Happy Holidays

It's that time of year where posts, ostensibly by "good Christians" are appearing on Facebook entreating people to not say Happy Holidays this time of year.  Evidently the use of the phrase is part of the "war on Christmas," whatever the heck that is. To the people making these posts I say Bah Humbug!

The use of the phrase Happy Holidays started in the 1890s.  Yes, those redoubtable Victorians who wholeheartedly embraced the Christmas season we celebrate today (minus Black Friday and Cyber Monday) used Happy Holidays throughout the entire Christmas Season.  The phrase was made more popular with the Irving Berlin Song and the movie Holiday Inn.  It picked up traction in the 1970s.

Between Thanksgiving and 12th Night or Epiphany there are a plethora of holidays.  In no particular order to the calendar here are just a few:  Thanksgiving, Advent, Bodhi Day, St. Nicholas Day, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucia's Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (St. Stephens Day), Pancha Ganapat, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Yule, New Year's Eve, Hogmanay, New Year's Day. I know there are holidays I left out, but I'm sure you get my drift.

So, to the people who get on their collective high horses about the use of Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas, I say "get over your collective selves"! And, be glad you live where you can freely say Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, Good Yule, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or nothing at all.

Happy Holidays!!!