At “holiday” time, like most people, I receive greeting cards. In recent years, I have noticed a change from the usual “Merry Christmas,” to an all-encompassing greeting: “Happy Holidays!” That is fine, as far as it goes. In the interest of inclusion, I have been guilty of writing that myself. However, Christmas, which is the commemoration of the birth of Christ, is the main (December) holiday I personally celebrate each year. I have no problem wishing my Jewish friends and relatives, “Happy Chanukah!” If I personally knew anyone of the Muslim faith, I would say, “Happy Ramadan!” If I were aware that someone is an atheist, I’d avoid any mention of any winter holiday with a religious bent.
Since I profess to be a Christian, I enjoy hearing the greeting, “Merry Christmas!” Without those words, some of the meaning of the event is lost.
You know, I get tired of the hype. Now, we are supposed to call a Christmas tree by another name: a “Holiday tree.” In some places, there is an ongoing debate over the appropriateness of Nativity scenes in public areas. I suppose we don’t have “Christmas plays,” or “Christmas concerts” at schools any more, or do we? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a youngster in school.
I, for one, am here to tell you that I’ll make no apologies for celebrating Christmas, for singing Christmas carols, for giving Christmas presents, for eating Christmas Stollen, for sending Christmas cards, or for loving to collect Christmas ornaments. I’ll sit by the Christmas tree and eat my Christmas cookies, and watch a re-run of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a sappy but favorite Christmas movie. In spite of having no visitors on Christmas Day, I’ll be content to read the original Christmas story, and later have a Christmas dinner.
You see, Christmas is my holiday, and at the center of all the celebration, and even after all the tinsel is gone, is Christ. There has never been a man so important that TIME itself was divided because of him: B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (After Christ), although some people have even tried to alter that basic and easily understood delineation and convert the letters into another acronym.
So, for those of you with other holidays, I would imagine that my Christmas joy should not offend you, any more than your religion-associated events offend me, which is not at all. For those for whom Christmas is only a shopping event, you have my pity, as you’ve missed the point. However, I say, live and let live. I also say, “Merry Christmas!” Enjoy the season!
Patricia Cummings
