The Countryman: Holiday wars

9 mins read
Bob Neal
Bob Neal

We Americans wage domestic wars these days. The left accuses the right of waging a war on women. Bill O’Reilly accuses the left of waging a war on Christmas.

A war on Christmas?

Something’s going on, to be sure, and you sometimes have to wait days to hear anyone say, “Merry Christmas,” but isn’t calling it war a bit extreme? Then again . . . “Merry Christmas” is yielding everywhere to “happy holidays.”

For decades a sign went up in October in front of the Belgrade Lakes boathouse promoting the “Christmas Stroll.” Hundreds of folks meander or ride in horse-drawn wagons through the village the first Saturday in December. In 2014, the sign was repainted to read, “Holiday Stroll” and it’s on autumn brown with gold, not the Christmas red and green of the old sign. No Christmas these days in Belgrade Lakes, only holidays.

It’s a long time since commercials have said anything that so smacks of religion as “Merry Christmas.” Advertisers observe only “holidays.” And urge us to spend, spend, spend, ratcheting up the financial feeding frenzy that used to be a religious event.

I resist the notion that we are a Christian nation. Most of the founders were deist. But we are a nation with lots of Christian citizens. And some Jewish citizens. And some Hindu. And some Muslim. And lots (more than own up) of unbelievers and non-practitioners, too. Can we not honor all the faiths in the melting pot? By name?

Christmas may be the second most sacred day in the Christian year, an observance of unvarnished joy. Saying “happy holidays” disrespects the beliefs of millions.

Here’s a test. Would you take a sacred observance of another religion so cavalierly as to wish adherents “happy holidays” rather than something in keeping with the observance?

Jewish friends say “Merry Christmas” to us. We never tell them, “happy holidays.” Or even “happy Chanukah.” We say something like, “May the temple flame burn for more than eight days.” Or, to pick an observance similar in importance to Christmas, we might say in the fall, “May Yahweh find that you have little for which to atone on the blessed day of Yom Kippur.” We needn’t follow Jewish teaching to respect folks who do.

You may know a Muslim or two. I know a couple. I wouldn’t say “happy holidays” to a Muslim entering Ramadan. I would say something like “May your sacrifice in Ramadan (no food or water during daytime) please Allah.” We needn’t follow Muslim teaching to respect folks who do.

If you wouldn’t wish Jews or Muslims “happy holidays,” why accept such shunning of Christianity, whose teachings lie at the core of our morality and laws?

The shunning may have hit the biggest time in schools. About the time Belgrade Lakes repainted the sign, Montgomery County, Maryland, banned references to religions in its school calendar. Schools in Frisco, Texas, forbid kids at the “winter party” to say Christmas, set up Christmas trees or use the colors red and green.

Not saying “Christmas” in schools probably stems from the Supreme Court’s having ruled it unconstitutional for schools to force kids to pray. I have no issue with the ruling. I don’t want anyone in Augusta or RSU 9 writing prayers for my kid. Or vice versa.

“Christmas” aside, there have been other excesses. Some schools forbid religious clubs to meet in school rooms during off hours. The clubs are voluntary. No one is asking the school to force kids to participate in religion. Those schools ignore an element key to the court, that the First Amendment bars the “establishment of religion,” which means the state may not favor one faith over another. Children can’t be forced to observe a religion.

I have read of school districts that wouldn’t hold classes in church buildings after a public-school building had burned. When the Wilton Academy burned more than 35 years ago, I believe church halls hosted several classes while SAD 9 rebuilt the Academy. That only makes sense, and I doubt the faithful proselytized the Academy kids. To have refused church offers of their halls for classes would have been political correctness run amok.

Religious people have played with the court decision, too. In the South, especially, school boards have tried to force a quiet time (the time during which kids used to be told to pray) for “reflection.” I doubt anybody was fooled. Even in the South.

Some openly defied, and not just in the south. Our kids attended school for a year in Warren, Ohio, a rustbelt city with two steel mills. Our second grader mentioned one day that his teacher made the kids pray every day before class. At parent-teacher conference the next week, we asked if she shouldn’t abide by the Supreme Court decision.

“Oh, I heard something about that,” she replied. “But it doesn’t apply to me.” Eh?

As the editor in charge of the newsroom of Warren’s newspaper, I assigned the schools reporter to check it out. But, he gun-decked the issue, always with an excuse for not getting the story. Just before Christmas, he took another job. On Christmas Eve, the paper’s owner fired me, so I don’t know the outcome of school prayer in Warren, Ohio.

