I’m Jewish. So I understand the desire not to offend. But seriously? It’s a little much with the politically correctness.
The increasing desire to be all-inclusive and “politically correct” has apparently made “Happy Holidays” the new norm. There seems to be an assumption that wishing Merry Christmas to someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas is offensive.
Seriously?
People, this is silly.
For the record: I appreciate the intention not to offend.
Have we really become such a culture of victims that we get offended by being on the receiving end of a “Merry Christmas” greeting?
I know many people who fight this battle. Some of them fight it in my name because I’m their token Jewish friend.
You know who you are. And while I appreciate your efforts to stand up on my behalf, I can fight my own battles. This is not one of them.
You can wish me a Merry Christmas. I will not be offended. In fact, I welcome it.
Why wouldn’t I?
Christmas simply describes the day. It’s like wishing someone “Merry Friday.”
And even though I do not observe the religious aspects of Christmas, I still celebrate the day. In the United States, Christmas is a national and state holiday. It’s one of the few days remaining in our calendar where it seems to be acceptable to unplug from work and doing and simply enjoy the art of being (which is quite sad, but more on that another time).
That we still have one day of the year where we celebrate being is something to celebrate.
My Christmas doesn’t include attending mass or gathering around the tree to sing carols, but it’s still a celebration. (Although I would love to decorate a tree!)
In the cultural melting pot that is the United States, and especially in my hometown of New York City, Christmas is a beacon for the time of the year when the collective culture remembers the values we once held as sacred: finding presence with family and friends, expressing gratitude and sharing our abundance with others. It’s a day to recall the times when we have been a recipient of divine grace. A day to celebrate how, at our core, we are more alike than we are different.
Isn’t that something that we can all celebrate? Isn’t that reason for being merry?
[How ironic that in this age of individualism, segmentation and micro-niched marketing our culture is devolving to “Happy Holidays”— the most generic possible form of holiday greeting. But more on that another time.]
Perhaps it would take the “offensive sting” out of Merry Christmas if we wished each other a “Merry Day” more often. I think our world could use a lot more “merry” throughout the year. Don’t you?
The line from White Christmas is
May your days be merry and bright.
Imagine how much more positive and healing energy we might bring to our world if we tried to make every day “merry and bright” for ourselves and others.
Consider how often you say “have a nice day” and imagine if you said “have a merry day” instead.
- How would that change your mood?
- What effect would that have on the other person to hear that?
- What effect would it have on you to hear that from someone else on a random Monday?
- Do you think it would break you out of your trance?
- Would it cause you to look up from your screen and engage with the other person, even for a moment?
It’s pretty hard to wish someone a Merry Monday and not smile.
It’s something to think about.
- How would you approach your morning routine if your outcome was to have a merry day?
- How would your day change?
- How would your conversations change?
- How would your relationships change?
- How would your year change?
How would our world change if this caught on, if we started bringing more merriment to our greetings and actions and interactions?
I invite you to try it. Experiment with it. Let me know how it feels to engage in this way.
My Wish For You
Whether you celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, a secular holiday or not at all, I wish you a Merry Christmas, a merry new year, and merriment in each day that you continue to grace this world with your presence.
Thank you for being here and sharing this little corner of the world with me. I am grateful to you for taking the time to read my writing and interact with me.
I’ve spent a lot of time off the grid this past year, recovering from concussion, reconnecting with myself, and preparing to light up the world . I have been working on some projects for you and can’t wait to share more in the coming weeks. Please make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss the big announcements.
I hope you take some time over these last days of the year to connect with yourself and your inner light so that you can shine it onto our world in the coming year.
May your days be merry and bright, and may they shine a light that guides us to internal and global peace.
May you have a merry week ahead! wonderful, uplifting article!