I saw a couple of posts on this subject and thought I’d share the following with you. As with many of you, the whole “Happy Holiday” thing is a big pet peeve of mine. I make it a point to say to folks “Merry Christmas” especially when they wish me “Happy Holiday”.
For several years now yours truly has appeared at my church on Christmas Eve. Each year I come out at a certain point in the Mass (the Homily for you Catholics out there) and talk to the folks about the true meaning of Christmas. It’s very entertaining (and hopefully inspirational) for both the children and the adults. The Priest and I usually interact with each other or the congregation and everyone seems to get a kick out of Santa visiting during the Mass.
Each year the Priest and I come up with a theme for Santa's talk. I am still working on this year's, but I thought I would share with you what Santa had to say last year...
FATHER: Oh thank goodness you got here. I was beginning to worry.
SANTA: I’m sorry for being late. Very busy night you know. Thank you for inviting me back. I always look forward to my visits to here at St. Mary’s. I trust the new joke book I gave you last year was helpful.
FATHER: Well to tell you the truth. I may need some new jokes. The last batch isn’t really cutting it. Do you think you can do anything on such short notice?
SANTA: I’ll see what I can do.
(Santa addresses parish)
SANTA: Well now. Merry Christmas everyone! Oh come now. You can do better than that! Now let’s try that again shall we? Merry Christmas!
CROWD: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
SANTA: Ho! Ho! Ho! That’s much better! Did you notice I wished you all a “Merry Christmas” and not a “Happy Holiday”?
You know. I can remember it was only a few years ago that people would greet each other all the time with "Merry Christmas" or even “Happy Christmas”. Now hardly anyone says "Merry Christmas". Now it’s all "Happy Holidays", “Seasons Greetings”, or "Have a good one".
Oh I understand the concern not to offend anyone. But why should people take offense at greetings for a holiday that they don't happen to celebrate? Would any of us be offended if someone wished us Happy Chanukah? I would certain hope not. What could possibility be offensive about good wishes? Nobody gets offended at "Happy Thanksgiving” or "Happy New Year" or for that matter “Happy Birthday”.
So why not make it a point to wish people a Merry Christmas? And if someone does take offense, simply apologize. After all, Christmas is the birth of Christ. That’s why we celebrate Christmas. Isn’t it more appropriate for us as Christians to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays?
Well I don’t have a lot of time. After all this is my busiest night of the year you know and I must be on my way. But before I go let me wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
For several years now yours truly has appeared at my church on Christmas Eve. Each year I come out at a certain point in the Mass (the Homily for you Catholics out there) and talk to the folks about the true meaning of Christmas. It’s very entertaining (and hopefully inspirational) for both the children and the adults. The Priest and I usually interact with each other or the congregation and everyone seems to get a kick out of Santa visiting during the Mass.
Each year the Priest and I come up with a theme for Santa's talk. I am still working on this year's, but I thought I would share with you what Santa had to say last year...
FATHER: Oh thank goodness you got here. I was beginning to worry.
SANTA: I’m sorry for being late. Very busy night you know. Thank you for inviting me back. I always look forward to my visits to here at St. Mary’s. I trust the new joke book I gave you last year was helpful.
FATHER: Well to tell you the truth. I may need some new jokes. The last batch isn’t really cutting it. Do you think you can do anything on such short notice?
SANTA: I’ll see what I can do.
(Santa addresses parish)
SANTA: Well now. Merry Christmas everyone! Oh come now. You can do better than that! Now let’s try that again shall we? Merry Christmas!
CROWD: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
SANTA: Ho! Ho! Ho! That’s much better! Did you notice I wished you all a “Merry Christmas” and not a “Happy Holiday”?
You know. I can remember it was only a few years ago that people would greet each other all the time with "Merry Christmas" or even “Happy Christmas”. Now hardly anyone says "Merry Christmas". Now it’s all "Happy Holidays", “Seasons Greetings”, or "Have a good one".
Oh I understand the concern not to offend anyone. But why should people take offense at greetings for a holiday that they don't happen to celebrate? Would any of us be offended if someone wished us Happy Chanukah? I would certain hope not. What could possibility be offensive about good wishes? Nobody gets offended at "Happy Thanksgiving” or "Happy New Year" or for that matter “Happy Birthday”.
So why not make it a point to wish people a Merry Christmas? And if someone does take offense, simply apologize. After all, Christmas is the birth of Christ. That’s why we celebrate Christmas. Isn’t it more appropriate for us as Christians to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays?
Well I don’t have a lot of time. After all this is my busiest night of the year you know and I must be on my way. But before I go let me wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!