Merry Christmas!

I say Merry Christmas.

I don’t do it to offend people.

You are perfectly welcome to say Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzah, Merry Festivus, Happy Wintereenmas, or Happy Winter Solstice depending on your religion, political leanings, etc.

I say Merry Christmas for two very simple reasons.

The first being obviously that I was raised celebrating Christmas and I have an impressive number of happy memories and feelings from all those years of family Christmases. I put up a Christmas tree, I give Christmas presents, I put up Christmas lights and Christmas decorations. I’m fully aware of the pagan background of many of these traditions and I accept them. However they are part of what I call ‘Christmas’. That’s my family tradition. I don’t see Christmas as some sort of political piece in a power struggle between Christians and Atheists, I just see it as a time for my family to come together and be happy. I get to buy presents for people and see their face when they open it.

I love Christmas.

I know, I’ve already said that, but it will probably get repeated several more times between now and December 25th, so you might as well get used to it.

The second reason is one that I know a couple of my readers will disagree with. They know who they are.

Have you ever had someone of a different faith tell you that are going to pray for you? Not in that condescending way where they are clearly insulting you as they say it (i.e. ‘I will pray that you stop being an idiot, come to your senses and become a Christian’ or ‘I will pray for you to stop sinning and become straight instead of gay’). I’m talking about the sort of prayer where someone is trying to bring you goodwill and happiness in the best way they know how. The kind of prayer that someone makes when they find out you are sick and they want you get better, or when you’ve lost your job and they want you to find a new one. It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in their religions, they believe it and that’s what matters. “It’s the thought that counts” as they say.

I’ll never get upset with someone who is only trying to bring a little good will into my life.

That’s how I feel about wishing people Merry Christmas at this time of year. It’s also how I feel when someone wishes me Happy Chanukah or any of the others I mentioned.

Why?

Because when I say ‘Merry Christmas’ I’m wishing that they will have good fortune, a happy family get together, good food, good presents, and everything else that I associate with Christmas. I’m not telling them how to live their lives, what god to worship, or how they should celebrate. I’m just wishing them what I would want them to wish me, even if they would phrase it differently.

So yes, I say Merry Christmas.

And if you have a problem with that, I hope Santa leaves nothing but coal in your stocking because you, sir or ma’am, have no Christmas/Chanuka/Kwanzaa/Festivus/Wintereenmas/Solstice spirit.

 

Thanks to Rechabite for inspiring me to write this post with his own post on why he says Merry Christmas.

#21 Twelve Day of Christmas

You knew this was coming, don’t deny it.

Of course there is more than one version of this song and I’ve found 3 of my favorite to share with you.

 

#1. The Reliant K version

 

#2. John Denver and The Muppets

 

#3. Doctor Demento version