For the last few years, just after Thanksgiving, the social networks and overheard conversations inevitably get to the topic of how Christmas has lost its religiousness. People are up in arms with the notion that it's politically incorrect to say Merry Christmas to someone, because it might offend them. Sadly, the only people that thing this are Christians. I don't know one Jew, one Muslim or one Buddhist who has a problem with people saying Merry Christmas. I actually know many people who are non-Christians who find it nice, because they feel like someone of a different faith is including them in their celebrations.
I grew up in a relatively non-religious household, but we celebrated everything. We did Hanukkah and Christmas. Every year, we had a menorah and lit the candles. Every year, we had a Christmas tree. My mother would make a brisket for one night during Hanukkah and every year we'd have a huge Christmas dinner. My parents would invite whoever didn't have anything to do over and it was very festive. We opened presents Christmas morning and did all the traditional things. I had friends who were Jewish who didn't celebrate Christmas and Christian friends who didn't celebrate Hanukkah. Either way, we always wished each other happy holidays.
Somewhere along the line, probably after 9-11, it became very important to Christians, especially Catholics to say "Merry Christmas." "Happy Holidays" was always sufficient, but after the tragedies, people became very bitter towards other religions. They say we came together as a nation, but the reality is, that 9-11 tore us apart more than ever before. A mosque that lay by Ground Zero for years without anyone's knowledge or dispute became an issue. It was never like this. More importantly the little things in life, like someone using two words to express their well wishes took on a religious slant. Christmas stopped being about celebrating the birth of Jesus a long time ago. It has become a Hallmark holiday and for most people, it has become the one day of the year they actually go to church, which is ironic, because the holiest day of their own faith is Easter. Most Christians, don't even know that (and please don't contest this, because I've even discussed this with people of the cloth).
The truth is the holiday season is special. To spend time worrying about whether Christ is in Christmas is silly. There is no mention of Santa, elves or reindeer in the Bible, but we accept those images plastered all over every place we go. If you choose to recognize Christmas for what it really stands for, more power to you. If you choose to see it for what it has become, that is OK too. If you choose to wish me a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah or a Happy Holidays, I will return the gesture and be happy I'm your friend. I just ask that you not tell me that how I decide to relay my well wishes is wrong, because there is no right or wrong. It's a time of sharing and celebrating. Not fighting and telling people they are wrong. I'm not a Christian, but I do know from what I've read that Jesus wouldn't tell people what to believe and how to say things as long as they had good in their heart, so if he's your savior, maybe you should honor him and do the same.
I grew up in a relatively non-religious household, but we celebrated everything. We did Hanukkah and Christmas. Every year, we had a menorah and lit the candles. Every year, we had a Christmas tree. My mother would make a brisket for one night during Hanukkah and every year we'd have a huge Christmas dinner. My parents would invite whoever didn't have anything to do over and it was very festive. We opened presents Christmas morning and did all the traditional things. I had friends who were Jewish who didn't celebrate Christmas and Christian friends who didn't celebrate Hanukkah. Either way, we always wished each other happy holidays.
Somewhere along the line, probably after 9-11, it became very important to Christians, especially Catholics to say "Merry Christmas." "Happy Holidays" was always sufficient, but after the tragedies, people became very bitter towards other religions. They say we came together as a nation, but the reality is, that 9-11 tore us apart more than ever before. A mosque that lay by Ground Zero for years without anyone's knowledge or dispute became an issue. It was never like this. More importantly the little things in life, like someone using two words to express their well wishes took on a religious slant. Christmas stopped being about celebrating the birth of Jesus a long time ago. It has become a Hallmark holiday and for most people, it has become the one day of the year they actually go to church, which is ironic, because the holiest day of their own faith is Easter. Most Christians, don't even know that (and please don't contest this, because I've even discussed this with people of the cloth).
The truth is the holiday season is special. To spend time worrying about whether Christ is in Christmas is silly. There is no mention of Santa, elves or reindeer in the Bible, but we accept those images plastered all over every place we go. If you choose to recognize Christmas for what it really stands for, more power to you. If you choose to see it for what it has become, that is OK too. If you choose to wish me a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah or a Happy Holidays, I will return the gesture and be happy I'm your friend. I just ask that you not tell me that how I decide to relay my well wishes is wrong, because there is no right or wrong. It's a time of sharing and celebrating. Not fighting and telling people they are wrong. I'm not a Christian, but I do know from what I've read that Jesus wouldn't tell people what to believe and how to say things as long as they had good in their heart, so if he's your savior, maybe you should honor him and do the same.
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