Why does g4 have Hearth's Warming Eve while g3 had Christmas?

[Jeric 46,880]

I think that some of the potentially off topic debate is predicated on an assumption that people view and celebrate Christmas the same way. They don't. I got to Celebrate Yule and Christmas this year as I have every year since 1998. Yule and Christmas are similar in some ways, at least in the traditions. You really have "Three Christmases" -  Traditional, Religious, and Secular. Even the non religious celebrate the heck out of the holiday, so this is less about religious freedoms.

 

As far as MLP:FiM goes, it is (thankfully) about good storytelling.
 
I'll take the in-canon angle and come right out and state I have never considered any of the generations connected. Sorry, I just haven't. G3 can have Christmas the same way that (in Trek) Vulcan is destroyed in the film reboot and not in the television series at the same time. I don't view it as the same world. Equestria and the prior series would have their own holidays. 
 
Now, addressing this for a literary and creative view, back in the 70's through to the 90's it was a simple ratings grab to throw "Christmas Special" on something and have it sell. One of the reasons that G4 is so appealing is that it shakes off (some) of the damn conventions of shows seen in the past. That includes the blasted 'Christmas' special. Hearth's Warming Eve is both familiar (lights and colors similar to the pagan traditions or Christmas) and new (the backstory and world building). I freaking love that about G4. 
 
The whole idea of "new familiar" is better than another cookie cutter Christmas special.

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

Gen 3 had no vision other than being a cash grab directed at girls of a particular age. Everything about Gen 4 has received a lot more attention to detail and is actually quite highbrow. They've taken a lot more care this time around to craft a self-contained world complete with it's own history and mythology. Considering that there is no Christ in their reality, nor any deity as we know it, there can't really be a Christmas. However, all of the other things that we typically have around that time of year as it gets colder and snowier (the pretty lights and seasonal decorations, seasonal foods, etc) fits just fine without any exposition. Familiar scenes that we do traditionally associate with Christmas, but aren't inextricably linked with it.

 

Besides meticulously crafting Equestrian lore to stand on its own, there is the matter others have noted about political correctness. This wasn't such a concern in the days of Gen 3, but it's now inescapable. What really matters here in my opinion is that they've managed to satisfy the need for it without appearing as if they copped out anywhere. It all melds beautifully.

[AlbaTross 1,586]

Gen 3 had no vision other than being a cash grab directed at girls of a particular age. Everything about Gen 4 has received a lot more attention to detail and is actually quite highbrow. They've taken a lot more care this time around to craft a self-contained world complete with it's own history and mythology. Considering that there is no Christ in their reality, nor any deity as we know it, there can't really be a Christmas. However, all of the other things that we typically have around that time of year as it gets colder and snowier (the pretty lights and seasonal decorations, seasonal foods, etc) fits just fine without any exposition. Familiar scenes that we do traditionally associate with Christmas, but aren't inextricably linked with it.

 

Besides meticulously crafting Equestrian lore to stand on its own, there is the matter others have noted about political correctness. This wasn't such a concern in the days of Gen 3, but it's now inescapable. What really matters here in my opinion is that they've managed to satisfy the need for it without appearing as if they copped out anywhere. It all melds beautifully.

I agree that G3 just reeks of being a cash grab and nothing more. I also agree that the whole notion of political correctness is incredibly dumb as the "Christmas" celebrated by the masses is no more than a secular holiday. The only time I hear about the birth of Christ is at church, yet for some reason the politicians use religious tolerance as an excuse as to why we can't have Christmas specials or say Merry Christmas at retail establishments. However, FiM did manage to work around that and satisfy the need for a holiday special without actually having a Christmas special, so it deserves props for that. Besides, as its own world it should have its own reason for the season.

[CC_Maud_Pie 6,431]

For political correctness and to give it a more magical and unique name. After all, the show is fictional so it's normal to create holidays and to rename existing ones.

[RainbowTashie 379]

For political correctness it seems. Made it's own winter holiday with it's own lore so no one can be offended

yeah that seems most likely the case. Even though most people celebrate xmas with no regard to the actual religion