Though the trend is clear, excising Christianity from commercial and public view is not quite universal. Before Marilyn got sick, she sang in the UMF Community Chorus. The late Joel Hayden always put sing-along carols on the program. Bob Kimber of Temple wrote that 400 voices ringing out in Merrill Hall with Hark the Herald could reduce one to a mass of blubbering jelly. The sing-along carols have been restored to the program. Somehow the college has no difficulty performing and inviting the audience to join in traditional and classical Christmas music alike. Good on the college.

When our boys were in school, the Mount Blue District was building its music program. Part of the program was Christmas concerts at all schools: New Sharon, Mallett, Ingalls, Cushing, Academy Hill, Junior High School, Mount Blue High.

Mount Blue changed it to “winter concerts.” But, the concerts have evolved into a mix of traditional carols and secular songs. Some parents ask to excuse their children from the religious part. Not a problem for RSU 9. Or for me. Let the herald angels hark, let the bells jingle. Sing on, kids. RSU 9 has got it right, even as other districts over-interpret the Supreme Court or even ignore the law of the land. Good on Mount Blue.

O’Reilly uses inflammatory language, as usual, but he is correct that people disrespect the faith of those who call ourselves Christians when they wish us “happy holidays.”

Merry Christmas.

Bob Neal tries to honor all who practice their faith. And all who don’t.

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32 Comments

  1. The Deist Founders accepted that the culture in which they lived was Christian and showed no inclination to change the fact. The First Amendment recognized that the Congregationalist, Quaker, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist and Mennonite factions could not be contained under a single state-supported church. Thus Jefferson recognized that the Virginia Baptists would not accept Episcopalian dominance in this native state. Thus the Constitution did not interfere with church/state unity in Connecticut.

  2. It’s all fine to “honor” those who practice their faith and those who don’t.
    After all…free speech right.

    But why is it OK for “others” to attempt to take Christ out of Christmas?..by force.
    This is the same PC crowd that’s offended by the sun coming up everyday and everything under it.

    Answer…that is not OK.

    But the beauty is that…they can’t.

    Merry Christmas to all.
    And….happy holidays.

  3. Spot On! I will from now on boycott all Belgrade establishments.
    Merry Christmas, Bob.

  4. Don’t we have enough to fight about these days? As a nurse, I come in contact with many people in the course of the day. I haven’t the time nor inclination to inquire about their religion, so wishing folks Happy Holidays works for all.

    If that offends you, maybe it’s time to ask yourself what would Jesus do? I don’t think he’d be fanning the flames of this culture war. Do you?

  5. It is sad to see what changes are taking place and have taken place over the past century. Following come feelings of anger, hopelessness, desperation, and frustration to name a few. Thankfully, some of us have the November and December observances to give thanks and celebrate THAT which we hold so dear. A time to also relax and reenergize, to collect our thoughts in preparation for the New Year and the next round of battles that have become a daily part of existence. Bob, your writing was powerful and well received here. A meaningful and necessary reminder. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  6. Earlier this morning I was in the Farmington Walmart, which sure doesn’t have a problem with any sort of Christmas imagery: red & green, Santa, trees, wreaths, … you name it. Wally World caters to its customers, all of whom are voluntary.

    Our schools know their customer base is anything but voluntary, so they cater to the extremely small percentage who demand their rights under the strict rules of political correctness.

  7. Barb says,,,,,”so wishing folks Happy Holidays works for all. ”

    Oh really? Says who Barb?? You?
    You and your PC Police who say,,,Jesus does not matter get over it (cause YOU say so?)
    And we should all just shut up and be happy with what you say is “CORRECT POLITICALLY”.

    It does matter deeply for many many many many people of the Christian Faith.
    Can we agree that “Those Lives also Matter?

    If that makes it a Culture War to you,,so be it.
    Maybe you should ask yourself some questions as to why that is?

    In the meantime please feel to begin respecting Christians rights along with every one elses
    Thank You.

    What Would Jesus Do? You Ask.
    He fanned many flames with the truth people did not want to hear.

    Society crucified Him for it….(and continues to do so).
    BUT HE LIVES!!

  8. I hope you won’t say “May Yahweh” anything to a Jew without first finding out whether he/she holds the ancient Jewish scruple against pronouncing that name! (Where did you learn the name without learning the existence of the scruple?)

    In general I think it’s not a good idea to try to “honor” someone else’s religion by acting out some imagined fragment of it, if you don’t understand it well enough to get it right and also well enough to know whether your recitation of its words as an unbeliever will itself be offensive.

  9. Let me get this straight, you are all complaining about people that say “Happy Holidays” because it is too PC but also admitting that you are offended when someone says Happy Holidays to you because you are Christian?!? Get a grip.

