Well, gee, you’re welcome.
But, as I’m Jewish, I didn’t really give up a family holiday…you know, all us non-Xtian folk are good for something, yeah?
Thanks to you and all the other roughnecks who keep the home fires burning, rather literally. And thanks to the fire fighters who deal with the other kind of home fires and don’t sigh “I told you so!” when it turns out that, once again, carelessness with holiday decorations was to blame.
A special tip o’ the hat to the workers on the Oseberg and Brage rigs who were supposed to have a feast of fresh codfish and all that goes with it on Christmas Eve. When they found out that hurricane-force winds had grounded the helicopter that should have brought out the supplies, and they’d be stuck with canned mystery meat stew for Christmas Cheer, they quickly decided to donate the goodies to the Salvation Army in Bergen and gave some less fortunate souls a last minute surprise.
And Theobroma, I don’t think one’s religious beliefs matter. Even if it’s just a day off work with nothing good on TV for you, it’s a holiday in the countries where most Dopers live, a day when we expect to have off work. If you’re working so the rest of us can party, you deserve thanks (and, if there’s any justice, a healthy amount of overtime pay).
Oh, one more: in addition to the nurses and doctors already mentioned, thanks to the dentists who are on-call over the holidays. Particularly the one who gave my father-in-law an emergency replacement for his lost bridge so he wouldn’t keep doing that creepy Ebeneezer Scrooge imitation until the New Year 
That was a joke!. If you don’t laugh at it I shall start telling some of the awful " jokes" I found in this year’s Christmas crackers.
;)Don’t you freakin’ DARE, ya limey bastid.