From Starbucks cups to “holiday trees”, there has been a lot of discussion on how to discuss this time of year this year. There are some who believe everyone should say Merry Christmas and only Merry Christmas because Christmas is somehow superior to the other winter holidays. Others think generic winter greetings will suffice in order not to exclude other less-capitalized-upon holidays. I, personally, fall into the latter of these categories.
One of my favorite arguments for the superiority of Christmas to other holidays is that the United States of America is “a Christian Nation”. I would like to point those people to the first amendment of the Constitution of said United States of America:
" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances…”
Everyone remembers the “prohibiting the free exercise thereof” part, but the first part is equally important; “…shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” literally means the United States is NOT a Christian Nation. It’s also not a Catholic Nation or a Jewish Nation or a Roman Nation it is a FREE Nation. Now that that is cleared up, let’s move on to Christmas.
FUN FACT: Christmas was established by the Romans, specifically Holy Roman Emperor Constantine and Pope Julius I. December 25 is not in the Bible. Period. It just isn’t, and most historians believe based on the census that Mary and Joseph were in route for which landed them in Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth, it was most likely not during our winter months at all. So, next time you want to bash a US corporation for not putting your religious holiday’s saying on your little frappe, maybe just don’t.
It seems like this whole “political correctness” war is a war of the generations. Older generations seem to think my generation is too soft and cares about what people think too much. Honestly, I blame our parents. They just raised us to be too nice and polite and to respect other people’s thoughts, beliefs, and religions. If you all wanted us to fight over silly things, you shouldn’t have raised us so well.
If you want to tell me Merry Christmas that is totally fine. I will say thank you. If you want to tell me Happy Hanukkah that is also totally fine and I will still say thank you. If you want to wish me a Happy Yule, I will say thank you, and I will know what that is because I Googled it. I, personally, will be wishing everyone a big ole’ Happy Holidays because what you celebrate this winter is abso-freaking-lutely none of my business. Happy Holidays, everyone!