    Bob, are you suggesting that we ask every stranger that we wish to give a holiday season greeting to what their religion is before we “offend” them by giving a generic “Happy Holidays”? It seems to me that asking that question will inevitably end up offending more people than saying “Happy Holidays” will.

    I always considered “Happy Holidays” as a kind thing to say from Thanksgiving through the new year which are Holidays (plural) not just Christmas. I can’t imagine anyone ACTUALLY being offended by that but the comments on the site never cease to amaze me so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Your “Get off my front porch” articles are always good for a chuckle though so I keep coming back.

    Is it fair to expect someone to wish me a “Merry X-mas” next time they give me a Holiday greeting since I’m and atheist that celebrates Christmas? Actually, could you all start doing that please? I’d hate to be “offended” by your kind greeting.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Boxing Day, Krazy Kwanzaa, Happy National Maple Syrup Day, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas to you all. That’s a mouthful, Happy Holidays seems to be easier and more inclusive so I think I’ll stick with that.

  10. Hey Dave..
    Pssst…u missed it………

    Call it XYX-MAS or Nothing-MAS if you want.
    No one is telling you what to do.

    If it doesn’t matter to you…so be it.
    It does matter to lots of people. Yes they can.

    Practice what you preach .. Live and let live.

    Have a great Whatever-MAS holiday.

  11. Words, people are just so offended these days. I had to bury my 26 year old brother at 21, my 2 year old son at 35, my mother, my father, too many dear friends that didn’t die ” naturally “. I don’t think anybody can say anything to make me mad or ” insult ” me. Come on people! Life is just way too short and I know that Jesus is my King, that’s enough for me.

  12. Who cares if you offend someone by saying, “Merry Christmas”? Too bad. I’ll say what I want to and I don’t care if other people don’t like it or not. My opinion is worth just as much as theirs. They don’t seem to care if they offend the “Merry Christmasers”

  13. Ok if you can take Christ out of Christmas..

    Then it would also make sense that the day you were born is not your birthday
    The 4th of July means Russia is a great country
    A Harley And Honda are the same
    And blue is not really blue.
    Just because anyone says so.
    Really?

    You can do whatever you want on December 25…
    Go for it.
    Its still a holiday celebrating Christ for me.
    Nothing you can do about that.
    Why would you even care?

  14. Thanksgiving through New Year’s = “Happy Holidays” and is good enough for me.

    If I know that YOU are a practicing Christian and Dec. 25 is approaching I may say “Merry Christmas” to YOU.

    By the way, Jesus is revered as a prophet and his mother Mary is venerated in Islam.

    PEACE.

  15. As to the cause, which political party created and cultivates PC, and fosters divisions of as many types as possible, young/old, urban/rural, racial, religious, gender, sexual orientation, rich/poor, etc., is mostly atheist, and does it all merely for crass political power? They have no religious axe to grind because they neither have nor want religion, yet they want to stir up divisions between people who do. Take it up with them!

  16. I’m a Christian (trying…and happy).

    I am not offended at all when someone says happy holidays or chooses to not acknowledge Christ in any way.
    It makes me have compassion for that person. Not that I’m any better than them but because I believe Christ loves them too. I don’t feel the need to confront or attack them.

    The contention comes when others feel I cannot express Christ in a Christmas greeting .

    Many are non believers or other believers and they simply don’t want to see or hear anything about Christ…ever.
    So they’ve tried to turn this holiday (that is specifically about Christ) into something else. Or really anything else. I doubt if that effort will ever cease.
    No problem.

    This holiday is just a man made attempt to honor His birth.
    Take it away if you like.
    Church “buildings” are only sticks and bricks. Tear them all down and ban all signs of Christ if you like.
    Christ will be unchanged.

    I miss that old statue that used to be across from subway in Farmington..
    The Anvil of God.
    That statue is gone ..but He is not.
    This Christmas holiday could go away…but He won’t.

    Have a great day.

  17. there are at least a dozen religious holidays celebrated in the month of december, and many more if you include secular ones. you’d be surprised how many of your friends and neighbors recognize and celebrate different ones than you do.

    when somebody says “happy holidays,” they are recognizing the plurality of festivities that exist, including some that are often overlooked, and also including christmas. you are welcome to interpret the phrase as meaning merry christmas if that’s your thing.

    if you choose to misinterpret the phrase as an insult akin to “get bent,” well i suppose you are welcome to that interpretation as well.

    so i wish you a sincere happy holidays whichever way you interpret it!

  18. On the Sundays when I go to church I sit next to Bob Neal. At Christmas it is a good time to reflect one of his values. Bob both lives and practices what he believes. He believes, I think, in sharing, practicing, and doing peace. He attends to what people have in common, not judging about how they are different. He cares about honesty both in journalism and in living. Good things to consider this season, Christrmas, or in other seasons.

