Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
The Day “Merry Christmas!” Died

The Day “Merry Christmas!” Died

Last updated on: December 6, 2013 at 8:27 am by John Shore

The Day “Merry Christmas!” Died 2013-12-06T08:27:07-08:00 John Shore

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christmas? What Christmas?

Did you all have a great Christmas?! Whaddya get?! Cuz, you know, outside of the whole thing with Jesus and all, that’s what really matters.

Speaking of which: It seems to me that this is the year that the phrase “Merry Christmas” died, finally choked to death by the vapid, opportunistic ambiguity of “Happy Holidays.”

To be clear: I like the sentiment behind “Happy Holidays.” I think it’s good and important to acknowledge that the “Christmas” season really is a holiday season; that it’s also the time of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. I’ve got zero problem acknowledging that. What I do have a problem with is perfectly captured in an experience my wife and I had at Disneyland last week.

It was Christmas Eve day. Cat and I were at Disneyland with a couple friend we were visiting in Los Angeles. As you may know, every year Disneyland puts in its Main Street plaza a Christmas tree so huge it would freak out Paul Bunyan. The four of us happened to be in the shops near the tree when we heard the rich tones of the Omnipotent Disney Announcer announce that the lights on the tree were about to turn on. We and the other fifteen or twenty thousand other people in the immediate vicinity quickly crowded about the tree. Yay! The lighting of the Christmas tree!

The announcer began preparing us for the lovely spectacle, by talking about the power of wishing and hoping, and how good little boys and girls never yank the wings off fairies, or whatever. But he came to the Big Moment, and everyone held their breath as they waited for this magnificent, splendidly decorated tree to light up—and then he said, “And now, as we light the tree, let us all say in one voice, “‘Happy Holidays!'” And you could just feel everyone deflate as the tree was lit up. The reaction wouldn’t have been less enthusiastic if the thing hadn’t lit up at all.

People were all geared up to cry “Merry Christmas!” and were disappointed they didn’t get to. Telling people to say “Happy Holidays!” when a Christmas tree is lit is like having people sing “Old MacDonald” when a birthday cake is brought out. It’s just … FAIL.

Because that is a Christmas tree they were lighting. I don’t mind if Disneyland or anyone else wants to turn their Christmas tree into a “Holiday tree.” But then they need to make it a holiday tree. But that part of “Happy Holidays” never happens. No store or business puts a little Menorahs on its tree. I didn’t see any dradles on the Disneyland tree. Not a Kwanzaa communal cup brightened its boughs. It was strictly a Christmas tree. Those were Christmas decorations on that tree, and nothing else.

It drives me crazy the way retailers, businesses, and advertisers are delighted to keep all the stuff that marks Christmas as Christmas—the tree, the songs, the presents, the decorations, Santa Claus—to help them make money, but then in every last way distance themselves from the core of what Christmas is actually about. Either physically and truly include the other traditions, or call Christmas what it is. But don’t lie about what you’re doing. Don’t pretend to be what you’re not. Don’t take out the heart of something, and then ask us to enjoy just the outer shell of that thing.

The bottom line is that, like it or not, Christmas is a Christian holiday. It’s actually about the birth of Christ. That’s why it’s called Christmas, and not Holidaymas, or Cheermas, or Wishmas. That’s not a Hanukkah tree they put up every year at Disneyland—or that we see in every store, or that gets painted on every window. It’s a Christmas tree. Always has been. Always will be.

You can have him endorsing everything from a garden hose to pantyhose, and Santa Claus will still be Saint Nicholas. Still a saint. Still Christian.

I’m good for “Happy Holidays” meaning everyone’s holidays. But it’s bullshooters to co-opt all the traditional Christmas symbols and markers, and at the same time refuse to acknowledge the reality of what they actually symbolize and mark. If Starbucks wants to pretend that Christmas is about nothing more substantial than wishes and hope, fine. But no fair hanging those words on Christmas ornaments, and then trying to pretend that December 25th isn’t really Christmas. That’s the sneaky, lying sort of thing that only bad little boys and girls do.

**********************************************************************************************************

Email: [email protected]

Follow: http://twitter.com/johnshore

Befriend: http://www.facebook.com/john.shore1

Be Fan: http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Shore/89494795412?ref=s

commercialization of Christmas

what's wrong with Christmas

Previous Post

December 23, 2009

The "12 Days of Christmas" Song: A Morality Tale About the Destructiveness of Sensual Excess

Next Post

December 29, 2009 The Holy Spirit = God = All You Need to Know

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christian Issues Christian Spirituality Dear John En Espanol Everywhere She's Not Humor Look See Pastor Bob's Corner Personal Portuguese Relationships Russian Short-short story Smith Family Chronicles Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2024 August 2022 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 June 2019 December 2018 May 2018 May 2017 January 2017 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I mocked a prophet for his baldness and was mauled by bears for my disrespect. Who are we?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Youths Boys from Bethel Children of Israel Philistines

Books by This Author Books by John Shore

See All Titles »