This column was originally written over 15 years ago when being “politically correct” seemingly became more important than the truth to many. Although not a religious man, even an Ole Seagull understands that when it comes to CHRISTmas,” first there was Christ!
Well, that depends. There is an increasingly strong move to change the traditional Christmas greeting of "Merry Christmas" to the "politically correct" terminology of "Happy Holidays."
Seagull, "But one wouldn't want to offend those celebrating Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or something else, would they?" "Absolutely not, but don't most people wishing to honor or recognize specific holidays, other than "Christmas," do so by saying, "Happy Kwanzaa," "Happy Hanukkah," or "Happy Whatever."
How many people wish someone a "Happy New Year" by saying "Happy Holidays," particularly during the week after Christmas and before "New Year's Day?" In the majority, it seems that "Christmas" is the only holiday that loses its specific identity under the "Happy Holidays" hocus pocus.
Do most say "Happy Holiday" when wishing someone a "Happy Easter" or Happy Thanksgiving?" Does U.S. law specifically designate "Christmas Day, December 25" as a "legal public holiday?" It does the way the Ole Seagull reads U.S. Code § 6103.
What does "Happy Holidays" have in common with "Merry mas?" They both leave "Christ" out. So what? What does "Christ" have to do with the celebration of Kwanza, Hanukkah, Santa Claus, presents, office parties, red-nosed reindeer, decorating trees, wreaths, holly, sleigh bells, retail sales, booze, atheism and feasting? Not much!
What does Christ have to do with CHRISTmas? Everything! Without Christ, there can be no CHRISTmas. There can be a holiday, a season, festivals and religious observations of every persuasion. Still, without Christ, there can be no CHRISTmas. Without CHRIST, one cannot even say or spell the word "CHRISTmas," let alone explain its history, meaning, or origins.
The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia states Christmas is "Christ's Mass in the Christian calendar, the feast of Jesus' nativity." The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines "Christmas" as "A Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus." Jesus who? Jesus, the Christ Child, the only begotten Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago!
First, there was Jesus Christ. Because of Christ, there is the celebration of His birth, CHRISTmas. Secular customs and traditions have developed since, but first, there was "Christ."
Even the most notable current secular symbol, the 19th century "Ho, Ho, Ho," jolly old Santa Claus seen everywhere during Christmas, was first made famous in New York. The European traditions of "Sinterklaas" and "Saint Nicholas" go back hundreds of years, but first, there was "Christ."
Some even would try to replace the bright guiding light of the Star of Bethlehem with the red glow of the nose of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Rudolph's nose had guided Santa's sleigh since 1939, when Robert May wrote a verse for a Montgomery Ward promotional comic book. In the late 1940s, his brother-in-law adapted the verse and used it in the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which the cowboy crooner Gene Autry made famous, but first there was "Christ."
When someone says "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas," to the Ole Seagull, especially during Branson's celebration of Ozark Mountain Christmas, he generally asks, "What Holiday?" What better way to create or reinforce awareness of the "reason for the season?"
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