  19. I don’t get bent out of shape if someone says, “Happy Holidays” or whatever. Time for those who get offended should grow up and realize the world doesn’t revolve around them. But if I want to say, “Merry Christmas” then I don’t think they should complain, just like I don’t, if they say something else.

  20. How about if I celebrate MY religious holidays, and YOU celebrate YOURS (or none, or Festivus, if you prefer), and nobody COMPLAINS? What’s wrong with people minding their own business, as they USED to? Seems like this whole thing is caused by people who don’t WANT to mind their own business!

  21. To Larry Keunning,

    The Jewish friends to whom I refer say and write the names Yahweh and God. As did my late sister, who was a Jew. As did an orthodox student I had at UMaine who now lives with her husband and kids in an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.

    Another orthodox student, who covered religion for the student newspaper, would not say or write a name for the deity. That presented a problem for her and the paper’s staff. After thought and discussion, she chose another beat rather than betray her personal code.

    There is no universal proscription among Jews against naming the deity. But if I’m talking with or writing to a Jew who does not use a name for the deity, I don’t use the name. See, that’s easy.

    To Dave Fish,

    I’m saying nothing of the kind. As a Christian, I am concerned that the roots of our holy observance have been pulled from the ground and ground into a spending binge. Some of us who prefer “Merry Christmas” feel the origin of the observance is being dishonored. It is/was, after all, a religious holiday. (Yes, I am aware that Christ may have been born in July and that we usurped the season of the observance from, possibly, the Druids. But my opinion would stand whether we observed Christmas, the birth of the one we take as savior, on Dec. 25 or July 19 or any date.)

    Place matters. If I were living again in New York City, I might just wish folks a good day, unless I knew them to be Christian. Somewhat more than a third of New Yorkers are Jews, Muslims or un-religious. But, shopping with my sister, I vividly recall her sashaying through Rockefeller Center loudly and happily wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas.” No one replied, “Happy holidays.” Yes, my Jewish sister. Around here, “Merry Christmas” honors the origin as well as wishing a joyous time. After the UMF Community Chorus concert on Sunday, any number of people wished me a “Merry Christmas.” I have no way of knowing if they read the column, but they are all welcome on my front porch.

    Is it an oxymoron to be an atheist who “observes” Christmas. From middle English, Christmas means, the “mass of Christ.” From Greek, Christ means messiah. How does an atheist observe the Eucharist of the messiah?

    Can you not find chuckles more easily than reading an old faht’s columns in the D? Louis C.K., Amy Schumer and D.L. Hughley come to mind, all easy to find on the web.

    To Rodney Porter,

    Thank you.

  22. Not withstanding Bill O’Reilly’s accusations and Mr Neal’s somewhat awkward attempt seems to suggest there may be a war on holidays afoot.

    A fair reading of the comments the column prompted suggests (to me anyway) that some readers have a bigger problem with their spiritual beings than their assertions of their Christian faith can handle

  23. But Chuck I didn’t recognize you without your customary title…it it really you?
    Your comment may or may not be accurate.
    Who knows but I would think it’s “fair” to add that the commenters without Christian faith show similar issues.
    But that’s just me.

    Roll your own dice.

    Merry Christmas ya’ll.

  24. Chuck(who)?

    Show me your issues and Ill show you mine and point out those of yours that you fall to list, I just know you have them!

    Those commenting without mention of “faith” specific or otherwise and/or denial of all I think are saying:

    “Hey, I really think we are making too big a deal of of this. Anybody up for a friendly snowball fight after Sunday School?”

    People who really are sure of their faith don’t try and/to convince others of it

    It is rather like in a conversation abut race when some participants feel the need to pronounce they are not racists (Really, tell me more)

  25. Funny. While I’ll interchangably say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays (not out of political or religious thought, just different terms will come to mind at different times), it seems really silly for people to be upset by what greeting is used, especially if the greeting is meant as a sincere expression of good will. It seems very petty for people to think “happy Holidays” is somehow an attack on Christmas or Christians. It seems that some people want something to complain about when really, at base, wishing others well should be welcomed with good spirits, no matter what particular words they might say.

  26. Depending on how fast the paint is drying and ambient spare time et al a cursory search re who started the war on Christmas can find support for the proposition:

    “The War on Christmas’ started in a white nationalist cabal and spread to conservative media.”

    Title to one article I stumbled onto

    The was is pretty much prosucuted be the “conservatives” although I am sure some “liberals” just luv the attention

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