Article by Wendy Lomano — © 2004
It's becoming increasingly "unpopular" —
or, rather, NOT politically correct (PC) — to use the word
CHRISTMAS these days.
Department stores, such as Macy's, television, radio, and print
media are switching to "Happy Holidays!" instead
of saying "Merry Christmas". And they're using "holiday'
to take any religious reference out of the season. It's not
a Christmas concert coming up, it's a holiday concert. It's
not a Christmas parade, it's a holiday parade.
But do they know the origin of the word "Holiday"?
It comes from the joining of HOLY and DAY.
Additionally, stores are using the word "holiday" instead
of "Christmas" in their advertisements. The fear
of offending someone has caused them to use the word "holiday" —
Your holiday one-stop shopping place! — despite that the word
holiday itself has religious origins.
They're using "holiday" to be non-religious, all-encompassing. "Holiday" —
you know... Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New
Years, Ramadan, Boxing Day, Pearl Harbor Day, Bill of Rights
Day, Wright Brothers Day, Three Kings Day...
Give me a break. Holiday? Hmm. This is
December. To which "HOLIDAY" are
you referring? Because when I think "holiday" at
this time of year, I think of three major ones: Hanukkah,
Christmas and New Year's.
Let's see... are they advertising 6-foot tall inflatable
menorahs? No... it's a 6-foot tall inflatable Santa.
Are they advertising dreidels? No, they're
advertising "holiday
lights" and artificial trees.
Are they advertising manger scenes? Nope.
I've yet to meet a Jewish family that
celebrates Hanukah by putting up "holiday lights" and artificial trees.
A Jewish friend says, "Hanukah is the Jewish Festival
of Lights, but that refers to the menorah and the miracle
of the oil". It doesn't mean artificial lights -- putting
up holiday lights is "too much like Christmas".
But... just in case no one's noticed: lights, Santa, snowmen,
reindeer and such are all secular sides of ... CHRISTmas.
Oops. I used that forbidden word. I won't apologize, though:
Jesus is the reason for the season!
Radio stations are "your home for holiday favorites".
I've yet to hear any station play "The Dreidel Song"...
or any other song that focuses soley on Hanukkah.
All the radio stations play is Christmas songs, and some "winter" songs
(such as "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the
Snowman" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside"). The
only song I've ever heard that encompasses anything beyond
general winter and Christmas is Glenn Beck's "Happy
Ramahanakwanzmas", which is meant to poke fun at politically
correct people. (Oh, and there is some Kwanzaa song out now...
don't know it and I've yet to hear it played on a "home
for holiday favorites" station.)
More and more places, however, seem to be taking advantage
of the "holiday" season to make more money from
those celebrating anything at all. Companies are offering
their products to more than Christians or those who celebrate
a simply secular "Christmas". That's a good thing
— everyone should be able to celebrate their HOLYday and
have "things" to go along with that time. After
all, it's a free market economy.
Hallmark has cards for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. They have good
information pages about each HOLYday as well. Visit their
website to find out more - http://pressroom.hallmark.com/holidays_celebrations.html
— though I didn't research their site and fact check it
for accuracy (I'd hope they've done that)
But really...my point is, if you're going to be totally politically
correct, and I sense much of the world is heading in that
direction, though I pray not...you shouldn't ever use the
world "holiday". And for your PC December greeting,
you should use "Season's Greetings".
Though I've gotta ask... to which season are you referring?
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