Dec

17

It’s Okay To Say ‘Happy Holidays’.

Posted by Christopher Waldrop

December 17, 2008 |

Say nothing of my religion. It is known to my God and myself alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life; if that has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one.

–Thomas Jefferson

It’s become an annual tradition: some people around me become angry, even belligerent, if I use the expression “Happy holidays!” It’s incredibly stupid, and, to anyone not familiar with the situation, it might seem strange that anyone’s offended by the fact that I’m wishing them happiness. The problem for those who are offended is that my wishes aren’t specific enough. I’m not wishing them a merry Christmas. They assume that I have some kind of problem with Christmas.

Let me be clear: whatever my religious beliefs may be, I don’t have a problem with Christmas. I don’t have a problem with the fact that there are other holidays celebrated at this time of year, though, so, to those who think I have some kind of problem with Christmas, I’d like to turn the question back on them. Why do they have a problem with Hanukkah? Why do they have a problem with Solstice? Why do they have a problem with Kwanzaa? And why, since most people consider it a holiday, do they have a problem with New Years’ Day?

I realize the fact that we live in a multicultural society offends some people. That in itself isn’t a reason to stop being a diverse society. If some individuals or even groups want to toss catalogs they feel aren’t sufficiently respectful, that’s their business, but why do they feel compelled to force the rest of us to go along? Why invent a “war on Christmas” and threaten retailers, as well as individuals, who want to acknowledge that there are people with differing beliefs? An editorial in the Wall Street Journal even blamed the “war on Christmas” for the current economic crisis–an assertion that Larry Niven, among others, dispensed with pretty easily, although the fact that such an assertion would be made at all is disturbing.

Speaking linguistically, I realize “holiday” is a portmanteau word, meaning, literally, “holy day”, but “holy” means different things to different people. The word itself derives from an Old English word and the same root gives us the words “healthy” and “whole”. Why not consider the holidays a time to work toward both a healthier and more whole society?

This is a time of year when most people, regardless of their beliefs, try to set aside their differences. The days are getting shorter and depression may be skyrocketing, but some people can’t even make an effort to reach out to others–to work toward that peace on Earth and goodwill to all that the season, regardless of our respective beliefs, should be about. Actually it would be nice if we could make peace on Earth and goodwill toward all a year-round preoccupation, but the holiday season is as good a time to start as any. If nothing else we have the days getting longer to look forward to.

I feel bad about the negative tone I’m taking here, and yet I feel that it shouldn’t be too much to ask that people not get up and scream in my face when I say “happy holidays!” It’s not too much to ask that some people show the same respect for others that they demand for themselves–but sometimes they do have to be asked. As I said before, I don’t have a problem with Christmas. If someone I know celebrates Christmas, I wish them a merry Christmas. If someone I know celebrates Hanukkah, I wish them a happy Hanukkah. If they celebrate Solstice or Kwanzaa or another holiday, I hope their holidays are happy. If I don’t know what holiday they celebrate, or don’t celebrate, I wish them a happy holiday. Ultimately it doesn’t matter to me whether they’re celebrating a holiday or not–I just hope they have love and joy.

I started with a quote from Thomas Jefferson, and I’ll close with another that I think does a better job of expressing how I really feel than I could in my own words.

Let us not be uneasy then about the different roads we pursue, as believing them to be the shortest, to that our last abode; but, following the guidance of a good conscience, let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end.

Amen.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Baino on December 17, 2008 1:25 am

    I think Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays is appropriate . . but I also don’t like being told that Happy Christmas is offensive to Islam or Jews. We’re so sensitive at work that a ‘happy holiday’ message I sent to clients with an accompanying calendar was met with ‘Gee you’ve lost your Christmas cheer? Does your company have a policy against Christmas?”. Nope . . we just thought it would cover everyone to say Season’s Greetings. Can’t win Chris . . just can’t win!

  2. Andrea on December 17, 2008 10:34 am

    The “controversy” is especially amusing to me because in my old religious days I was friends with many sanctimonious Christians who refuse to celebrate Christmas **because of its pagan roots**.

    I use “Happy Holidays” as an all-around greeting for Christmas and Hanukkah, and New Year’s.

    But it’s true, no matter what is said, someone will get their panties in a bunch. And not in a good way.

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