"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"?

Submitted by Deborah Hansen on Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:13.

"Merry Christmas!" or "Happy holidays!"?

Decisions, decisions. This high stakes dilemma for some is rooted in the mistaken notion that there is a one-size-fits-all solution, when, in reality, not much in life is that clear cut.

My own family is representative of many in this country, in that there are Christians and Jews in my bloodline, and a few agnostics and atheists have popped up along the way, too. It seems obvious to me that I wouldn't wish one of my Jewish relatives a "Merry Christmas," and it would be mighty strange if they wished me a "Happy Hanukkah," don't you think?

However, I don't feel threatened in wishing my Jewish relatives a happy Hanukkah. It is their special holiday during this time of peace, hope, and love, things that are celebrated by all religions, and I like to spread those kinds of emotions around to as many folks as possible. They, too, wish me a merry Christmas, knowing that the holiday is special to me for the same reasons. The fact that we offer those wishes to one another doesn't minimize our own beliefs or religious practices in any way.

Even those who have stepped away from allegiance to any particular creation story can be ethical, moral people who understand the importance of setting aside a time during the year to celebrate the community of people everywhere. Being "religious" doesn't necessarily translate into being moral, as much as zealots would like to convince us otherwise. The reality of the opposite being true stares us in the face through the prism of history, and most recently in these times of terrorism. Muslim doesn't automatically mean terrorist, while the terrorists have high jacked much of Muslim belief to suit their twisted souls.

Which brings us to the so-called dilemma: Do we say, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" as we make our rounds buying presents and generally getting in each other's way during the holiday season? It seems to me that if I don't know someone's affiliation, it is illogical, perhaps even insensitive, to offer them a greeting from my religious beliefs.

Imagine a cashier greeting a customer with "Merry Christmas!" only to have the customer reply, "Happy Hanukkah!" What is the (Christian) cashier supposed to say next? "Thank you" doesn't quite fit. What is the customer being thanked for? "Well, I'm not Jewish" is almost confrontational, or at least it is extending the interaction unnecessarily between people who are, after all, strangers. Of course, all non-Christians could just grin and bear it, which is what Jews have been doing for centuries, but is that really what we want our society to represent? Either we pride ourselves on being a diverse society or it's all merely platitudes, with no true commitment behind the words.

Many religious traditions celebrate a holiday during this time of year, but only one celebrates Christmas. With most people, I don't know which is which, or who is who. Therefore, the solution seems obvious to me, and it doesn't threaten my own beliefs in the least. With those in my circle of friends and family, I'll use the appropriate greeting, one that honors their beliefs and they will do the same for me.

Embrace the spirit of the season. Let's not turn what can be a beautiful time of peace and goodwill into a battle of wills and words.

Courtesy of http://www.jacksonville.com/interact/blog/2008-12-16/merry_christmas_or_happy_holidays