Wish Me A “Merry Christmas”
For many years December was the month I used to grit my teeth and endure hearing “Happy Holiday!” “Season’s Greetings”–anything but “Merry Christmas.” Not anymore.
For the past several years, whenever someone offers a “Happy Holidays” I smile and say back to them, “You can wish me a Merry Christmas.”
For too many years merchants have co-opted Christmas to move their inventory and run up the sales figures for the last quarter.
With each passing year Christmas decorations, lights and bunting go up earlier and earlier. It’s not even Thanksgiving and already fake Holiday/Christmas decorations are up in Penn Station in New York. Advent hasn’t arrived, but plastic reindeer and Frosty the Snowman are blinking away and loudspeakers blast out tinny versions of Jingle Bells and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. I have Brenda Lee going off in my head for the rest of the day.
Some Christians, afraid, anxious and guilty that non-Christians might feel “left out” and have their feelings hurt by Christmas, try to minimize the religious meaning of the celebration and turn it into some kind of secular gift-giving holiday.
These people need to get over it.
One of the most breath-taking, touching, and eloquent defenses of Christmas came in the 1965 Charles Schultz special: A Charlie Brown Christmas. When Charlie Brown wonders aloud if he really knows the meaning of Christmas, Linus quotes this verse from Luke:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
And that is the message of Christmas: That God so loved us, he came to be with us, share our life, and bring us the warmth of His love.
May that message continue to shine–brightly–through all the seasonal glitter.
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
I will wish you a Merry Christmas, but only between December 24 and January 6. Any days before or after and you’ll get a “Happy holidays” from me! 🙂
November 22nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Thom, your warm wishes are welcome in ANY season! Karen
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Happy Diwali, then! (Not artificial, as I will be attending a Diwali celebration tomorrow.)
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
The extension and secularisation of the season are nuts.
I am not a believer, but I do support parallel rather that meaningless holy days.
Nollaig shona dhÃbh beirt nuair a thagann sÃ.
[Happy Christmas when she comes. (Christmas is feminine in Irish!)]
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Benny, thank you for your Christmas wish in Irish! I can hardly wait to use it in the Christmas cards to my sister and cousins!
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Just in case you are serious about using it, it is made up as follows:
Nollaig Shona = Happy Christmas (Nollaig = Christmas; Sona = happy – “s” is aspirated because Nollaig is feminine)
dhÃbh beirt = to both of you (dhÃbh = to you [2nd pers plural only]; beirt = both [used only in case of persons]
Nuair a thagann sà = when she comes (nuair = when; a thagann = comes [specifically referring back to Christmas]; sà = she [Christmas].
Irish can be tricky as it’s highly inflected so if you have a particular formulation let me know and I will do a translation for you.
Beir bua,
Benny