By Reg Henry
Tis the season ― and one thing 'tis the season for is people demanding the end to the commercialization of Christmas and the use of the term "happy holidays."
I say "merry Christmas" to them for caring. And "happy holidays" as well, because the derivation of the word "holidays" is "holy days." You can look it up in a dictionary if you have any doubts, although really, you should save your doubts for the next paragraph.
You see, I have it on doubtful authority that in olden times someone with a lisp or an accent (I trust not Australian) mangled holy days and it became "holidays." It may have been the same unfortunate person who made a mess of "It's the season" and abbreviated it as 'Tis, a ridiculous word but not the subject of protests.
Ah, yes, protests ― nothing quite speaks of Christmas like well-meaning Christian folk giving heck to those who dare to call the holy days holidays.
The American Family Association is a leading agitator in opposing the imaginary war on Christmas. Annually, it runs a "Naughty or Nice" list of companies that dare to be inclusive and use "holidays" instead of Christmas.
This is what the Taliban would do if they had a family association, although admittedly, the Taliban, being none too jolly, might call for the beheading of Santa as well.
But curious people should wonder why a Christian-assertive group dedicated to making Jesus the reason for the season would bring Santa into the discussion. Naughty or nice is not an expression found in St. Luke, not even in the newer translations. In fact, little about what we associate with Christmas is in the Gospels, not even the date Dec. 25.
In fact, if the American Family Association got its way, then logically Santa, the elves, the reindeer, the trees, the wreaths, the mistletoe, the fruitcake, the illuminated houses and the stockings hung with care would be sent to a Devil's Island of cultural isolation because they do not have biblical sanction.
Christmas would be scrubbed down to the most basic form. It would resemble an old-fashioned Sabbath of infinite boredom, the sort that gave Christianity a bad name for so long.
Because the wise men brought gifts to the manger, some gift giving might be allowed in a pure Christmas, provided the gifts were frankincense and myrrh and not bought at the mall.
On that dreary day, someone would start a campaign to put the commercialization back into Christmas.
I don't want a Christmas like that. With apologies to the American Family Association, I want an American Christmas.
I want a religious and a commercial Christmas. I want a Nativity scene and a blow-up Santa, preferably Bart Simpson. I want the midnight services and the fruitcake the next day, because nothing makes me sadder than to think of an orphan confectionery with no one to love it.
I do not want Santa to be kicked out of Christmas celebrations, because old fat jolly men must have gainful employment. They can't all write newspaper columns.
The truth is that two Christmases exist and they complement each other. The religious Christmas warms many a heart and swells the spirit; the commercial Christmas fills many a cash register and boosts the economy. In America, we are free to choose our Christmas.
Christians should rejoice and take it as a compliment that the teacher who lived 2,000 years ago is remembered even by those who do not follow him. If they thought about it, they might consider Christmas an opportunity to show what Christians are made of.
Unfortunately, some give the impression they are all about arrogance and bad temper. In falling over themselves to identify plots against Christmas, they forget the Christmas message of peace on Earth and goodwill among men. It's not about scolding people for saying "happy holidays."
People can wish me any good wishes they like: merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy Hanukkah or Kwanza. I am glad of any good wishes and I do not presume to dictate to people the precise sort of good wishes they must give me.
Maybe it is silly to say "happy holidays." You can call it political correctness, if you like. I call it simply courtesy ― the worthy desire to be inclusive. In any event, it's not worth making a fuss about.
So what should religious people do when someone says "happy holidays"? How about saying "merry Christmas" and smiling warmly? That might make a better impression than acting like a jerk and starting a boycott of a store. Peace on Earth, goodwill among men. That's the ticket to making the holidays holy days.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Reg Henry is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. E-mail him at rhenry@post-gazette.com.
1 | Korean firms balk at donating to fund compensating victims of Japan's forced labor |
![[INTERVIEW] Retired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/6642af4d9fed4cae8a8a951eedbbaa6f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/286500d853334c96ab51e56d74fe38f2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
