It’s that time again! It’s December, and the social media posts have started to reappear. You’ve seen them: the memes and chain Facebook status posts asking you to “copy and paste this to your timeline if you believe it’s Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays!”
Ok, hear me out. The “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” debate has been going strong for years. The people who say “Merry Christmas” see “Happy Holidays” as a misguided effort to be politically correct and bury the true meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, the people who say “Happy Holidays” see it as more inclusive of a range of beliefs and cultures. In reality, I think most people just say one or the other, and no one really minds the words you choose to wish them a good day. However, some people will take offense at one or the other, and others just have a strong preference. Christians tend to be in the group that prefers Merry Christmas and is troubled by a shift to more neutral language as a potential erasure of the Christian elements of the season. “Holidays” is non-specific for a reason. But is this a proverbial hill worth dying on? In other words, in a world where everything seems divisive, is “happy holidays” or “Merry Christmas” worth fighting over?
Firstly, I think no one should be afraid to say “Merry Christmas.” At this time of the season, Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. There’s no reason to hide our beliefs or our reason for celebrating. Yes, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but to wish a stranger merry Christmas is a way of expressing and sharing our joy at the season. There may be the odd person who takes offense, but in that case, just try to keep things civil and stay kind. Kindness costs nothing, yet it’s a precious commodity in this world. I doubt most people would lightly take offense at a pleasant word offered with a smiling face.
However, there is a case to be made for “happy holidays” as well. First, a blanket term like “holidays” takes multiple winter celebrations into consideration without being specific. Besides Christmas, there are other holidays in December and January—Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year, to name a few. Some of these holidays might be celebrated alongside Christmas and aren’t necessarily in opposition to a Christian worldview. For example, Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day celebration of the miracle during the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple after the Maccabean Revolt, when the lights on the menorah burned for eight days with only one day’s fuel. A Christian of Jewish heritage might celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas during the same holiday season. Another December holiday, Kwanzaa, is a week-long celebration between Christmas and the New Year based on African harvest celebrations and honoring African-American culture. Some people celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa. So, just because a holiday is not Christmas doesn’t mean it’s anti-Christian or that Christians don’t celebrate it.
Second, even if a holiday is part of a religion other than Christianity, we should still demonstrate cultural sensitivity, knowledge, and kindness. These traits are part of being good neighbors. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He said: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'” (Matthew 22: 37-39). God considers loving our neighbors the second most important principle we can live by. Part of loving our neighbors means respecting them as people God loves and understanding them so we may have better opportunities to share the gospel. We’ve seen how words can divide people in our culture. As Christians and missionaries (yes, we are all missionaries), we should be change drivers who use words to build connections, not burn bridges. It starts with understanding and a willingness to learn, then with gentle steadfastness in the truth, with a huge dose of compassion and love.
Finally, acknowledging other holidays doesn’t erase Christmas. Part of the pushback against “holidays” results from a fear that the “Christian version” of Christmas is being slowly edged out of our culture. However, I don’t think Christmas is that fragile. We believe that Jesus came to earth as both a human being and God Himself to free the world of their sins and restore their relationship to God. The cashier at Walmart saying “happy holidays” or Starbucks changing the design of their Christmas cups can’t make that miracle any less true. We can still be a light of truth in our culture, but let’s make sure we actually produce light, not just heat.
So, here’s my stance on the infamous debate. Personally, I will say “Merry Christmas” because that’s the holiday I celebrate. If I were talking to someone I knew was celebrating a different holiday, I would have no problem saying “Happy Hanukkah,” “Joyous Kwanzaa,” etc. If I am unsure about my audience, or if I don’t feel comfortable with one of the above, I might mix in some “happy holidays” too.
What about you? I’m curious to know what you think. What’s your go-to Christmas/holiday greeting? Do you see this as a significant cultural issue or a small one? Feel free to leave a comment.
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