I have read a lot over the last month or so about the debate over saying "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas". There was a plethora of hooplah when Dan Meisler wrote his editorial about the concept. Here's my thoughts...in case you are at all interested: (remember, the name of the blog...)
...saying "Happy Holidays" is nice for everyone. It's the holiday season for more than one religion...you can't automatically assume that everyone shares in your own holiday traditions.
...saying "Merry Christmas", I doubt, OFFENDS anyone...but I am sure it says to some "here we go again, another person just assuming I celebrate what they do"
...now, how is saying "Happy Holidays" difficult? I mean, I get that it goes overboard. I get that we all need to celebrate in our own way.
I have been spending more time at church now that I am back where there's a church that I am comfortable with (I know, can you believe it). And, the homily was, once again, enlightening. Fr. Len talked about Christmas and it not being too commercial (which was an argument I read about people being upset about saying Happy Holidays...it was commercial), but that Christmas has become too secular.
So, our family tried to make sure we put the "sacred" back into Christmas (with our own hunk of cheese, becuase that's what we do)...but if those of us who are Christian are supposed to focus on the sacred (the non-secular), then wouldn't those who are Christian need to keep it out of schools, take it out of government and remember that not everyone believes in the same sacred season? How are we keeping Christmas and this time sacred if we say it to just anyone?
And, what about those who celebrate Hanukkah? I don't know enough about that celebration to say "Happy Hanukkah" without feeling like an ass. So, saying Happy Holidays just makes more sense.
Okay, those are my Christmas and Holiday ramblings before I head off to the big "After Christmas Sales" (is that ironic?)
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12 comments:
GASP!!! CAPY SAID ASS!!!!!
haha. Awesome rant Capy. I'm totally with you. Working at VG's around the holidays this year I said "Happy Holidays," just to be polite I suppose. But one lady. Oh man. She was not okay with this. She tried to be polite about it saying "Oh honey, we are in America so you say 'Merry Christmas.'" I chuckled and said "Well ma'am, not everyone in America celebrates Christmas." Here witty rebuttal was, "Well hun, Christmas is an American holiday, so you can just say Merry Christmas." I again laughed and said, "Actually ma'am, Christmas was originally started in Germany." Oh the nerve of some people. :D
She was walking out the door and had no response to the Germany comment, but I was quite proud of my intellectual superiority over this 40-something tool.
I decided next year I'm going to make a shirt that says "Have a very Politically Correct Holiday!" And include all holidays on it. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, Winter Solstice, Christmas, every holiday I can find just to see how people will react. I think it will be hilarious.
But moving past that, I really like your argument for saying Happy Holidays, out of love and respect. Thats good. Way to go Capy.
Man, I miss you kids! Glad you're having a good holiday and that you are working!
Ooh, and I am getting my very first tattoo! Jason bought me it for Christmas!
I hope you're not working and I will see you on the 18th of Jan!!!
Tattoo!! What of?!
capy! You're getting a tattoo!? That's awesome! What is it going to be? Im typing you this on my new iPod that I got for Christmas! Are you having a good break?
I am having a great break! It was much needed to rejuvenate me for this next semester. How are all of you? Katie, I thought you were coming to Grand Haven with your friend. Are you still going to do that?
=/ we were supposed to go up there in early december, but things didn't work out with that because her grandparents were out of town for a while. hopefully we'll be able to set up another date to head up there.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Wow! There's a screen name that I haven't seen in a while. Kyle? How are you doing??? Oh, you guys are too much!
When's graduation this year? I am running a half marathon Memorial Day weekend and then I have a 5K the following weekend, please tell me it's not the weekend after memorial day weekend...
Have you been keeping up with the election, Capy? What are your thoughts?
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