By Michelle Demo, page designer.
Happy Holidays! There, I just set off a nuclear bomb—apparently. Everyone in America seems to believe that December is solely dedicated to Christmas. I find it hilarious that we live in a world where a simple greeting, intended to wish someone to be joyous, can be seen as a cause for condemnation. I am not attempting to strike down on your religious holidays by wishing you a happy one, so stop attempting to start this ‘war on Christmas’ by refusing my greetings.
According to Snopes.com, the start of the “war on Christmas” is possibly due to a Lowe’s holiday catalogue from 2007. Said catalogue advertised their fake evergreens as Family Trees instead of Christmas Trees. The idea that this is the start of the ‘war on Christmas’ is hilarious to me, because evergreens are a pagan tradition to celebrate the winter solstice. The firs from the evergreen were used in the pagan celebrations throughout the season.
Simply put, there is no war on Christmas. I grew up saying both phrases interchangeably and never witnessed an issue until I got to my high school age. By 16, I started saying happy holidays to strangers because I have no clue who they are, what religion they celebrate, if they celebrate one or how they would take me saying “merry Christmas.” If I learn someone prefers hearing “merry Christmas,” yes, I will tell them that. But while I am at work, processing orders of hundreds of people and working as a supervisor, I will always say “happy holidays.”
Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 alone, there are approximately 30 different non-religious and religious holidays. I just wish to keep everyone happy and to do so, a person shouldn’t be angered at my saying “happy holidays” over “merry Christmas.” No matter how many times customers give me the OK on this subject, it doesn’t matter. I feel like Christians would feel more hatred at me wishing them a happy Christmas if they knew I am Agnostic. Christmas is not my holiday, so I shouldn’t have to refrain my speech. Saying “happy holidays” isn’t meant to be rude, it’s meant to be nice.
So happy Kwanzaa, Christmas, Festivus, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Solstice, Sinterklaas, and to anyone else who deems this non-offensive—Happy Holidays.
