This holiday season has seen an upsurge of one of the oddest (to my mind) campaigns to keep Christmas in the season. Emails are flying around the internet about Christmas trees and there are Christian groups having hissy fits about people saying "Happy Holidays."
Yes, for the Christian community all over the world, it IS Christmas. But, Christians are not the only group celebrating Holy Days this time of the year and they need to remember that.
December 25th this year also marks the beginning of Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. It begins three days before the moon closest to the Winter Solstice, which just occurred the 21st. It is the time of rededication for them in remembrance and celebration of when the Macabees retook the Temple of Jerusalem from the Syrians and rededicated it.
December 26th marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, an African American celebration of the family and the self. While it is not considered a political or religious holiday, it does include some spiritual aspects and being of the family, should be honored.
That day is also Boxing Day, or Saint Stephen's Day in the United Kingdom. Since Stephen was the first martyr for the Christian cause, I'd say it's pretty holy.
Ramadan is in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and happens to fall now, too. It is a time of submission to Allah for the Muslims. A month-long celebration with fasting and prayers. Holy times, indeed.
There are many more celebrations that fall now that are holy to those that observe them. The Winter Solstice (12- 21), Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu--the day the Buddha found enlightenment--12-8), Day of the Holy Innocents (the victims of Herod's attempt to exterminate the Christ were all male children under the age of two--12- 28).
The largest complaint going around is against the retailers like Target, WalMart, K-Mart, etc. for not keeping Christmas in their advertising or, supposedly, not letting their employees say, "Merry Christmas." As one of my co- workers said, "The holiday season begins at Thanksgiving. By the time Christmas comes, you're so used to saying Happy Holidays, you don't say anything else."
I know for a fact(as a former employee) that WalMart does NOT forbid the use of Merry Christmas, but as a Christian, I will not intentionally offend those that are not Christians. Did it once and got my ears pinned back--and rightly. So, I am more circumspect about it.
It is not even about being "politically correct" (what an idiotic term--not much correct about the politics of this country, but that's another article). It is about having care for your fellow humans and honoring their right to observe their beliefs, just as they should honor ours.
This country was founded on a desire for religious freedom and tolerance. Why are we so intolerant now? Why curb the freedom of others to enjoy their religion?
So, what is wrong with Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays? Well, these groups claim to be fighting to keep Christ in Christmas, but it seems to me that they might better direct their efforts toward keeping God in our everyday lives. For instance, the atheists fighting in the courts to remove "In God We Trust" from our currency are a greater threat to the Christian beliefs this country was founded on than 'Happy Holidays' is.
Not being able to display the Ten Commandments in public places is a greater threat. Not being able to display religious symbols publicly in squares or public traffic areas is a greater threat as well. Why make an issue of "Christmas" versus "Holiday?" Seems to me there are greater battles to fight.
For the non-Christians, we ask that you tolerate us if we do wish you a Merry Christmas. It is simply our way of expressing the joy we feel at this time of the year. Wish us a Happy Hannukah or Blessed Ramadan or Great Kwanzaa back. We won't be offended--usually. At least, I won't.
The majority of religions in existence today honor a supreme being. Whether you call it God, Goddess, Allah, or whatever, the basic tenet of all the beliefs I've looked at seems to be love for others. So, why not express that love at this time, rather than enmity? Why separate ourselves further from our fellow humans just because they believe a little differently? This seems to be a jihad being fought on the internet and about issues I don't believe Christ would advocate.
But, that's just my opinion.
C. Rogers Upson is a published author on several websites and in several anthologies. This article can be published on your website or in your newsletter, so long as the resource information is intact and nothing is changed. Her website is http://www.edragonmarketing.com and she has a blog at http://edragonmarketing.blogspot.com.