This year I’m not feeling my usual anxiety — I don’t want to say yet, maybe it will come, maybe it won’t. Who knows. I’m glad though that right now, I”m not stressing about the holidays like I usually do. That said, I’ve noticed the same holiday stories creeping into my newsfeeds and those things might give me anxiety!
I’m not linking to any particular story — no one needs clicks from me — but you know what I’m talking about:
“Saying Happy Holidays is More Inclusive than Saying Merry Christmas.”
“Bring Back Merry Christmas!”
“We Only Celebrate Christmas Here!”
“Christian Groups upset over Starbucks Holiday Cup.”
“10 People Trampled on Black Friday at a Flash Toaster Sale”
Arg! You know these headlines. You see them too. Make them stop!
I think these kinds of headlines and the stories that accompany them are designed to divide people and stir up contention during this time of year — as if we already don’t have enough, here is more! Don’t be the jerk in the line at Target. The kid checking you out is just doing what he’s been told to do with that half hearted “Happy Holidays”.
Let’s not participate in the Christmas Wars this year. In fact, remember when I wrote about putting the “X” back in Christmas? (That was almost 10 years ago guys! Where has the time gone?!) Just say “Thank you so much, you too!” when someone wishes you a Festivus for the Restofus.
I think the Church’s Light The World campaign is a good way to focus ourselves on service to the world, our communities, our wards, and our families. The world wide day of service is tomorrow, December 1st. There is still time to think of ways to serve and then go out and do it tomorrow.
One of the ways I’m going to stay above the fray is by listening to good music. I can’t promise a post about beautiful music every day in December, but it will be many times in the weeks leading up to Christmas. I will disclaim here some selections will be secular, some will be sacred, but they all will be lovely! I hope you’ll leave a comment and share your favorite Christmas and holiday music and why you like that song with us. I’ll highlight your comments in future posts.
This is one of my favorite Christmas song medleys by the Osmond Family. I wish they’d release this album on streaming. Right now you’re lucky if you can find it on as a vinyl record on ebay.
Ha ha! Yes! I grew up with that record and a few years ago found it in vinyl to purchase for my very own. Had to buy a turntable too, but it was all worth it! Happy Kwaanza to you, Miss Joyce!
HAHA! Thanks Julie who is my cousin Dacus!
I have a relative where I wasn’t sure what kind of seasons greetings would be welcome. So I asked and they let me know. Easy enough.
Meg, YES! Just ask people! Most people are happy to explain themselves.
My persona celebration of Christmas and worship of Christ are my own. Others are welcome to also celebrate (or not) in their own manner. As long as we do not harm others or take their stuff, celebrate at will!
I love many Christmas movies, esp those that include Chriat, angels and/or miracles. One of my favorites is the Bishops Wife, with Cary Grant.
On music, love a variety. Perhaps, Mary Did You Know? Is one of my favorites.
“Far from an inclusive gesture, “Happy Holidays” is a suppressive insult cooked up by rabid secularists in order to morph Christmas into a Frankenstein kind of creation that reduces the birth of Christ into a hodgepodge of incoherence. It’s about a formerly Christian nation stripping the birth of Christ from its rightful place as the season’s focus. A big bah-humbug to that.”
https://www.dailywire.com/news/38871/bois-happy-holidays-not-about-inclusion-its-about-paul-bois?fbclid=IwAR3IGDR2CV9aU8j4-1halVBGKEkXm9tqsq4DDQKfFkizblg7Jz15rOlm0Jo
I still like Mr. Kreuger’s Christmas, with Jimmy Stewart and the singing group formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The term “holiday” is a contraction of “holy day.” This reflects the fact that Catholicism had dozens of Saints day observances, many of which involved allowing people to worship in lieu of working.
Even though many nations have Christians as a dominant population, relatively few modern nations enforce a state religion which all are forced to embrace. Therefore there will be individuals who worship in a manner that might not be exactly aligned with the Christian celebration of Christ’s Mass.
In an alternate exchange to the one linked about “Happy Holiday,” I would have preferred an exchange where the first person said, “Merry Christmas!” and the second person said, “Merry Christmas and [insert alternate seasonal holiday greetings].” This would both honor the Christmas of the first speaker as well as illuminate the preferred seasonal holiday of the second speaker.