‘Merry Christmas’ More Appropriate Than ‘Happy Holidays’
As a follower of God, I try to stand up for what I believe in, and this seems to be an opportunity. I realize that not everyone is a Christian, and I am not trying to shove my views down your throat. But it seems others are forcing their beliefs on us.
Christmas is slipping up on us. We are starting to feel the cold weather. We are seeing the bright green Christmas trees. And before long the Christmas spirit will arise. The Christmas spirit is brought forth by many happy things: shopping, exchanging gifts, and hearing the greeting, “Happy holidays!”
Let’s back up: “Happy holidays.” These two words are fine separated, but together they cause the Christmas feeling to escape from my heart. Is it Easter? Is it St. Patrick’s Day? No. It is Christmas.
Today, atheists are doing everything they can to stop people from saying Merry Christmas. Why is this happening? People are so caught up in their own feelings they don’t care what other people feel. Christmas is when our Savior was born, baby Jesus. Without Him, we wouldn’t be celebrating anything. So, what right do the non-believers have to rename Christmas? None!
I hope you will support me in this simple stand to bring God’s name back into His birthday, Christmas. It’s not about presents, Christmas trees, or Santa Claus, although there is nothing wrong with these things if you understand the true meaning.
It’s about giving God all the glory on the happy day of December 25, and putting selfishness aside.
When the time comes, let’s show the world how to truly have a Merry Christmas!
Kaylan Staton
Bristol, Va.
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You wrote—“People are so caught up in their own feelings they don’t care what other people feel.“
It seems to me that you are talking about yourself.
You also wrote—- I realize that not everyone is a Christian, and I am not trying to shove my views down your throat.
Then explain to everyone what you are trying to do. Not everyone in this country are of the same faith. Happy holidays is a great way to to show all walks of life respect during this season.
“Any record of the date of birth of Yeshua of Nazareth (later known as Jesus Christ) has been lost. There is sufficient evidence in the Gospels to indicate that Yeshua was born in the fall, but this seems to have been unknown to early Christians. By the beginning of the 4th century CE, there was intense interest in choosing a day to celebrate Yeshua’s birthday. The western church leaders selected DEC-25 because this was already the date recognized throughout the Roman Empire as the birthday of various Pagan gods. Since there was no central Christian authority at the time, it took centuries before the tradition was universally accepted:
* Eastern churches began to celebrate Christmas after 375 CE.
* The church in Jerusalem started in the 7th century.
* Ireland started in the 5th century
* Austria, England and Switzerland in the 8th
* Slavic lands in the 9th and 10th centuries.
Many symbols and practices associated with Christmas are of Pagan origin: holly, ivy, mistletoe, yule log, the giving of gifts, decorated evergreen tree, magical reindeer, etc….“
SRC: http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm
(This info can be found many places, so don’t dream of trying to discount it based on this particular source).
I still say “Everyone have a great day” no mater what kind of celebrations you have!
We should all do well to remember (especially us Christians) that this time of year is nowhere near the time that Christ was born. The Christmas holiday was placed at this time of year by the Church to replace many of pagan winter festivals.
We Christians do not have any exclusive rights to this time of year, and have MUCH less than MANY others (as ConcernedCitizen points out).
To my fellow Christians, Merry Christmas.
To those of other faiths or no faith….
Have a Happy Holiday, or simply a great day!
Great letter Kaylan, I agree 100% We should leave “Christ” in Christmas
Dearest Kaylan,
While I’m sure you believe you have the best interest of others in your heart, you are going about it all the wrong way. You are a christian child, good for you. I am not a christian, good for me. I may say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” to you if I meet you at some point during the holiday season. Neither would be intended to be an insult to your faith as I am unconcerned about your personal religious beliefs. I live in a country where we have freedom of and from religion. You may continue to celebrate the magical baby birth to the 14 year old virgin while you are ripping open your Santa gifts all you want without fear of any atheist barging in and yelling “You are wrong!“ while trying to force a copy of The God Delusion on you.
It is not “Atheists” who want their deity to be remembered along with your deity, but people of other faiths who are celebrating their religious holidays around the same time as yours. They simply ask for the same recognition and respect as you. If that is too much to ask of you, then you have a lot of spiritual and emotional growing to do.
Kaylan:
First, I don’t care how old you are. At this point I don’t even believe you’re 15. Nor do I believe you wrote the letter of your own accord.
Except to say that obviously some unscrupulous person or persons somewhere is teaching you that it’s ok to have a “them or us” attitude when it comes to Jesus.
But your age matters not. What matters is your confusion. What are you scared of? What makes you think “Atheists” have the power to take God out of Christmas?
Do you consider the spirit to be weaker than they? No one can take God out of anything. To think one can is to degrade God’s power.
Don’t be fearful like the clowns who have filled your head with hate and division.
I have just one question for you. Answer it yourself and to yourself. You don’t have to justify yourself to me. It’s Christ you have to face.
Now try to ignore the soothsayers who are patting you on the butt and telling you not to listen.
The question is easy and true:
How many non-believers do you think you brought to Jesus with this letter?
You have a mind and a soul of your own, use them.
Kaylan,
You wrote a fine letter. I disagree with you; and that happens when you put your opinion out there. Please don’t be discouraged, people aren’t going to agree with you even when you’re 100% right.
It isn’t just for the sake of athiests that we say happy holidays. Jews, Muslims, Sieks, Hindus, Buddahists, African Animists, Native Americans, Wiccans, etc., etc., etc. do not celebrate Christmas per se, but do celebrate Hanaka, Kwanza, and so on. It is so everyone can be included in the joy of the holiday season that we say happy holidays.
But who’s we anyway? I say Merry Christmas most of the time to people, unless I know for a fact that they’re not Christian. The fact that T.V. might not is because of the reasons above.
In the end; it’s really not anything to be offended by. It’s not as if anyone is saying ‘unhappy holidays.‘ It seems to me that you are saying “Bah Humbug.“
Kaylan, I’m so proud of your passion for Christ at such an early age. Don’t let the negative comments discourage you; you are on the right track. There are always going to be people that want to argue ‘their side’ and question your beliefs. If the world had more young people like you, it would be a better place. God Bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I’m Kaylan Staton, the author of this piece. I am only fifteen years old and may not have the best argues quite yet, but I know what I believe in. Yes, I do pray for the atheists every day, but does that mean I just sit back and let them take God out of everything? It upsets me because Christmas is God’s holiday, not yours. It doesn’t make it any less special but I’m standing up for God because that’s what we are supposed to be doing. SO while you all are sitting out there downing a fifteen year old standing up for what she believes in ask your self this: How are you making a difference?
Accusing people and spreading isolation, as is done in this letter, is no way to celebrate the birth or anything else concerning Jesus.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I celebrate Jesus every single day. And I pray for “Atheists” instead of accuse them.
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