General Holiday Wellwishes And Whatnot
It seems that these days some people get upset when you say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Because, you know, that's what Jesus would have done.
I'll admit it. I usually say "Happy Holidays" for a variety of reasons.
I say "Happy Holidays" because I'm lazy, and I don't want to have to remember to switch to the next holiday.
I say "Happy Holidays" because I don't really mean it, and I only want to tell you one big lie, and then you hand me my hamburger and I walk away.
I say "Happy Holidays" because I don't want to offend Christians because true Christians shouldn't get rip-roaring, knee-walking, commode-hugging drunk for New Years, and thus don't have much fun. Ergo I don't want to mention it specifically, and bring them down.
I say "Happy Holidays" because quite often, people who demand that you mention Christmas specifically are also screaming racists, and will be upset when I mention Kwanzaa.
I say "Happy Holidays" because those same people have the same reaction to Hanukkah.
I say "Happy Holidays" because Christmas is a religious holiday in the same way that the Super Bowl is a football game. It may have started that way, but now that's only a small part of the event.
I say "Happy Holidays" because there's no need to be specific. I'm not going to delve into the background of the guy handing me my Chick-Fil-A sandwich, and try and figure out if he's Christian, Jew, or Muslim. "Happy Holidays" covers all backgrounds. Hell, even atheists appreciate it, because they get the day off work.
To my Christian friends, merry Christmas.
For my Jewish friends, happy Hanukkah.
My African-American friends, have an enlightening Kwanzaa.
To my Canadian friends, have a great Boxing Day, eh?
For my OCD friends, good Hand Washing Awareness week to you.
My musically experimental friends, enjoy your two December parties celebrating the birth and death of Frank Zappa.
For my Athiest friends, have a good Monday.
And to all of my agnostic friends...whatever, dudes.
6 Comments:
Amen!
Um, Happy Holidays?
Usually a "You too!" works.
Doesn't the dude who works at Chick-Fil-A have to be a Christian? They don't hire anything but Christians, do they? I mean, they're closed on Sunday because the founder (S. Truett Cathy) is a Christian, for god's sake. Here's their mission statement:
"to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."
Can you trust an atheist to be a faithful steward?
And let's share how Chick-fil-A has been a positive influence on you, brother? Was it the cholesterol, or all the fat?
Come on...I'm kidding! I love Chick-fil-A. I eat there every day. Except Sunday. Because they're closed.
YOu know when I want Chick-Fil-A? Saturday night at 10:01, when they're closed until Monday.
I think they should be required to maintain a staff of athiests, agnostics, and Seventh-Day Adventists just to run the store on Sundays.
Sigh. Such a general backlash against holiday nonspecificity this year -- I've seen letters in the paper complaining about how the hoopla this time of year is for Christmas and everything else is just secondary. I've experienced people writing in saying the same thing when we do a story on holiday party planning in a diverse workplace. It could be a sign of the religious right taking over this country. It could just be a pendulum swing. Me, even though I'm Christian, I still say happy holidays, not because it's PC or not PC, but because it encompasses all the holidays.
Anyway, happy holidays, Reid. :)
How bout "Happy Shopping"? That seems to be the most important part of the season anyway.
Not that I'm complaining... I DID send you my Christmas list, didn't I? :-)
My, my, my! I remember when a very good friend of mine told his first grade teacher, "Christmas is too commercial only if you make it so. It's up to you whether you want it commercial or spiritual." Or words to that effect.
I say Merry Christmas because that is the designation of that holiday period in the world today. You may spend it spending, drinking, over-eating or any other excess I may not have heard about yet, but if you do it sometime between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day you are doing it in the Christmas Season.
Please note: "I say..." You are free to use any greeting you wish. Quite frankly, I don't go to Wal Mart (or even Chick-Fil-A) for my Christmas celebration. I don't expect them to set the tone for me.
I would not be offended if you wished me a "Happy Quanza" or "Happy Hannuka" or whatever the other faiths might be celebrating during this time. You know, that just might enrich my celebration by knowing there are other ways people glorify God than through Christianity.
We could discuss theology later, but right now, "Merry Christmas!" May your holidays be filled with love, laughter, good friends, and the knowledge that there is more to life than what you see at the end of your fingers. I wish you a rich and joyous season and a very happy New Year!
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