Season's Greetings?
By Lynne Bell
So here's the deal: Even though we live in a world where medieval barbarism is indiscriminately unleashed upon the innocent, where racism still rears its ugly head and where (especially in this area, this year) job losses and economic uncertainty are affecting so many people, why, oh why do we still insist on arguing about a simple greeting during what is supposed to be the season of peace and goodwill?
Every year, this debate surfaces (I'm looking at you, Facebook), and every year it remains unresolved, ready to resurface just in time for next year's Christmas season, because-according to the Holy Bible, no less-we insist upon honouring the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law.
If we greet someone in the spirit of seasonal goodwill or if we receive a greeting wishing us well, does it really matter if the greeting is 'Merry Christmas' or something else?
In modern parlance, I self-identify as a Christian (see: work in progress). And I wholeheartedly disagree with the watering down of Christmas (for those of us who celebrate it), but I also think it shouldn't be used as a tool in the us versus them wars, simply because that is not in keeping with the true spirit of the season. Nor does it reflect well on the guy whose birth we Christians are supposed to be celebrating...
As someone who has spent a few Christmases in the belly of the seasonal beast-both as a shopper and as a retail employee-I've witnessed both sides of this debate firsthand, as I'm sure most of us have.
There's the lady I saw who kindly wished a harried cashier a 'Merry Christmas' and in return, received a sharp rebuke regarding the store staffer's spiritual leanings, accompanied by a touching sermonette on tolerance (oh, the irony...). And on the other side, I've also seen a smiling someone wish a fellow shopper 'Happy Holidays' only to receive a lecture about the greeter's lack of Christmas spirit (more irony)...
I agree that currently, our culture seems to be overrun by grievance collectors ready to take offence at the slightest (usually unintentional) provocation. But does this mean we should join them? I don't think so. And once again, it's because the guy whose birth we're honouring gave us an example that's better than that.
As we're all struggling and stumbling through this world-and Christmas season- together, why don't we all cut each other some seasonal slack and assume the best of each others' greetings and good wishes?
So in that spirit, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays-but most of all, “on earth peace and good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14).
And please, let's assume that St. Luke meant women and children, too!
Merry Christmas
By Kelly Running
It’s that time of year again, do we say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” or simply avoid any allusions to it being Christmas time at all?
Well, my question to you is this, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, how is it offensive for someone to wish you good tidings for the season by saying Merry Christmas?
They’re wishing you well. Maybe you’re an atheist, Muslim, or are Jewish, but regardless of your religion or lack-there-of how is it insulting for someone to wish you merriment?
Canada was founded as a Christian country, the British were mostly Anglican and the French were mostly Catholics, while Protestants dotted the landscape as well, but the majority of people this nation was founded upon were Christian.
Today our holidays surround Christian holy days and this includes Christmas. What days off do most people have in December? Christmas Day. So, by saying Happy Holidays people are referring to Christmas anyways - which if we’re being picky holiday is actually a contraction of “holy day” so that’s inappropriate as well if Christmas is inappropriate.
If someone were in the spirit of the season and wished me a Happy Hanukkah would I be offended? Not in the least, they were wishing me well during a time that is important to them. The same as Christmas greetings, people are simply wishing each other well during an important time for them. Whether they’re a Santa-focused Christmas group, a religious-focused Christmas group, or if they are focused on Christmas being a time of giving, they’re simply wishing you merriment.
Since, merriment is the message being spread, how then can Merry Christmas be considered offensive? Unless, that is, you’re against people wishing joy to the world specifically in December.
So, to everyone out there this holiday season, Merry Christmas, I wish you a wonderful month and good tidings in the New Year.
