Letter: Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays

In the name of political correctness and for fear of offending someone, a very unfortunate phrase seems to have crept into our Canadian lexicon in recent years. That is, instead of greeting someone or sending a message with “Happy Christmas” the term “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” is used and the time of year is referred to as the “Holiday Season.”

A week or so ago I received an email sent to everyone involved with Laurentian from the director of personnel giving dates for something called the “Holiday Season.” Got another one recently from Laurentian president Dominic Giroux inviting everyone to a “Festive Event.”

It seems that these people, along with too many others, are on the wrong planet. What are they talking about? This is Canada, where we have clearly defined events on the calendar established by act of Parliament as well as our constitution and national tradition. Is Laurentian trying to change something - if so what and why?

In fact it is the Christmas Season and not the Holiday Season (what holiday?). This time of year is when Christian people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ.

Other religions take the time to recognize the birth of Christ as the birth of a great prophet, while others, historians and many scholars, recognize it simply as a very significant historic event not unlike the American celebration of Thanksgiving based on the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Whatever euphemism might be applied, the facts of history win out. We do not call summer “The Hot Season” or Halloween “Candy Time for Kids” or the American Thanksgiving “Happy Landing Day.”

What euphemism might some misguided person or organization apply to Easter or even Victoria Day?

I am associated with a group whose members are mostly Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim. They all enjoy the celebration of Christmas and I happily play the part of Santa Claus for the children.

They all sing Christmas carols and the children even put on a Nativity Play, celebrating the meaning of Christmas, that of peace and goodwill, giving and charity.

In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, you may have noticed no religious connotation. Christmas to Dickens was all about giving, peace, goodwill and in the case of Scrooge, redemption as well.

While the exact date of Christ’s birth actually remains a question in many ecclesiastical and scholarly circles, Dec. 25 is the universally accepted date when the Birth of Christ is either celebrated or recognized for its historical significance.

In fact, to many the date is a holy day, not a holiday. Unfortunately commercialism and excesses of spending have clouded the true meaning of Christmas and the opportunity to revisit and renew what Christmas is really all about.

In the spirit of the celebration of any birth one should reflect on the meaning and purpose of life and embrace the opportunity to be charitable and promote a peaceful world.

So let it be “Happy Christmas” or even “Merry Christmas.” Surely wise and informed people will understand and accept the meaning, regardless of faith or belief.

Lionel Rudd
Greater Sudbury