Merry Christmas Or Happy Holidays?
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Dec 15, 2011
I've been writing this blog for almost 7 years now, and I noticed that I've never said "Merry Christmas" in any posts here, and only used it once in a title, that being last year when I posted a video of Josh Groban singing O Holy Night. I don't think I've used the phrase in at least 20 years, if not longer.
So why am I talking about it now? I have a friend of mine who calls himself Sire, and I've known him about 4 years now. We rarely disagree on anything, but for once I've found something that I do disagree with him on after he wrote a post titled Why I Believe In Merry Christmas. In his post, though he says he believes that people should have the right to say whatever they wish during this season, he believes that it takes away from the Christmas holiday because Happy Holidays, in his opinion, is too generic, and it's somewhat insulting to him (his actual quote was "political correctness gone wrong").
I believe he's wrong because it presumes that every person one meets is Christian, and thus no matter what that person believes they should be happy to have someone say Merry Christmas to them. He believes that people will know you're not being disingenuous to them if you say it so there's no harm.
My first point would be if that's the case then why does it upset him if people say Happy Holidays? I mean, if he doesn't worry about others being upset because they're not Christian why should he be upset because others aren't assuming he is?
My second point is that he is in Australia, and I've read from and about many Australians who don't see that they have a race issue just like we have in the United States. It's glossed over of course because most countries in the world think racism is only a United States issue, but Aborigines in Australia lament about their problems just like minorities do here, and I've seen the jokes that come that are somewhat racist concerning them. I've even mentioned it a time or two but they just don't understand it and think I'm being sensitive because I'm black; sorry, but of course I am, and that doesn't mean racism doesn't exist in other countries. So if racism exists why not "religious xenophobia" (it seems there's no word for hatred of other religions; there is a word for fear of religion or God, theophobia)?
My third point is that Christmas isn't the only religious holiday in December in this world. I could make a list; I think I will:
- Hannukah
- Kwaanza
- Winter Solstice
- Boxing Day
- Oraza Bayram
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Virgin of Caacupe
- Mother's Day (a religious holiday in some countries)
- Saint Nicholas' Eve
- Hari Raya Haji
- St. Stephen's Day
- Eid il-Burbara
In my book that's a lot of religious holidays. Here in the U.S., you can bet that there's a significant number of people celebrating each of those holidays on their particular dates. I would bet this is true of most large countries; maybe not the majority of people but who says that only the majority should deserve to have their holidays stated in public over anyone else's?
As a diversity educator, I might be a bit more sensitive than many other people on this subject, to the point where someone might say I'm just being politically correct. If that means that I make sure I treat everyone with the same dignity then so be it. This isn't a condemnation of anyone saying Merry Christmas; please, feel free. However, justifying it for any other reason than being comfortable with it is wrong. And I will always believe that and state it for those who feel that no one else will listen to them.
From this blog, for this season, Happy Holidays.
Mitch, I disagree about the Christmas/Holidays issue. Yes, Christmas is a Christian holiday, but others celebrate it, too. I attended a school that was 60% Jewish, and Christmas was a much bigger thing than Hanukkah, for instance.
Even most Christians celebrate Santa Claus in his pagan incarnation with God powers of his own, not as the kindly Bishop he actually was.
But more importantly, the “holidays” are what I take in the summer. I go away on holidays with my family to rest and relax in the sun and the water. Unlike Christmas, which has very specific symbols and specific traditions and merits a specific word, one’s holidays can be just about anything, and such general activities deserve a much more general word.
I certainly am not offended when somebody wishes me Happy Holidays, any more than if somebody wishes me Happy Hanukkah or a blessed Eid il-Burbara. Awesome if they do! Why on earth would anybody be offended by any wishes of good health or enjoyment or anything meant to be positive?
Not to totally rain on your parade, I must agree about world-wide racism. Minorities are treated, and have been treated over the course of history, in various ways – and quite often with extreme racism. Who’s sweat built the pyramids? How does it fell to be a Roma anywhere in Europe? Or a Kurd in…in…in any of their countries?
