To my surprise, the word “Merry” originated hundreds of years ago in England and is first recorded in a letter written in 1534 from an English Catholic Bishop named John Fisher to Thomas Cromwell. That’s what Christmas is all about. They don’t care to offend those who fervently believe in Christ and fervently believe that Christmas is the holiday where we celebrate Jesus’ birth. Politically Incorrect: Don't You Dare Say "Merry Christmas" Author: Krista D'Ambroso. Please spend a little time here and listen to our other songwriters and composers. I know people will never stop wishing everyone Merry Christmas. When you say it, not only do you wish your friends happiness, but you officially affirm the validity of Christmas by celebrating the coming of The Baby Jesus. So the word Merry shifted from a verb to an adjective which over time allowed it to be used in the phrase “Merry Christmas”. Christianity, Christmas trees, chimney stockings and gift-giving aren’t going anywhere. More Americans than ever say they celebrate the upcoming holiday of Christmas as a religious one. Oct 25, 2017 4,481. I respect everyone and their own beliefs and religions. (Laughter from the audience.) It’s Christmas, not … Don’t Say Happy Holidays..It’s Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. No. Daniel Larison I do not understand this “war against Christmas” nonsense. California. Be a brave Christian and let everyone know that you believe in the Lord and are joyously celebrating his symbolic birthday. I love everything about the season, except the snow and the cold and for the first time this year, I get to experience it without Ohio‘s December snowstorms and instead in a pair of shorts and sunglasses in the great state of Florida. The young girls probably see that as a good thing. Christmas isn’t meant to be secularized. Necromanti. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. I don’t believe that is the case. But they don’t. We'll also feature it on our facebook Christmas pages. In the cosmopolitan northeast, they prefer you say “Happy Holidays,” so as not to offend delicate atheists, Muslims, or Jewish folk. Neither are the classics: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas … Learn how your comment data is processed. Don't Say "Merry Christmas"- -It is not PC and be careful where you expose a red poisettia to public view. She has certifications in human nutrition as well as animal behavior. The article continues to explain that the people who say Merry Christmas have good intentions, but are insensitive and ignorant in assuming the person they're greeting in such a manner is Christian. It is not very strange to hear someone say “Merry Christmas” - it is an acceptable alternative - but “Happy Christmas” is more common. Some don’t. White poinsettia are acceptable. To my surprise, the word “Merry” originated hundreds of years ago in England and is first recorded in a letter written in 1534 from an English Catholic Bishop named John Fisher to Thomas Cromwell. Wait. Krista is a published author, entrepreneur, and small business owner. To many, the word diversity means embracing the cultures and faiths of those who have made America its home. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas A good rule of thumb: if you don’t know what someone celebrates, use the broader term. Indeed, President Obama, a Christian, has frequently uttered the phrase. We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. Sunday, December 11, 2011. He surely says it a lot himself. Notice where the comma is. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Such activities weren’t very worshipful. I went to California to visit family and friends last week. This content is currently not available in your region. • Another one says 68% Prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.” • Yet another poll says this: 81% Who Celebrate Christmas Celebrate as a Religious Holiday. but even Old Saint Nick will not be saying “Merry Christmas” ‘Til daddy puts the angel on the tree. I’ve recently had folks who, after recognizing me in my local Publix, launch into a tirade about feeling vilified just for saying “Merry Christmas!” Well, that’s unfortunate. For starters, it's important to note that "Happy Christmas" hasn't faded completely—it's still widely used in England. So why don’t we say “Happy Christmas”? So, don’t be afraid to say “Merry Christmas.” Just say it. Go read the comments on any article or post about “The War on Christmas.” These people want everyone to wish everyone Merry Christmas, and for those other people who don’t belong in their Christian nation (ahem), just accept it and shut up. They are banned from the one of the major municipal buildings in St. Paul, MN because they are viewed as being "overly religious". And don’t be afraid to do so; that’s what we’re celebrating. Many Americans celebrate Christmas. How did the word “Merry” get added to this specific holiday? Federated Department Stores, Macy’s, have done away with the Christmas greeting, “Merry Christmas.” Now, all of this anti-Christian stuff is absurd, and may even be a bias situation. All the best, Robert. Christmas is not and has never been the only winter holiday. The angels this day play the hymns on their harps, while a host of holy voices sweetly sing. Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which, in Western Christian Churches, is held annually on 25 December.For centuries, it has been the subject of several reformations, both religious and secular. We say “Happy Halloween”, “Happy Thanksgiving”, “Happy New Year”, “Happy Easter”, “Happy Independence Day”, and I have even heard the occasional “Happy Labor Day” by the shirtless guy with a beverage in his hand while grilling up some hot dogs on his day off. But if you don’t know, or aren’t quite sure, it’s probably best to stay general rather than taking a guess and potentially making someone feel bad. I’m not naïve. “Don’t say Merry Christmas” he raged before launching into a tirade whereby he presumed to lecture the attendants, the pilot, and all others within earshot about their festive faux pas. I know people will never stop wishing everyone Merry Christmas. This means that I begin to play the Christmas Carols, take detours at the local Home Depot to look at the Christmas Decorations, and begin my favorite Christmas pastime which is looking online for all the cool new Christmas Villages that I plan on buying one day for my imaginary display. The same year the famous Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” which remains one of the more popular Christmas stories of all time. Within the book, the phrase “Merry Christmas” was used 21 times. Does anyone say "Happy Christmas"?. Yes! Although it was never an official plank of the Republican Party platform, Donald Trump repeatedly promised during the 2016 presidential election … / Don’t Say Merry Christmas–Be Polite! On to the real substance of your question (and speaking about Ireland rather than the UK): wishing people Happy Christmas is not controversial here in the way that it seems to have become in the US. Yes! By Armand C. Hale. It’s as easy as that. If you tell someone “Merry Christmas”, they’re more likely to smile and thank you than scold you about political correctness. MUSIC VIDEO: If you don’t see ‘Merry Christmas’ in the window, don’t go in that store … December 5, 2017 / 0 Comments / in Social Issues , Video / by Dr. Rich Swier Say Merry Christmas – Vocal Carrie Rinderer and the American Christian Life United (ACLU) choir… When many say that ‘Merry Christmas’ is offensive are really just trying to secularize and generalize America. But I don't say "Merry Christmas" because of my strong religious beliefs in the holiday. I thought the website Why Christmas explained this the best: In the English language of the time, the phrase ‘Rest You Merry’ didn’t mean simply to be happy; ‘rest’ meant “to keep, cause to continue to remain” and ‘merry’ could mean “pleasant, bountiful, prosperous”. As my family walked to the door with 6 bags of sugary treats for my little kids I waved and told my neighbor. For starters, it's important to note that "Happy Christmas" hasn't faded completely—it's still widely used in England. December 9, 2005 | 2:58 pm. This is believed to be because "happy" took on a higher class connotation than "merry," which was associated with the rowdiness of the lower classes. The crew tried to calm the man down, but he refused to be consoled as he continued his harangue. The phrase “Merry Christmas” was first used commercially in the first Christmas Card. But they don’t. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. Don't Say "Merry Christmas"--Yet In the church of my childhood, the days leading up to Christmas included such activities as a Christmas play (my late great father, who was a ham, was often involved) and a visit by Santa Claus. Don’t Say Merry Christmas, whether in person or on cards/gifts, unless you truly mean it to your family and friends. A … You go to department stores, and they'll say, 'Happy New Year,' and they'll say … The original meaning of the song meant to emphasize the phrase “God Rest You Merry” but overtime the comma was moved and placed after the word “You”. We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. “Don’t say Merry Christmas” he raged before launching into a tirade whereby he presumed to lecture the attendants, the pilot, and all others within earshot about their festive faux pas. Member. and then shut the door behind us and began our bedtime routine. In the cosmopolitan northeast, they prefer you say “Happy Holidays,” so as not to offend delicate atheists, Muslims, or Jewish folk. "Merry Christmas" is the traditional greeting used by Americans around Christmas-time. What an angry passenger yelled at American Airlines staff before being kicked off flight. “When I started 18 months ago, I told my first crowd in Wisconsin that we are going to come back here some day and we are going to say ‘Merry Christmas’ again,” he said. December 11, 2011. