Losing?  Already lost, man.  The crap they throw at us every year is just amping us up to buy more garbage we don't need at the time same reminding us how much of the true meanings of the holidays have died. 

I think holidays are a matter of perspective.  If you're in a place that you can't readily celebrate a holiday you're normally accustomed to, such as a solider during WWII, then it's just a day that you remember as being good or, in some cases, bad.  If your life continues to have no celebration of these holidays, then your mindset changes and they mean less and less to you until it's just a distant memory.  In other words, I guarantee that if most holidays weren't about physical possessions to attach a feeling to, then they would be nothing more than just marks on the calendar having no significance.  Just my thoughts.

 Holidays are just an excuse to celebrate. I think it is extremely amusing that capitalism has taken over all of the significant religious holidays, that for easter we see a bunch of bunny rabbits delivering chocolate eggs and jelly beans? Really, who the fuck came up with that idea? Well I guess it is more realistic than Jesus and no one over age 3 takes Peter Cottontail seriously. 

I've never really celebrated easter much myself. Even as a kid I wasn't particularly fond of sweets nor talented as an artist so most of the trappings of easter simply didn't appeal to me. This year I imagine I will simply be taming my lawn, it is looking a little jungleish out there.

As far as the OP, I don't think holidays necessarily pull people apart. While they do tend to be celebrated in cultural cliques I think that is simply a function of people being creatures of habit, but people "outside" of the culture are generally warmly welcomed into the celebration. This can be seen in various cultural holidays like St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest etc. that have there roots in certain cultures but are now widely celebrated outside of the original culture. And really, all holidays are essentially the same regardless of culture. The window dressing might change, but they are all essentially about hanging out with people you care about, eating a lot of food and often over drinking.

I think everyone should be entitled to at least 100 days off a year. Weekends cover a big chunk of that, leaving approximately 48 holidays. You should be free to take these at your own desires, within reason and with notice. No more state or religion sponsored bullshit.
It should start in school, so children learn the ropes and values of scheduling, teamwork, and budgeting long before they truly need the skills.

I think you need to check your math. The vast majority of jobs give more than 100 days off a year. 52 weekends X 2 days a weekend is 104 days off alone. Most full time jobs give at least a week paid vacation, many give 2-3 weeks after a few years of work so that is another 5-15 days. Plus most jobs allow a day or two off for each of the major holidays. Plus many offer some form of PTO or paid sick days. So most people already have 115+ days off a year. 

Unless of course you are on of those that works 6-7 days a week and don't take your vacation time, in which case it is very possible you will be one of those people who are "lucky" and find yourself in a position in the future where you only have to work 100 days a year. 
 

You're right, I forgot to double the weekends. Revised to minimum of 150 days per year.

Most full time positions will NOT give you a vacation, they'll give you vacation pay in lieu. Which isn't a problem, but also has really nothing to do with my driving point that people should be free to choose their own vacation days, independent of state and religious influence.