RT Says 'Merry Christmas' Is Still Tops with Him
One of my pet peeves is doing Christmas shopping and getting a "Happy Holidays" greeting from a merchant. I hate that. I am not sure when we threw the "Merry Christmas" out, but I vote to put it back in. As far as I can tell, people have wished others "Merry Christmas" since 1565 when it appeared in the Hereford Municipal Manuscript. Now, some organizations banish this saying from their vocabulary, fearing offending those who do not celebrate the holiday.
I get it. Some people do not celebrate Christmas. That's fine. I think even the three wise men would be deeply offended at what Christmas has become. I am told that in days of old, children expected nothing more than candy and fruit, not Xboxes and cars. The three wise men brought what they had and nothing else. Now we spend billions of dollars to support our Christmas habit, either paying for it throughout the rest of the year or at least trying to outdo ourselves and our families in originality and price. This part of Christmas is crazy, but it is what Americans do. Wishing me "Happy Holidays" is a sure way to make me stop spending my money at your store.
I know people of other religions and cultures scoff at American excess, which is in no clearer display than at Christmas time. I have no problem wishing people a Happy Kwanza or Happy Hannukkah. I believe we started saying "Happy Christmas," but in typical American flair, that wasn't catchy enough, so we changed happy to merry. Still, what ever you want to say, happy or merry, we should include the holiday we are celebrating.
I know some stores do not allow an employee to say Merry Christmas. This is a shame. I do not understand people who work or shop in those places. If you forbade your employees from wishing someone Happy Hannukkah, Yule, or Happy Kwanza, I assure the legal ramifications would be felt around the world. In my opinion, as great as America is, we need to get over this one. The greeting on Christmas or for Christmas is Merry Christmas. No, it is not all-inclusive, but then again, who cares? We are only talking to those celebrating Christmas and if you are in the store with a boatload of toys in your shopping cart, then you are celebrating Christmas regardless of what you call it. I think we in America are so super-sensitive about others feelings we lose our own, and in doing so, another great tradition is being lost. Merry Christmas!
That's just my opinion, Jim Thacker, MHA, CRT, AE-C