Merry Christmas And I Mean It!

I just got an e-mail from my sister about how we should keep saying "Merry Christmas" and how we shouldn't let "political correctness" change us into saying "Happy Holidays" or some other greeting.

I'm not letting anyone tell me that I'm not correct when I say "Merry Christmas"! I'm a Christian by birth and baptism. I attend my church every Sunday and Wednesday. I sing to the glory of God, I make a "joyful noise" in the bell choir. I listen to the sermons and strive to live a Christian life. I pray for forgiveness and to be able to forgive. Who am I praying to? God and Jesus! The Holy Trinity!

Since Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, why can't I say "Merry Christmas"? "Happy Holidays" just doesn't cut it with me. If you are Jewish (and all Christians were, ages ago) and celebrating Hanukkah, I wouldn't be offended if you said to me "Happy Hanukkah!" I'm not offended if someone says "Happy Kwanza".

What does bother me is the over-commercialization of Christmas. Taking the "reason for the season" out and not even mentioning the Birth bothers me. The schools have "holiday" parties and "holiday" concerts. Santa Claus is everywhere in the school decorations, reindeer and elves abound. But there's no Baby Jesus to be found, anywhere. No Nativity scenes, no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh (what IS that, anyway?)

Don't get me wrong, I love Santa Claus, too. He brought me lots of joy when I was a kid, but because I attended Sunday School, I knew he was celebrating Jesus, too. When I was older, I read a story about the fourth wise man. This Magi couldn't find the Christ Child (I guess the guiding star had faded a little) so he spent his life giving gifts to all children, hoping that he'd eventually find the Child. His name was Saint Nicholas. That's the story I told my own children and I'm now telling my granddaughters. I'm sure the story isn't true, but it served my purpose in explaining why we give gifts at Christmas.

Christmas is a Christian celebration and I'll say "Merry Christmas" all I want and you can't make me stop. Nyah, nyah, nyah.

... and to all a Good Night!