Once again this year, a small faction of people in the US seem determined to make uncomfortable anyone who dares use the term Happy Holidays, rather than Merry Christmas. These misguided people keep naughty and nice lists of merchants, politicians and others, based upon which of these terms one commonly uses. If more people understood the historical usage of words, we could all get along better, without this silly, and ill-informed scolding. Etymology indicates that Happy Holidays may be perhaps the more respectful and appropriate greeting for people of faith than Merry Christmas this time of year. Not only does the word holiday literally mean holy day, but Happy Holidays not only refers to non-Christian holidays - it also respects the myriad Christian sacred celebrations around the world, during the six or so weeks commonly associated with this season. These events include Advent (the 24 days leading up to Christmas), The Feast of St. Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Lucias Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day (and the 12 days afterward, until the Epiphany), Las Posadas, Saint Stephens Day, Saint John the Evangelists Day, Holy Innocents Day, Saint Sylvesters Day, Saint Basils Day, the Epiphany and the Orthodox Christmas. Also, the use of the term Happy Holidays this time of year is not something just recently invented by secular interests. Quite the contrary, it is not at all secular, and it has been in common use since early English times. Further the difference between happy and merry is also not insignificant. Throughout history, merry has been associated with short-lived, ribald mirth, loudness and even drunkenness. While historically, happy is associated with longer-term, more respectful contentment. Which is why the British say, Happy Christmas rather than Merry Christmas. Historically, it seems we should say Happy Christmas and Merry New Year, instead of the other way around! Happy Holidays does not indicate any war on Christmas. Rather this whole contrived controversy is a war on history and common sense.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 20:52:09 +0000
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