I hear people debating the topic of saying Merry Christmas verses Happy Holidays, and those who put those down who say Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas claiming they are taking Christ out of Christmas. I for one am a Christian, and I say both depending on the time of year.
When seeing someone I may or may not see until after the New Year near Thanksgiving I will say Happy Holidays, as it gets closer to Christmas I tend to say Merry Christmas a bit more and less of Happy Holidays, but sometimes then add in something like Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to someone who I might not see until after the New Year.
I was lucky enough to grow up around many kinds of people with different religious beliefs so for those who I know are Jewish I will wish a Happy Hanukkah to, or if I am not sure I will wish a Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas so it covers all of the Holidays they may or may not celebrate. Am I taking the Christ out of Christmas? I most certainly am not. I am just taking into account other's beliefs and trying to be courteous to their choices, which also includes those who don't celebrate all Holidays.
I have always had a problem understanding those putting other peoples choices in religion down. Yes I have my own opinions, but it doesn't stop me from telling people about the God I believe in, and in so I will also listen to their choices, not that I will choose to convert, but this Country was the safe haven for many seeking refuge from religious persecution over the years and I for one have seen time and again people putting others down for their religious beliefs, which has caused, argueing, fighting, killing, and even wars, over what God they should be praising.
The last time I read the Bible God had many names and maybe just maybe most of us are praying to the same God, with different names, and the religion has gotten clouded over the years being broken up, rewritten, dispensed with other peoples views of how they perceived the reading of the Bible to be, causing the mess we have today.
Oh before I forget Marksville wishes you all a Very Merry Christmas with lots of hugs and prayers for Peace and Joy to all the world.
Challenge: Using prose or poetry, write something about Christmas.
- There is a limit of three submissions from each member per day. If you’re extremely prolific, spread out your work and post only three submissions per day.
- Post to Gather Writing Essential.
- Tag your submission with SatWE.
- Include (Saturday Writing Essential) as part of your title.
- I ask that you make your submission(s) by next Friday afternoon.
Good Writing!
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Comments: 52
Thanks for taking the SatWE challenge.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980938388
Jesus is the reason for the season, but he is also our Savior and that's an every day thing.... ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Doesn't say anything about just doing this during the "season")
Matthew 25 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
I agree with your article as I'm happy when someone says Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas to me, as they likely have a smile on their face....
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980949619
What I wrote was not a personal preference or belief and is simply " Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" and "Happy Holiday" all rolled into one according to Merriam_Webster and the Oxford American Dictionary, written in response to all the hoopla surrounding the appropriateness of conferring such tiding on an unwilling recipient.
Hope Christmas was merry in Marksville.
I preffer happy holidays because I am not a xtian.
THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON
Help another member out be viewing this post.
I generally say "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Hanukkah," depending on the setting.