Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?

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In keeping with the spirit of C.H. McDermott’s earlier post here’s an update from our good friends at Newsy.com:

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Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?  This time of year, the salutation you give — can cause anything from warmth — to a downright chill.   Case in point?

A Christmas battle caused by the name change for the annual parade of lights in Tulsa, Oklahoma. MSNBC reports why a 70-year-old traditional event became a hot spot.

“Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe is threatening to boycott Tulsa’s annual holiday parade of lights unless the organizers put Christmas back into the title. Quote, here’s his words: ‘Last year, the forces of political correctness removed the word ‘Christmas’ and replaced it with ‘Holiday’ instead … until the parade is again named the Christmas parade of lights, I will not participate.’”

Tulsa Council Chair Rick Westcott agrees with Inhoffe, telling the Tulsa World he will vote “NO” on the event’s official application. That could lead to the parade being postponed.

“All of the people who have contacted me are offended by the removal of Christmas from the name, and all of them want it brought back.”

Others say Christians aren’t the only ones celebrating the season. A supporter of the new title comments on Tulsa’s KOKI.

“There is a big discussion on our Facebook page about it. One viewer says, ‘Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzza, and New Years. What’s wrong with having a holiday parade to celebrate the diversity of Tulsa? Come on people. Step out of your tiny boxes…’”

The new sponsor of the parade is a local Irish pub called McNellie’s. In a statement to Tulsa’s KTUL – the pub’s owner is proud of his participation.

“We did so when it looked like no other sponsor was going to emerge and the parade would be in jeopardy. … Our mission has always been to make Tulsa a better place to live, and this seemed to fit right in with our company’s mission.”

The Christian Broadcasting Network points to a Rasmussen Reports poll — finding 69 percent of Americans prefer the greeting “Merry Christmas.”

“And if big business reflects the cultural mood, then this could mean something: A Christian advocacy group, Liberty Counsel, reports that major retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart have shifted. They are now allowing their employees to use the ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting.”

So what do you think? Merry Christmas?  Happy Holidays?  Or does it even matter, as long as the spirit of the season lives on?

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About Post Author

Hunter Steele

Colonel Steele is a retired military officer with a deep and abiding interest in history and politics. His views are often considered controversial but his thoughts and observations have been echoed in various publications.
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13 years ago

All this seasonal fighting makes my head hurt! And provokes a very unmerry response; which is to bash anyone who believes it’s strictly a christian holiday over the head…..
“Just accept the fact that someone is wishing you goodwill!” — YES!

13 years ago

I say Happy holidays before Thanksgiving (when most people still have 2 major holidays upcoming…) and Merry Christmas after. There is a very low probability that here in Crackerville that anyone celebrates anything except Christmas this time of year (like Kwanzaa? Please. Not Hanukkah either). If I lived in the Northeast, where I had a decent chance of running into a Jewish person in my day to day dealings with people, I might use “happy holidays” all the time.

Being an atheist of course what I really want to say is, “Have a scary solstice, and burn an extra goat for Saturn” but I refrain.

Jess
13 years ago

I go with whatever a person greets me with, outside of my own circle.

13 years ago

“Just accept the fact that someone is wishing you goodwill!”

Exactly!

What kinda jerk takes a sincere expression of goodwill and tries to find a way to be offended by it?

I’m an atheist, and i say both HH and MC. Sometimes HH seems more appropriate since I’m talking to someone who is religious but not Christian.

Nice work, Hunter.

TerpsFan00
13 years ago

I agree that people should use whatever greeting they prefer. But we all need to remember that the Christmas holiday is based off of the Christianity and to attempt to remove religion from holiday celebrations/traditions is absurd.

I understand and respect that not everyone celebrates “Christmas” but in my opinion we need to respect each other’s religious celebrations. I can see how people are offended by the removal of “Merry Christmas” just because that’s the whole reason for celebrating, at least it should be.

For example, if you celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukah, or any other religious holiday besides Christmas, it would probably be offensive if someone told you that you weren’t allowed to greet people according to your religious beliefs. Wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” is generally not intended to offend but for some reason people get very upset.

Just accept the fact that someone is wishing you goodwill!

Jess
Reply to  TerpsFan00
13 years ago

Actually the holiday is based off a pagan celebration but I know what you are saying.

Hunter Steele
13 years ago

Thanks. I’m looking forward to writing for this great site.

13 years ago

Welcome Mr. Steele – Happy Festivus.

BigHarryH
13 years ago

I’m with you guys.

13 years ago

Keep it “Merry Christmas”. It’s still the traditional greeting here in NZ. I’ve got friends who are devout Hindu, and they use the “Merry Christmas” as well, the same way I wish them a good Diwali.

Hell, I’m an atheist, and I still use it because it’s the bloody name of the bloody holiday.

I also agree with C.H.McDermott, keep it happy or merry, or if we’re really going to muck about with words, why not bring back the original meaning of one, and call it “Have a Gay Christmas”

13 years ago

What ever we call it, emphasis needs to be on the “happy” and “merry” part.

13 years ago

I think the whole thing is a bit ridiculous. Let people call it whatever they want. If they wish me Merry Christmas I say it back, same with Happy Holidays. Though if people want to get out of control we could just say, “Have a Joyous Saturnalia,” and be done with it.

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