“Merry Christmas” vs “Happy Holidays”–Does it Really Matter?
Author: DavidJones // Category: Ethics, Pop Culture, The Church
If you have turned on the news lately, particularly Fox News, you’ve heard the debates, arguments, and lawsuits over nativity scenes, Christmas trees, Festivus celebrations, etc.
One of the biggest debates in Christian circles is over whether or not employees at stores should be allowed to say “Merry Christmas.” Many stores have instructed their employees to say “Happy Holidays” instead.
As a Christian, I have no problem with someone telling me “Merry Christmas.” I often say it to others, whether they be friends, employees at stores, waiters or waitresses, or people on the street. I also have no problem when people say it to me.
But what about “Happy Holidays?” While this isn’t my phrase of choice, I have caught myself saying it from time to time. After all, Christmas is a holiday, and so is New Year’s…and both fall around the same time. Personally, I do not have a problem with someone telling me “Happy Holidays.” It’s a kind gesture with no ill intent. It’s much nicer to hear “happy holidays” than “pull around to the second window.”
I do have a problem with stores telling employees they are not allowed to say “Merry Christmas.” Separation of church and state blah blah blah. However, I am not one of those people who will boycott Wal-Mart because one of their employees said “happy holidays” to me. Several Christian groups tried that a couple years ago…and I’m willing to bet it took less than 1 month for them to start their shopping at Wal-Mart again. I’m sure the Walton family was really hurting over that one.
However, the biggest problem I have is the way some Christians react when they hear “happy holidays.” I have seen Christians turn to the employees and said “No! We say “Merry Christmas!” or get in the face of the employee and and sternly say “Merry Christmas!” in a tone that is reminiscent of a person telling a dog to stop urinating on the floor.
What kind of message does this send? What do the employees think? Imagine this: You’re a 17-year-old employee of Generic Superstore. You’ve started going to church a few times, but haven’t really gotten involved. Your boss calls a meeting and says that just to be on the safe side, you need to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” to customers this year. While your boss doesn’t necessarily agree with that, it is being put in place so those who are Jewish are not offended. While working at the cashier, as a nice gesture you say “Happy Holidays” to a couple in their mid-40s. Instead of taking it as a compliment, they tear into you and tell you how they are Christians and celebrate the birth of Christ and they say “Merry Christmas” because that’s what Christmas is all about. It’s not some secular holiday that is focused on materialism.
How would that make you feel? Unfortunately, that sort of thing is happening every year! Christians, who are acting self-righteous, prideful, and arrogant, take the Christmas season and turn it into a crusade against the world.
Unfortunately, not only does that make them look bad, but it also turns people off to the message of Christ. Hearts are not changed by us telling someone “we say Merry Christmas!.” Hearts are changed by us showing Christ’s compassion and love to the world.
Yes, I celebrate Christmas. You probably do too. But the next time someone says “Happy Holidays” to you, try showing them the love of Christ rather than the wrath of Christians.