Posts
I have been greatly amused by the imaginary war on Christmas that Fox News is covering. Really? A war on Christmas?
Not to confuse anyone with the facts, but Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus. He was born in June, not December. Today is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and an important point on the year's turning wheel. When conquoring the British Isles, the Catholic church quickly learned that they had to superimpose a Christian ideal on a Pagan one.
Thus, Yule (Winter Solstice) became Christmas. In reality, it is a pagan celebration - death of the Oak King, birth of the Holly King. Why do you think we "deck the halls with boughs of holly" or "light the yule and watch it burn"?
I get a kick out of the slogan "Jesus is the reason for the season." He's not. I recently saw news coverage of a woman who discovered her chicken had laid an egg with a cross on it. She passionately declared that God was sending her a message that "Jesus is the reason." (http://cbs11tv.com/local/holy.egg.cross.2.1346581.html) I laughed until I cried. Really? Don't you think God knows when his son was born?
Of course, heaven forfend that I confuse anyone with the facts - or we consider the truth of the matter. People have decided to ignore the facts and make Christmas a "purely Christian" holiday - and people at Fox News are appalled by the scandalous phrase, Happy Holidays (I suppose everyone could begin all conversations with "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year", but don't you people have children to raise? Or at least last minute shopping to do? Sheesh. That takes too long in our 20-second attention-span world.)
This is another classic example of "My mind is made up. Don't confuse me with the facts." Don't get me wrong, I enjoy all the pomp and circumstance and gift-giving of the season, but to decide that there is a war on the Christian faith by using the phrase "Happy Holidays" tells me we need to re-evaluate a few things.
Oh, and by the way. Xmas is not "crossing Christ out of Christmas". The letter "X" is the Greek symbol for Christ. Go out and look at the fish on the back of your car if you don't believe me. The X admist the letters means Christ. It is shorthand that has been used by scholars for centuries. Cheese and Bread! We have enough problems in the world. Let's stop making up imaginary wars!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Huh! I didn't know that about Xmas - I use it all the time as shorthand. Now I won't feel guilty for 'offending' other folks by using it.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I totally understand where you're coming from, but I have to say, I celebrate Christmas and it really ticks me off when I get told that I should say 'Happy Holiday's' instead of 'Merry Christmas' because I might offend someone. Well let me tell you I'm offended when my child's school changes their 'Christmas tree to a Giving Tree' because somebody complained. I'm even more offended when they have to take it down because someone else is offended by it's existence.
ReplyDeleteThis year they finally got it right and have all the religions represented, which I think is a wonderful lesson for teaching acceptance of others even when their different. A war on Christmas? I don't know that it's a war exactly but there definitely is a battle of acceptance taking place.
I celebrate Christmas as well. You should feel free to say Merry Christmas if you like. However, having someone say "Happy Holidays" to you is not a slap in the face. (Bill O'Reilly has repeatedly stated that being wished "Happy Holidays" is an insult.) No one should force you to say "Happy Holidays" and no one should take "Happy Holidays" as an insult.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of representing multiple religions. Understanding fosters acceptance which fosters peace. The underlying message of the Christmas holidays.
Great post! Fixed News...I mean Cluster Fox brings this non-story up every year. I suppose it resonates with those more inclined towards general anxiety towards change or progressive movements in favor of acceptance of all faiths and religious celebrations.
ReplyDeleteBravo! and well said. I could not agree more. I also find it fascinating that the folks who talk of this I hate saying Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas will gladly sing songs such as 'There's no Place Like Home for the Holidays.'
ReplyDeleteI do prefer to say Happy Holidays to people that I do not know (i.e., meeting someone in the grocery store) simply because I do not assume they follow the same traditions as I do. They could be Jewish, Pagan, or Muslim.
LOL. Thanks guys (I love Cluster Fox!). Just wait until Easter rolls around, and I explain that one!
ReplyDelete