America’s racial issues are more visible for a number of reasons. Race-based slavery that other “civilized” countries had outlawed long ago. The stark (highly-visible) differences in skin color. The fact that what happens in the USA gets more global media coverage.
David, I’m not quite sure what you’re disagreeing with here, as it looks like overall you agree with what I have to say. In the U.S. we don’t go on “holiday”, we go on vacation, so that’s probably a terminology issue between countries. And even if other cultures might celebrate Christmas, there’s no denying that it’s a Christian holiday.
And no one ever rains on my parade when they acknowledge that racism exists; I spend a lot of time talking about it after all. The thing is that it’s a worldwide issue, but many other countries try to deny it. And it’s always based on skin color; the darker one’s skin color is, the harsher they’re treated, even in countries like Brazil, Puerto Rico and Mexico. We just tend to talk about it more here.
Mitch, you have done very good research about different holidays around the world. I guess everybody feel differently about Christmas, even same person feel Christmas differently on different age. I personally don’t feel the difference from any other day. My son is too small to really understand and enjoy, my girlfriend is Buddhist, I work from home so probably I will not get day off, wow. To some extends Sire is right and many things are going overboard and looks a bit fake, however I hope that everybody can feel the Christmas spirit and enjoy holiday season with family and friends.
Carl, I’m certainly not beating up on holidays or anyone’s celebrating them. I do just make my case that pushing one belief over another while doing it makes no real sense. After all, aren’t most religious beliefs supposed to support harmony? 🙂
That’s right, Mitch. Nothing to blame religion. I think globalization will become more and more deeper and holidays in different countries will merge. At least what I have seen in countries where I have lived. Actually in my home, holidays like Halloween and Valentines day were not celebrated in the past, right now it is the opposite. Same apply for Thailand, actually even celebrated 4th with few friends from USA, wow.
I wonder why they try to cover “Christmas” as “holiday”
Its for the birth time of Jesus, although its not the real birth time of Jesus, he was born by Jan 22nd according to the Hebrew calendar, which orthodox churches still use.
25th December is paganist holiday, but it symbolizes the Christmas now -this is how we convinced most of Europe that their Gods were referring to Jesus simply
I don’t see any reason for saying happy holiday or bs
If you call it holiday, choose some other date pls to get it
Actually Sarmad, there are many who believe that Jesus was born in September because his parents weren’t married when he was born, and there’s a small possibility that Joseph was more than just a simple carpenter. But that’s here nor there. The thing is that to use “holiday” honors people of all religions. If you’re only talking about saying it on December 25th then its more proper, but if it’s December 12th and you’re saying it, you could be indirectly insulting someone who’s celebrating a different holiday during the season. Because I don’t know every single holiday that someone might be celebrating during the month, I honor everyone by saying “Happy Holidays”. If one doesn’t care about anyone else, then it’s on them, but it’s not my way.
Thanks Mitch for the answer
Maybe because you lived (all of your life in an area, where 25th december is a holiday)
Actually the middle to the south east of Atlantic, up to the north west of pacific (literally Morrocco till China) all that horizon, christmas is not a holiday (they give it for christians only as an optional paid holiday), and I belonged to that world for a long time
I really enjoyed reading this article Mitch, and I appreciated the great level of care you put into sharing your thoughts in this post.
I wrote about this issue last year on my blog: Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian
http://www.relandothompkins.com/2011/12/24/whats-with-the-conflict-merry-christmas-happy-holidays/
I’m very glad I found your website. I too have a passion for diversity and inclusion and it’s great to see another example of a professional in the field who’s working toward inclusion.
Thanks Relando. There’s not enough people writing about combining leadership with diversity, which is why I do it. I don’t think many leaders recognize how strong their organizations can be with true diversity. And when looking at the topic of holidays, all are important to someone.