Happy Holidays? Merry Christmas? Tis the season for this debate to raise its head from its 11-month slumber… with memes doing the rounds:
“Jesus is the reason for the season!”
“It’s not ‘Happy Holidays’; it’s ‘Merry Christmas’!”
“Keep my Christ in Christmas!”
and so on …
Jesus might be the reason for ONE season but he’s certainly not the reason for them all.
Personally, I say ‘Happy Holidays’ if I say it FIRST. If someone wishes me ‘Merry Christmas’ I respond in kind because they have indicated their belief to me.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking Christians have a monopoly on the season… because they don’t. And as we all know by now, Christianity isn’t the only faith on the planet.
This time of year is traditionally celebrated by many faiths and cultures not all of whom believe in Jesus as Christ.
- Hanukkah for Jews
- Yule/Litha for pagans
- Bodhi day for Buddhists
- Zartosht no-diso for Zoroastrians
- Posadas Navidenas for Latin Americans
- Yalda for Iranians
- Kwanzaa for Africans
- Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims
- Martyrdom of the Sahibzade for Sikhs
- Hindus (who are polytheistic) have a huge number of celebratory days in December (as well as other times of the year)
No doubt I’ve left some faiths off…. But this covers at least those here in Australia. Feel free to share your December festivals in the comments!
I guess as we embrace “diversity” and immigration more and more we have to take what comes with it… an acceptance that not everyone celebrates the same way – or the same thing.
Perhaps this year we should all take a moment to remember the real reason for the season:
Good will and cheer
Spending time with friends and family
Helping out the less fortunate
Peace … and, no matter how – or what – you celebrate …
© Earth Goddess Wisdom