Why its OK (sometimes) to say ‘Happy Holidays’

While I’ve done my share to rant about how the world has screwed up religious holidays (see Happy Easter and Kill The Bunny), I’ve recently had a re-think on the subject of the saying “Happy Holidays”.  I used to get a little peeved when I was greeted by the generic holiday message.  Now, I see it through different eyes… or could.

I used to think of the term as a way of neutering my holidays because Christianity was too radical or offensive for the masses. Or perhaps that a Jew would be offended if they were offered a Merry Christmas or a Christian offended by a “Happy Chanukah” wish. I just took it too personally. Now I chosen to interpret the term as more of an all-inclusive. Its a way of saying… “Enjoy ALL the holidays. Why limit yourself to just Christmas?”.

I won’t debate or defend any particular belief in this post, but I do believe that most widely accepted holidays have as their basis some story or premise that is almost always universally useful. Christmas is the story of God’s gift to mankind. Chanukah celebrates the end of a battle and a rededication and thanksgiving to God for his help. Kwanzaa is a celebration and rededication of non-denominational principles like faith and self-determination.

So this year, before you engage in your normal ritual, take an hour or two and talk to your kids about the other holidays, their meaning and their importance to those who believe in them. Look for the lessons that we all can use in these times of trouble. Lessons about tolerance, faith and living a principled life. You may find them in places you hadn’t thought to look.

Happy Holidays to all. I wish you peace and prosperity in the new year.

P.S. If you get a chance, stop by my latest website design and give me your feedback in these comments. – Thanks

Happy Easter (to my non-christian friends)

I thought I’d take a moment to say ‘Happy Easter’ to all my non-christian friends.

For those not of the Christian faith, the Reader’s Digest version of the Easter story goes something like this…

Jesus was crucified to death, laid to rest in a cave and was later resurrected. This is all a metaphor for the new testament’s promise of forgiveness and an afterlife. Truthfully, even amongst Christian religions, the tale varies slightly as does its message.  I think most would agree with this pared-down account.

Despite our religious differences, perhaps we can take something from this story and use it today… on Easter… go figure. Beyond the literal message about the afterlife, is a message of forgiveness. We will all fail to meet the expectations of God, our loved ones, even ourselves. The message for Easter is really the New Years Message… “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind.” As we know that we will disappoint others and wish to be forgiven, so should we also be ready to forgive those that have (and will) disappoint us.

It’s a good message regrdless of your religion (or absence of it).

Maybe I’m completely nuts, but it seems to me that one of the major problems with most organized religions is the way they use differences in rituals, apostles, etc. to differentiate themselves from one another. In the process, they often miss the point of it all. Its not whether you completely immerse someone during baptism or not… or whether you use wine or grape juice during services. Its about the way you live your lives away from church… how you treat yourselves, your fellow man and woman. Its about trying to be the kind of person that doesn’t often have to ask for forgiveness, but gives it easily.

I think ____________ (insert religious icon/apostle of your choice) would be proud of such a life.

Happy Easter to all!

Kill the bunny…

or “Is it time we took God out of our ‘religous’ holidays?”

Yesterday I told someone to have a ‘Happy Easter’. That person was quick to tell me that I should be carefull as I might offend someone with religous beliefs that don’t include Easter. “How dare you!” did I retort, forcing shocked amazement while holding 
back a grin. “How dare you try to associate my religion with that neo-pagan holiday Easter”!, I said. Then we had a chcukle and parted ways.

Then I began thinking… How did we get here? Two places at once really.

The first place is one where we can’t worship as we choose. A place where we offend someone by wishing them a happy Easter (or Chirstmans, Chanuka, or whatever). I mean if you don’t believe in the other person’s religion can’t you just take the ‘Happy’ part and thank them for wishing you a happy day? What the hell is wrong with us?

The second place we’ve landed is a place where Easter is about a giant bunny leaving colored eggs and candy at your house. And, yes, I’m aware of the pagan origins of the rabbit thing but who even thinks of that part either? I don’t have kids but I can only imagine how Easter Sunday morning conversations start in a Christian house with kids…

Dad: “Now Bobby, go get your nice clothes on. We’re going to church!”
Bobby: “Again!?! Didn’t we go just a couple months ago?!?”
Dad: “Shut yer yap you little ingrate! You’re gonna put your stupid little suit on and go to church like I told ‘ya. Then when you get home, you can eat the candy that the big bunny left you. Now get up those goddamn stairs and get dressed!”

Bobby goes to church and prays that on Christmas, a big man in a red suit sneaks into the house and kills his drunken father.

… it could happen   ?

I don’t want to offend anyone, nor do I want to deprive children of treats delivered by a giant egg-laying rabbit. At the same time, I would like the reverence of the holiday restored because for those who believe, Easter is a powerful, critcal message about the afterlife.

So maybe I’m Completely Nuts, but perhaps we should consider separating our religious holidays into two groups… the truly religious holidays in one group and the gift-giving retail orgies in another. For example, we could have ‘X-mas’ on one day for the kids (and retailers) and Christmas on another day allowing the Christians an opportunity to truly worship and teach their young. Frankly I’m surprised it hasn’t happenned already. If you remove the religious angle from the holoday, then children of all faiths can participate ($$$$).