Happy Holidays! And so begins the annual whinging about local businesses and governments wishing people "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I really don't get why this is such a big problem.
Looking back through Christmas cards received over the years the following are traditional Christmas greetings:
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Season's Greetings
Happy Holidays
Peace on Earth, Good will to men
Joy to the World
Very rarely have I received a Christmas card that only wished me a Merry Christmas. Happy New Year is usually included in the greeting. Originally Happy Holidays was a shortened version of "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." Now it encompasses all the religious holidays that fall in December.
This is also the season when Christians should be spreading the message of peace on earth, good will to men, and joy to the world. I don't see how demanding that businesses and government institutions only post "Merry Christmas" and ignore the holidays of non-christians is in keeping with that mandate. In fact, it seems rather churlish to me to insist that Happy Holidays which includes everyone be replaced with Merry Christmas which excludes non-christians. It just doesn't seem like a very Christian thing to do to not wish your Jewish friends and neighbors a Happy Hanukkah.
Peace on Earth
Good will towards all humans regardless of what religion they practice
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