The woman behind the counter smiled and said “Merry Christmas!”
To which I responded “Merry Christmas!”
And then she elaborated…
“I don’t care what people think. I’m going to say Merry Christmas. It’s Christmastime, so that’s what I’m going to say, whether they like it or not.”
Suddenly, it didn’t sound Merry at all.
It sounded angry. And small. And selfish, really.
Because what if THEY are Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah?
What if THEY celebrate the African American Kwanzaa? The Japanese Omisoka? The Hindu Pancha Ganapati?
What if THEY celebrate the sacred Solstice?
WE say Happy Holidays…plural, with an S…because there are many holidays in December. There are many faiths and many beliefs and many traditions. That’s who WE are. That’s who THEY are.
Cheers!
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And to you!
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I think that lady’s frustration comes from feeling that she’s not able to wish people happiness for the holiday she does personally celebrate. Whatever holiday greeting someone offers me, I’ll cheerfully say it right back to them. I really don’t care what it is. Happy Festivus! 🙂
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Happy Festivus, my friend! And Joyful Solstice! xoxo
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Exactly. Never understand why some people think this is an attack on Christianity.
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Maybe it goes back to the “my way or the highway” attitude of some religious folks? I don’t know…
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Oh, yes! Thank you, Jen.
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I feel like I should keep a copy of that in my pocket to hand out at random…
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Love your words, May the merriness of the holidays find you always. Have a Rocking Solstice.
\../_(◣_◢)_\../ Doodles
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Happy Solstice to you too! (Wish I could take credit for the words! Just favorite song lyrics by Jethro Tull.)
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I like Tull…he plays a mean flute like my rock hero Ann Wilson of Heart.
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YES!
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