Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas

I had a short discussion with a co-worker last week about saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” The conversation got interrupted because we were making phone calls, and had to get on with our work. Some of my friends on Facebook have posted comments along the lines of, “It’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays.”

I have not heard anyone complain about anybody saying Merry Christmas for several years. I even forgot myself for a minute, and wished a Jewish person Merry Christmas yesterday. I understand why the controversy arose. Christmas is the most important day on the calendar for most Christians. People who are not Christians may feel as though Christians are trying to force their beliefs on them by saying Merry Christmas. Since Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and New Years Day all arrive close to Christmas, it makes sense to cover them all and not offend anybody by saying Happy Holidays.

“Happy Holidays” sounds so watered down. It just sounds like a person wants to wish others a Merry Christmas in a Politically Correct way. Christians may feel that they are not giving testimony to their faith if they say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Jesus told us not to judge others, but he also said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but through me.” (John 14:6) He was trying to tell us that we can’t wander into salvation through any old religion. We need a focus, and Jesus came into the world to be that focus. Without a focus, it is easy for us to be led into darkness through false religion.

Those who object to hearing Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas may need to ask themselves if they announce their faith at times of year other than Christmas. We celebrate that Jesus came into the world at Christmastime. His birth was an expression of God’s love. We need to remember Good Friday and Easter. Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday so that we could have our sins forgiven by believing that he endured the crucifixion for us. His resurrection on Easter Day was his greatest miracle. The Crucifixion and the Resurrection were the reasons for Christ’s birth.

So, if you want to insist on Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays, ask yourself if you are witnessing and evangelizing the rest of the year.