Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves.

Sevareid frames Christmas less as a commercial or purely religious observance than as a civic and moral “necessity”: a culturally protected pause that interrupts self-absorption. The line argues that modern life’s default setting is self-interest, and that societies need ritualized reminders of obligation, generosity, and shared meaning. By saying “there has to be at least one day,” he implies that altruism and reflection are not automatic; they require a calendar, customs, and collective consent to make room for them. The quote’s enduring appeal lies in its ecumenical tone—Christmas functions as a symbol for any communal practice that reorients people toward purposes beyond the self.