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“Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday?”

By: Pastor David Grove

The timeless author William Shakespeare wrote in the opening monologue to Hamlet, “To be or not to be.” This simply means, “To live or not to live.” This question, along with “What is truth?” is still being pondered by people and most likely will continue in the minds of philosophers for ages to come. But what does this have to do with Christmas? Go back a few years. Do you remember the hubbub from the bah-humbuggers who wanted to do away with Merry Christmas and only say, “Happy Holidays?” I call them “bah-humbuggers” because they take on the spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge when he said, “If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” Needless to say, old Scrooge needed a change of heart, and thankfully, he did. The intentions of most people during that time were not so much about offending others who do not celebrate Christmas as they said it was. Their true intentions were obvious to us as Christians; they wanted Christ out of Christmas. The question and debate within Christian circles continue: should I say, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holiday?” Also, should I get upset if someone says “Happy Holiday” instead of “Merry Christmas?” Here’s the answer to that question: No.
Throughout the world,, people use different words to express the joy and love they have for the season and the reason for the season. Phrases like Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Christmas” are all sayings that mean the same thing. One person is greeting the other person and wishing them a joyous season. As far as history teaches, the origin of saying “Merry Christmas” goes back to 1699, when an English admiral wrote this phrase in a personal letter. The song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” has a complicated origin story, but most people believe it goes back to the 1600s. Whether or not the Admiral wrote Merry Christmas because of the song, we’ll never know.
The term “Happy Holiday” has a Christian meaning just as much as “Merry Christmas” does. The word “Holiday” comes from the Old English word (hālig-dæg); it means Holy-Day. This term was used for special religious celebrations. So, even when secular society tries to take Christ out of Christmas and wants us to say, “Happy Holiday,” they don’t realize that we still have Christ as part of Christmas.
Simply, there is no way we can celebrate Christmas without Christ. Some may disagree with this statement and say that celebrating Christmas is founded upon pagan celebrations, and they would be correct to a point. It is widely noted that in 336 AD the Emperor Constantine declared the Roman Empire a Christian empire and claimed December 25th as the day to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Nevertheless, history teaches us that December 25th was chosen and celebrated as a Christian holiday by an early Christian group called the Donatists around 312 AD. It was the desire of the Donatists as well as Emperor Constantine for people to turn away from false gods, false religious beliefs and false practices and turn to the one true God and celebrate the birth of His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the reason we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th to this day.
The Bah-humbuggers fail to realize that the “Holiday” tradition of exchanging presents comes from when the Magi brought gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ child. They fail to recognize that the beautifully adorned evergreen trees represent eternal life, along with the sparkle and glitter of the lights hung on every branch, which represent how darkness is overcome by the beauty and radiance of light. I find it ironic that those who are trying so hard to take Christ out of Christmas, whether they know it or not, are celebrating the birth of Jesus when they put up a tree, turn on the lights, sing Christmas carols, and open presents. The real Joy of Christmas escapes the hearts of people like this. They choose to live in a world without merriment or happiness because they choose to live in the image of a broken-down Ebenezer Scrooge.
Friends, the Joy and Peace that you feel during this time of year when you hear an age-old Christmas carol or when a tree is lit for the first time, whether in the town square or the living room of your home, it’s all because of Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace, the Light of the World, and the Heart of Compassion and Everlasting Love wrapped together in one perfect package for all people everywhere. He just wants each of us to take the package, open it, and accept it.
So, whether you hear or say Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday, remember, no matter how it is stated, it’s all about Jesus. We can be Merry, Happy and most Joyful on this Holy Day.
On a personal note, I still like to say what I grew up with, Merry Christmas, but if someone wishes me a Happy Holiday, I say, “You have a Holy-Day as well.” As Tiny Tim said, “GOD Bless us, everyone.”

Remember, “JESUS FIRST In ALL THINGS”,
Pastor David