When I was in high school, we moved to Miami Beach. The first Christmas season we lived there, I went shopping on Lincoln Road Mall with one of my new friends, who happened to be Jewish.
After we had been in and out of several stores and I had happily said “Merry Christmas” to almost everyone I spoke with, my friend quietly suggested that I might want to say “Happy Holidays” because a large percentage of the people we encountered were likely to be Jewish. Even though no one had expressed offense, my friend said the non-Christmas greeting was more appropriate.
Later I stopped by my mother’s office (a CPA firm located in one of the bank buildings on Lincoln Road) and shared the story with the receptionist, an older lady who also happened to be Jewish. I remember so well what she said:
“You should say what you feel comfortable saying. Any Jew who is offended when someone wishes them a merry Christmas is unreasonable. I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I am glad when my friends who do want to share their holiday with me.”
And that reminds me of a line of dialog I read in a novel just a few years later that I still recall:
“A pleasant remark is never offensive as long as it's addressed to anyone but a damn fool.”
Throughout the year as we approach holidays, I wish the people I meet happy celebrations — New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day (observed on the fourth of July in the U.S.), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and so on. I do the same at Christmas.
And so …
Merry Christmas!
The other side of that is I think others should be free to use whatever holiday greeting they choose. I don’t get offended if someone says “Happy Holidays” to me.
My attitude extends to businesses as well as individuals. I don’t care if commercial establishments say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” or nothing holiday-related at all.
The true meaning of Christmas lives in the heart, not a department store. And it’s learned at home and in church, not at a mall.
Let’s lighten up and stop sweating the small stuff. The spirit of Christmas transcends all faith and even non-faith groups. Rather than trying to suppress that, let’s celebrate it.
What do you think? Please share below.
Jacquelyn's latest book is Christian Business Almanac: The Ultimate Daily Guide for Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
She is the author of the nonfiction books Simple Facts About Self-Publishing (Second Edition), Words to Work By: 31 devotions for the workplace based on the Book of Proverbs and Finding Joy in the Morning: You can make it through the night as well as the novel Choices (A Joyful Cup Story). With her husband, she is the co-creator of several coloring books for adults and the novelty My Book About series.
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