wreaths were just some of the holiday decorations adorning the Hall Implement farm machinery business in Windham. Manager George Hall said the store doesn’t mind saying “Merry Christmas” to customers.holiday4: A Hanukkah display at Haven’s Candies in Windham.holiday5: Aubuchon Hardware in Windham is adorned with various lights and ribbons. Manger Brett Needham said the warm weather has hurt sales of snow shovels and rock salt.