Da Blogs Da Thang: A Question of Faiths

A Question of Faiths

Published Tuesday, December 06, 2005 by lecram sinun | E-mail this post

A recent comment by s t a c i e on a post below prompted me to give a little more thought to the recent news about how certain groups are pressuring retailers to use the word "Christmas" instead of "Holiday".

First, let me present the definition:

holÂ·iÂ·day

A day free from work that one may spend at leisure, especially a day on which custom or the law dictates a halting of general business activity to commemorate or celebrate a particular event.
A religious feast day; a holy day.
Chiefly British. A vacation. Often used in the phrase on holiday.

from [Middle English holidai, holy day, from Old English hlig dÃ¦g : hlig, holy; see holy + dÃ¦g, day; see day.]

Please take note of definition number 2 especially... and it's root.

I'm all for calling a Christmas Tree... a "Christmas Tree"... instead of a "Holiday Tree". That would be like calling a Manorah ... a candlabra. However, I think that "Happy Holidays" is totally appropriate. Afterall, the season is shared with "holy days" of several other faiths and belief systems.

I could write a cynical rant that would provide all sides of the issue with a good slap up the side of the head for everyone involved... but it just wouldn't be condusive to the spirit of the season.

3 Responses to “A Question of Faiths”

lecram sinun on December 06, 2005 12:29 PM

the_mrs - Yeah, I avoided it for a while myself... but found myself needing to express that it's really a non-issue.
KFarmer on December 07, 2005 4:49 AM

LS- I agree; Happy Holidays- Merry Christmas- what does it matter? Its the thought that counts.

BTW- Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Cheers!!!
thereminman on December 07, 2005 9:21 AM

that's it, 'non-issue' along with several other 'should-be-non-issues' that one loud minority of the Christian faith seems to be getting their panties in a twist over.
From the head of the National Church of Councils (and former congressman)Rev. Bob Edgar: "I think it's more important to put Christ back into our war planning than into our Christmas cards"
( I do take this to mean that there are more important arenas in which one should aspire to be more "Christ-like" ---not that we should be invoking Christ in our war-making[not that we would do that in this country])---wow,
did I just go OFF or what?

I understand The_Mrs.' wish to not touch this hot-button---but nearly every night in bed that hot button comes to mind(wait, that doesn't sound right)---that's why my Rogue show is gonna be called the "'Ill-Advised' Solo Show"---I'm gonna touch that button for a full 40 minutes! (maybe I better reconsider the PG rating?)