It’s Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It’s “Merry Christmas” Or Else

I say “Merry Christmas” quite a bit at Christmas time. I’ve been saying “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” ever since I could say the words, which, I’m guessing, was around December, 1939, when I was just over two years old. Sometimes I say “Have a great holiday!” without mentioning which holiday I mean when I say that. There are times when I say “Happy New Year!”, forgetting to say “Merry Christmas”, even though it may be several days before Christmas. I can’t help it. It just comes out.

For weeks now I’ve been getting those admonishing Facebook posts and emails about keeping Christ in Christmas by saying “Merry Christmas”. (Because maybe if we don’t keep repeating those words everyone will forget who Christ was.)

I hadn’t planned on writing yet another blog about the “war” on Christmas, but today I received the email that was the straw that finally broke it.

It was an email from a dear friend and the subject line read, “ MERRY CHRISTMAS!”. The picture topping it was an old fashioned Currier & Ives etching with digital snowflakes falling, falling, falling. A colorful “Merry Christmas” banner arched over the top with a bright red ribbon wreathed with holly and ivy.

So lovely. . .