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Is it OK to celebrate Christmas anymore?

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  • #1

    Is it OK to celebrate Christmas anymore?

    Is anybody else bothered by the fact that using Christmas terminology seems pretty unacceptable these days? e.g. it's not a Christmas parade, it's a "holiday" parade....kids go on "winter break" not Christmas break. Ok, but what are kids breaking for? Which holiday? Why can't people just say it!? And carols? Forget it! Displaying manger scenes is a dying tradition....however, I've seen several menorahs around (which I don't mind at all...it's just the double standard that bothers me).

    This season, I'm going with a radio talk show host's take on the whole holiday thing..."Happy RamaHanuKwansMas!"
    See link below for a pic of the logo accompanying this saying!
    http://www.mercuryradioarts.com/site/product?pid=10020#
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Is it OK to celebrate Christmas anymore?

    Originally posted by HeartRN
    This season, I'm going with a radio talk show host's take on the whole holiday thing..."Happy RamaHanuKwansMas!"
    See link below for a pic of the logo accompanying this saying!
    http://www.mercuryradioarts.com/site/product?pid=10020#
    Don't forget the pagans and their Winter Solstice. "Happy SolRamaHanuKwansMas!"

    I think it's cool that so many groups have coinciding holidays this time of year--it's like even though we're into different things, we all agree that we like to celebrate what's important to us. I don't mind "holiday parade" or "winter break" because I think that language is more inclusive and therefore fits in with the "peace on earth, good will toward men" vibe that is my favorite aspect of the season.

    I haven't really observed Christmas being snubbed out of the holiday season--it's still leading the pack even where I am, where a big chunk of the people aren't Christmas-celebrators.
    Married to a hematopathologist seven years out of training.
    Raising three girls, 11, 9, and 2.

    “That was the thing about the world: it wasn't that things were harder than you thought they were going to be, it was that they were hard in ways that you didn't expect.”
    ― Lev Grossman, The Magician King

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    • #3
      Christmas is still alive and well here in the South! In fact, I need to send out a few Hannukah cards for some friends and I can't for the life of me find Hannukah cards anywhere...not to mention wrapping paper.

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      • #4
        Don't even get me started on this one......

        But yes, I have noticed a trend.

        My personal barometer is going to Target (or K-Mart or wherever) and trying to find wrapping paper that has angels, stars, even carolers.....anything with a vague reference to the actual Christmas holiday, amongst the plethora of Santas and other things......not that I have anything against Santa paper, I have plenty of it! For the past few years, I have been able to find maybe one type of paper of this kind, but last year it was accompanied by "Feliz Navidad" and was being sold in a hispanic area of the store. It makes me sad to see a tradition that goes along with my beliefs fall by the wayside as far as popular culture goes, while other traditions that far fewer people follow are everywhere.

        Sally
        Wife of an OB/Gyn, mom to three boys, middle school choir teacher.

        "I don't know when Dad will be home."

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        • #5
          I can really understand what you are saying, Sally. I try to find Christmas cards that are focused on Christ's birth and it can get really hard- even in Texas. It's almost impossible to find cards like that in and around Boston! I have found numerous Kwanzaa and Hanukkah cards, wrapping paper, etc. in stores but not any truly "Christmas" (as in the religious celebration) items up there. The really odd thing that I've noticed living up there is that stores go CRAZY over Halloween paraphenalia but kind of "dry up" for Christmas. It's weird - but I have gotten the drift the entire time I've lived up there that Halloween is a much more important holiday than Christmas for that area of the nation. Just observing my neighbors decorating trends is almost enough (ie a neighborhood packed with Halloween lawn and home items and only two or three houses 'dressed up' for Christmas). I guess it's a cultural thing, but I sometimes wonder if the political climate in and around Boston is growing increasingly hostile to Christianity and the culture is following suit....

          Jennifer
          Who uses a machete to cut through red tape
          With fingernails that shine like justice
          And a voice that is dark like tinted glass

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          • #6
            My coworker told me that at his alma mater they took down all the Christmas trees in the dormitories because of a complaint. First of all, these kids are probably homesick enough and I think a little holiday cheer could help them get through their exams and stress. Second, I see all these decorations as a reminder that everyone should get into good spirits and spend time with their family, period. The holiday season is a time to be generous with the ones you love, and by generous I mean devoting quality time to them. I am sick of this PC crap! Whatever holiday you celebrate this time of the year, put out whatever decorations you want. But don't cause a hoopla just because you don't celebrate this time of year. Just enjoy the good spirits around you.

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            • #7
              Speaking of solstice -- HAPPY SOLSTICE!
              Alison

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              • #8
                For what it's worth, I like Virginia Postrel's take on "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" (if you know a person doesn't celebrate Christmas or you're unsure whether they do).

                http://www.dynamist.com/weblog/archives/001509.html

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by alison_in_oh
                  Speaking of solstice -- HAPPY SOLSTICE!
                  Yeah! The days will only get longer from here!!

