How about teaching something useful?

Kids get two weeks off for the holidays. That should give them plenty of time to celebrate anyway they see fit, on their own time. The sole purpose of schools is to educate, not to entertain. Thinking back, I can't even begin to guess how much time was wasted on totally mindless activities related to various holidays. Isn't the whole idea of a holiday to provide leisure time to celebrate, without interferring with work? Why should it be used as an excuse to do nothing productive for weeks on end?

All the arguments become moot simply by saying, "You get a day off for that. Today we're going to do what we're paid to do.".