Yes he hates religion, but his real hatred seems to be focused on the origins and orginal meanings of ritual.

Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe are vacuous pagan or agrarian symbols, and not Christian one, while the Menorah is memorial to the triumph of fanaticism over rationality.

Of course, both meanings have evolved considerably, with Christianity infusing the former symbols to the point that their origins are remembered only by scholars and Mr. Hitchens. Hannukah, in the meantime has evoled to be a commercial gift giving holiday, while even the story has been watered down to "The oppressed us. we won. Now let's eat."

His argument that the origins of a symbol or ritual are more important than their current manifestations is a load of crap.

Example: The Swastika. One it was a funky design. One even thought spiritually beneficial or holy. Now it is a symbol of hatred and murder. Should we embrace it because it's orgins were innocuous? No.

Oh and Hitchens really is a freaking jackass.