                  Pitterpat, I think it's sad they took down the Christmas tree. I agree with you about homesickness/festiveness. Especially since the Christmas tree is a celebration of greenery and life in the middle of cold, dead winter.

                  I feel like Chicago Christmas traditions are still going strong. I personally buy "Happy Holidays" cards but have seen plenty of Christian ones. Also, major tourist draws are still the Christmas trees in Marshall Fields (department store) and Daley Plaza, which also has a menorah and nativity set. The German Christkindlmarket also has lots of traditional Christmas crafts (not to mention yummy bratwursts and latkes...)

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                  • #10
                    :auto: I need to take a trip to Chicago...I really miss living there!!!!!!!!

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                    • #11
                      Look what's in USA Today: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... iousnature

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                      • #12
                        Okay, I'll bite. But I should be packing. Anyway, I think there are people that are far too literal on both sides of the issue. For instance, I thought how funny it was when the e.r. doctor who got all bent out of shape in regards to the "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. But, quite frankly, I think Ms. West in the article and others represent the opposite end of the spectrum. I laugh at both (but now am becoming increasingly frightened by both literalist / dogmatic camps on the right and the left (of numerous debates not just the holidays).

                        To me, it should be simple. We live in a multiethnic / multireligious society and one that prohibits a state religion under the First Amendment. In a not so distant past, there was more homogeneity and more tolerance of others (the first making the second a little less crucial to getting along). Now, we're more heterogenous and and it seems a growing number of folks on both ends of the political/religious spectrum are becoming more intolerant. Couple that with a litigious society, why wouldn't school principals / administrators find it expedient (however extreme in some instances) to throw out a lot of things that many folks took for granted in an earlier era i.e. Christmas Carols at school? Does Ms. West really need the public school system to mirror and validate her faith? To me, that's a pretty shallow faith that requires that others in all arenas of life not only tolerate it, but affirm it actively.

                        Anyway, I know I'm rambling. But the whole Jesus out of Christmas thing seems like a bogus bogeyman to me. Can't Ms. West choose to greet everyone with Merry Christmas? Can't she eschew the secularism and consumerism related to shopping? Can't she create all sorts of Christ-centric celebrations among her church, family, and friends? Well, I think reasonable people know that the answer to all those questions is a resounding "yes". So, why does she need the local school administrators who probably fear litigation and her child's PUBLIC shcool classmates who may be atheist, agnostic, Hindi, etc. to gobble up her Christ cake? "Hi, my name is Ms. West, eat the Christ cake, eat it up, I don't care if you choke on it."

                        And everyone like Ms. West getting up in arms about "Happy Holidays" at businesses just makes no sense to me either. The businesses are making a COMMERCIAL / CAPITALIST decision they are not part of a conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas -- they simply want to earn a profit. And the poor folks who work behind the counter are simply trying not to get fired when they greet everyone with happy holidays as they've been instructed to do that. If Ms. West opens her own business, she can say whatever she wants to whomever steps foot in her store. Likewise, if she can find a place that actively promotes a Christ-centered Christmas that's great. She should support that business with her dollars.

                        I just don't undersand why people like Ms. West feels so under "siege". And I'm starting to worry that they're are many more "Ms. Wests" out there. Okay, off my soapbox now. Must pack.

                        Happy Holidays everyone

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                        • #13
                          Kevin, well said...especially agree with how you noted that BOTH sides are becoming more intolerant. I don't feel under siege....just sort of sad that there are such issues over what used to be such an exciting, festive time for me as a kid (especially celebrating Christmas at school). It is, after all, a federal holiday.

                          Hopefully you got packed and out of town ok! And MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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                          • #14
                            Here is a pertinent article that I just read in U.S. News & World Report......



                            http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/0...ion/27john.htm

                            Sally
                            Wife of an OB/Gyn, mom to three boys, middle school choir teacher.

                            "I don't know when Dad will be home."

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Kevin, thank you for taking time out to reply. Very well said and greatly appreciated. I know my next comment may stir up a lot of controversy and emotion but here goes.
                              Most scholars agree Jesus was born in March not December 25th. December 25 is suggested to be an ancient holiday for pagans, egyptian gods and something else I can't recall. It was a celebrated day long before Jesus was born.
                              All this uproar from the radical right seems to be misguided and some sort of stance against all non-christians. I feel like the last few years of embracing a multicultural atmosphere is terrifying those who want their country to stay homogenous.
                              It seems to me that no matter what your faith or lack thereof, we could all be more tolerant of others and allow everyone to call it what they want.
                              I do not find the need to stand up and denounce the term Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I like both and I say both every year.
                              I find it completely disheartening that some get so worked up over someone saying Merry Christmas just as much as someone else gets offended by others wishing them Happy Holidays. I wish that everyone could respect each others traditions, faith etc and and not fight over one exclusive term.
                              Aren't there sooo many other things to focus our precious time on?

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