What’s Wrong With Saying “Happy Holidays” Instead of “Merry Christmas?”

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY!

Uh oh.  I hear whispers and chatter coming from some of the people at their computers…

“Happy Holidays?!? What kinda greeting is THAT for this time of the year??”

“You bastard!  It’s pro-nounced ‘Merry CHRIST-mas,’ you twit!”

“Oh great – another person trying to take Jesus out of his own holiday by being politically correct!”

All of the above may sound silly, but believe it or not, conversations just like this are going on in homes throughout this nation of ours.  Some people have speculated that a “War on Christmas” – i.e. the downsizing of all things Christ-related in reference to the holiday – has been going on for years now, to the point where even saying “Merry Christmas” to someone is bound to have a person chastized for not being sympathetic towards other religiions.

Indeed, the fact that the word “Christ” is the first syllable in the word “Christmas” deems it a holiday of Christian origin (or, if you’re anal-retentive, Jewish, since Jesus WAS a jew).  Therefore, it WOULD make sense for a person to spend their December days yelling out “Merry Christmas” to everyone they pass on the street.

That is, it WOULD make sense, if it weren’t for one smaaaaall, tiny thing…

CHRISTMAS ISN’T THE ONLY CELEBRATION GOING ON THIS TIME OF YEAR!!

People of the Christian faith can be so selfish and dumb sometimes.  Just because they like to put so much emphasis on their holiday, they forget that (a) not all people are Christians, and therefore, (b) not all people celebrate Christmas.

I get annoyed when I hear these people complain about seeing a “Happy Holidays” sign in a store window.  “That sign SHOULD say ‘Merry Christmas,’” they might say.  WRONG! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

And you know why? Because a store doesn’t just cater to Christians – they cater to a wide variety of clientele, some of which may be offended by seeing a word/holiday associated with Christ in their store.

Besides, the word “holiday” means “holy day.”  I know how much Christians like to believe their “holy days” are the only ones that account for anything, but do you know how many holidays actually occur during the month of December?

I didn’t think so – allow me to list a few of them, along with when they occur, as well as some of their traditions/practices (courtesy of http://www.mcmaster.ca/hres/religiousholidays/Dec08.pdf):

1. Masa’il: Religion – Baha’i; When - December 12, 2008; Importance – The 15th month.
2. Sharaf: Religion - Baha’i; When - December 31, 2008; Importance - The 16th month.
3. Day of Hajj (Day at ‘Arafat): Religion - Islam; When - December 7, 2008; Importance - Commemorates the last revelation to the Prophet at Mount ‘Arafat shortly before his death; Traditions/ Practices –  Muslims on Hajj attend a service on the plains in front of Mount ‘Arafat.
4. Eid al-Adha: Religion - Islam;  When - December 8, 2008; Importance – The Festival of Sacrifice is the concluding act of pilgrimage and is observed even when not on pilgrimage; Traditions/ Practices - As Abraham offered his son, Ishmael, to God, Muslims offer sheep, goats and camels. They distribute the meat to the poor.
5. First of Muharram: Religion - Islam; When - December 29, 2008; Importance – The first of Muharram (first month of the Islamic year 1428) celebrates the Hijra (migration) of Muhammad and his followers in 622 CE, from Mecca to Medina, where they established the first Islamic community.
6. Maunajiyaras: Religion – Jainism; When – December 9, 2008; Importance - This day is regarded as the anniversary of the birth of many of the Tirthankaras or Pathfinders; Traditions/ Practices - Maunajiyaras is a day of fasting, silence and meditation on the five holy beings: monks, teachers, religious leaders, Arihants (Jinas, enlightened masters) and Siddhas (liberated souls).
7. Chanukah: Religion - Judaism; When - December 22 to Dec 29, 2008; Importance - Chanukah, meaning “dedication” in Hebrew refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem; Traditions/ Practices - The modern home celebration of Chanukah centers around the lighting of the chanukiah, a special menorah for Chanukah; unique foods, latkes and jelly doughnuts; and special songs and games.
8. Tohji-taisai: Religion – Shinto; When – December 21, 2008; Importance - Grand Ceremony of the Winter Solstice. Celebrates the joy of the ending of the yin period of the sun, when it declines in strength, and the beginning of its growing power or yang period. The sun is of central importance in Japan, expressing the presence of Amaterasu Omikami, the Kami of the Sun.
9. Yule: Religion - Wicca; When - December 21, 2008; Importance - Yule, which marks the New Year in the Anglo-Saxon and northern traditions of Wicca, is the celebration of the birth of the Gof as the
   winter-born King, symbolized by the rebirth of the life-generating and life-sustaining sun. It is a time for ritually shedding the impurities of the past year, and for contemplating avenues of spiritual development in the year ahead.

With all of these different religions and their various celebratory days, it is any wonder that businesses have decided to be more sensitive by greeting everyone with a blanket statement this time of year?  Should Christians REALLY find themselves offended by a store that’s not willing to sacrafice its money-making potential just so they can hear the word “Christ” followed by “mas?”

I’m not saying it’s a BAD thing to say “Merry Christmas.”  What I’m saying, though, is that it’s ignorant to think that “Christmas” should be the only greeting said this time of year, or that everyone wants to hear it.  I’m a Christian, and I’d be a bit weirded out if a Jewish person came up to me and said “Happy Chanukah!”  I’d also be offended if I saw “Happy Eid” on every dang store I went to - Cinnabon doesn’t know if I’m Muslim or not!

So, for those people offended by a “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays,” get over yourself.  Besides, just think about how offended an athiest is everytime THEY see anything with the word “Holiday” in it – “How DARE they assume I’m holy!!!”

-Aaron P. Taylor

Note: The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of EMQTV, its network, or its affiliates.  They are the sole thoughts of its author, Aaron P. Taylor, who is more than happy to take credit for them.  Happy holidays!