Almost everywhere I go, I see “Happy Holidays” on banners and signs. What happened to “Merry Christmas”? It seems like the word Christmas is banned, but let’s bring it back!
Most American celebrate Christmas, even non-Christians. A friend of mine who is an atheist says “Merry Christmas” because she knows that I don’t celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza. She even celebrates Christmas herself. If I were to go to another country, I wouldn’t expect them to mention Thanksgiving just because I celebrate it. Even though people say “Happy Holidays,” they don’t put up decorations for any other holiday. Not saying merry Christmas doesn’t change the Santas and reindeer everywhere.
I have heard the term “holiday trees”; trees are in no way a part of Hanukkah or Kwanza. Anyone who buys a tree is celebrating Christmas, so it’s not excluding anyone by calling it a Christmas tree. I’m not going to use a Menorah for Christmas no matter what people call it, jut like Jews aren’t going to use a Christmas tree for Hanukkah. Another popular statement is “holiday shopping.” There is no gift giving involved in Kwanza or Hindu festivals.
Some people don’t mention any holiday by saying “Seasons Greetings.” All that’s saying is have a happy winter. It could be used in any season. But I usually see “Seasons Greetings” in a red and green banner or next to a Christmas tree. So why not say “Merry Christmas” if you’re going to use Christmas themes for decorating? Schools are calling Christmas break winter break now to try not to exclude people. Most Christmas breaks start at the very end of fall anyway, so technically, it isn’t even winter!
Christmas just isn’t the same when people are wishing you “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” When someone actually does say “Merry Christmas,” someone else usually adds, “Happy Hanukkah” and “Happy Kwanza.” Let’s bring back “Merry Christmas.”