Information & Uncategorized 09 Jan 2007 12:21 am
I wouldn’t touch you with a 33 and a half foot pole.
Ah, the holidays are over. Now for my grinch post. So, not that you care, but I am Jewish. Not terribly Jewish, but enough to check it on surveys and to celebrate Hannukah. I do also celebrate Christmas (Fathers side and Mothers side combined means 2 holidays) so to me, the correct Holiday greeting really IS, “Happy Holidays!”
Now, shall we add in the generic, “but that’s so p.c.” feeling? No. I celebrate more than one holiday. I have no idea what holiday you celebrate, and I think it is just plain old RUDE to assume that you celebrate Christmas, merely because I do, or because it is quite simply the most common and popular holiday. If you are buying Christmas cards, or Hannukah cards, then yes it is clear. These days however, most cards are, “HAPPY HOLIDAYS,” simply because people can be sending cards to others who celebrate more than one holiday. The phrase “Happy Holidays” does then technically cover all the holidays.
Two things that get my “panties in a bunch.”
One is this. A co-worker says “Merry Christmas” to everyone. Once Thanksgiving has passed us by, she gets RIGHT into it. I am ALL about the “Happy Holidays” and I think that in a place of business, that “HH” should be the preferred phrase. Then people say, “oh I am so glad you are not being p.c. and saying ‘Happy Holidays’.” To which I want to reply, “well, why aren’t you saying “Happy Hannukah” to me as I am a Jew????” But I am polite and don’t say things like that.
The second thing that really gets me is that Christmas is really losing its religious flavor. Honestly, can you tell me you know where the X in X-mas comes from? Lynn (see Picture) is a Preacher. (She is actually a Minister, but I prefer to use Preacher because of Pale Rider starring Clint Eastwood.) The end of 2006 randomly brought about interesting informational sermons from Lynn on a wide range of subjects. One was the history of the “X” in X-mas. There is more information here at the Random House Word of the Day site if you are interested.
To tie into the lack of religious flavor, Christmas is being celebrated by those who really just don’t care about Jesus. Obviously there are Christians everywhere, but in China, where they are what? 1% of the population? Why would the Chinese be celebrating Christmas? Because they discovered Jesus? Nope. I am not saying this is a quotable reason why, but to put it plainly, it is a great excuse to get together and celebrate friends family and the joy you get in GIFTS and gift exchanging. The commercial aspects, as with so many things, are what is really changing this holiday. The Washington Post has posted a very interesting article about this very subject. Here is a quote from the article.
Even among Chinese who celebrate Christmas, the holiday has little connection to the birth of Jesus. As in other Asian countries, except for the relatively few Christians, the celebration centers on secular traditions of gift-giving, decorating and feasting. As a result, stores and restaurants in big cities have been among the most energetic in promoting Christmas observances.
In conclusion, if there are many holidays in a holiday season, then saying “Happy Holidays” should be the correct term. If you are in an area where there is ONLY one religion/holiday, then using that religious event/holiday would be the right term. I am not saying that I am anti-Christmas. I love celebrating Hannukah and I love celebrating Christmas. I just wanted to do a little post saying that I LOVE the phrase “Happy Holidays.” Christmas is becoming about the gift-giving and the idea of peace and prosperity for all. “Happy Holidays” fits better for me, reserving “Merry Christmas” for those who might actually want to merely celebrate Christ’s birth…
Legal note: Lynn gave me permission to post her picture, but you do not have permission to use it, no matter how funny you find it.
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