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. Later in the 16th Century the song “God Rest You Merry, Gentleman” began to be sung. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. MUSIC VIDEO: If you don’t see ‘Merry Christmas’ in the window, don’t go in that store … December 5, 2017 / 0 Comments / in Social Issues , Video / by Dr. Rich Swier Say Merry Christmas – Vocal Carrie Rinderer and the American Christian Life United (ACLU) choir… “Merry Christmas” remained popular. Users who like "Don't Say Merry Christmas"-Katona/Bogard; Performed by Jodie Bentley Celebrate what you like; say Merry Christmas all you like; don't decide that everyone and the whole culture is really Christian no matter what they think. Whether you choose to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” sincerely wishing someone else well at this time of year—or any time, really—is never a bad idea. The Origin of Merry Christmas. Don’t Say Merry Christmas–Be Polite! By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. This altered the original meaning and made the word Merry an adjective describing the “Gentlemen”. For most folks, the official Christmas Season begins after Thanksgiving, but for me, it starts November 1. This is believed to be because "happy" took on a higher class connotation than "merry," which was associated with the rowdiness of the lower classes. The campaign against “Merry Christmas” and other uses of the word “Christmas” is a war on Christianity or, more precisely, a war on the religious nature of America. They’ll probably just be happy someone took the time to say something nice to them. Copyright © 2021 The History Junkie | Bamboo on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Eight Reasons The Americans Won The Revolutionary War, Middle Colonies Facts, Economy, and Influence. If people don't say "Merry Christmas" enough by December 25, Christmas may not happen! Why can’t we say ‘Merry Christmas” anymore without offending people? According to NAIK I just saved 75 virgins from having to put up with me. Saying Merry Christmas isn’t offensive here at all. Posted on Last updated: April 30, 2020 By: Author Russell Yost. So you could write the first line as “[May] God keep you and continue to make you successful and prosperous, Gentlemen” but that would be hard to sing! Happy Everything, Everybody. It should be noted that Jews, Muslims and others who do not … Don't say Merry Christmas. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. I’m not naïve. 'Don't say, 'Merry Christmas!'' All I can say is Merry Christmas to him and all muslims and everyone in the world. Whether you choose to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” sincerely wishing someone else well at this time of year—or any time, really—is never a bad idea. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. So, “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”? "They don't use the word 'Christmas,' because it's not politically correct. It makes sense that "Merry Christmas" has become a standard greeting for people, because, after all, Christmas is a national holiday that we observe as … 2015-12-09T01:05:57Z Buy "Don't Say Merry Christmas"-Katona/Bogard; Performed by Jodie Bentley. The crew tried to calm the man down, but he … But in reality, these days diversity is the elimination and dismissal of Americas culture, which is now promoted as white supremacy, nationalism, and of course Islamophobic. But they were fun, and fun is a good thing to have in this old world. Go read the comments on any article or post about “The War on Christmas.” These people want everyone to wish everyone Merry Christmas, and for those other people who don’t belong in their Christian nation (ahem), just accept it and shut up. Please don’t wish me ‘Merry Christmas’ - The Washington Post €5 every 4 weeks or just €50 €20 for the first year, €7 every 4 weeks or just €70 €30 for the first year. Within the letter this sentence was said: And this our Lord God send you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire. The first Christmas card on record was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole and used the phrase “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump vowed to make America say “Merry Christmas” again. Hello and Merry Christmas from The People’s Democratic Republic of California! Why do we say and when did we begin saying “Merry Christmas”? I say it because it's much more personal to me. It is placed after and not before the word “Merry”. The opponents of “Merry Christmas” and other uses of the word “Christmas” know exactly what they are doing. How did the word “Merry” get added to this specific holiday? 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