Secular war against Christmas?

There have been boycotts this year of stores that do not include the word “Christmas” in advertising and displays, favoring instead the more generic “holidays.” Has political correctness -- or is there a better term? -- gone too far in excluding Christmas from this holiday season?

Yes, I know that there are other holidays being celebrated at the same time. However, the Christmas season started with the first day of Advent, Nov. 27, and continues until after the celebration of Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Christmas is truly a “season,” while other celebrations are at most eight days long. Bodhi day was Dec. 8. Hanukkah begins Dec. 25. Neither Kwanzaa (beginning Dec. 26), nor New Year’s Day are religious celebrations. Of these, only Christmas is an official holiday in the United States.

Of the American population, 82% claim to be Christian (how many of those truly follow Jesus is another question). Statistically, for every 100 people that walk through the door of any given store in America, more than 80 of them will be celebrating Christmas. Of the remaining 17, 1 or 2 will be celebrating Hanukkah, and about 1 in 200 will be celebrating Kwanzaa or Bodhi Day. Statistically, a store greeter or advertiser will be far less likely to offend someone not celebrating Christmas, both because of the length of the holiday and the sheer numbers of people who are celebrating it.

I encourage people to acknowledge Bodhi Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other celebration. I encourage people to discover the meanings of them.

Meet people where they are. Honor them for what they believe.

Hanukkah is a celebration we integrate into our season. We give out chocolate gelt to our children and play the dreidel game. It is a great opportunity to talk about how our God does miracles for his people. Though I am not schooled in Kwanzaa, it appears to be a powerful teaching event for the appreciation of African American culture.

As Christ-followers, this is a powerful teaching time for our children. It is very difficult to get beyond the commercialization and mythology that has been added to the season. It becomes even more difficult when it’s significance is diminished by a push to be politically correct.

I have enjoyed this past week being greeted with “Merry Christmas” from many retailers. It has been refreshing.

In the same light, I would like to say Happy Hanukkah to Rabbi Miller and the Jewish community as they begin celebrating tomorrow, and Happy Kwanzaa to the African American community.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE PASTOR

RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity

Costa Mesa

What is it we wish for one another at this time of year?

Light in our spirits on days when the sky is dark? Peace that we know in our hearts is possible? Joy that is the deep undergirding support for all the waves of fun that many will experience at this time of year?

Surely we do not want to wish others only the message our marketplace blares through newspapers and the Internet, on television and in movies: that the only way to be a decent human being at this time of year is to buy, buy, and -- then -- buy more.

This misdirection of the seasonal spirit distorts our altruistic instincts to give, which could take the form of sharing our time, talents, treasure and our loving energies with people we care about. That goodness gets subverted into a competitive frenzy of consumption. To paraphrase “King Kong,” it’s not the politically correct who are at war with the true spirit of Christmas, it’s our marketers.

How do we best wish others the light and peace and joy we all need so? And how do we say this to others in a few words in a way they will hear and understand?

“Happy Winter Solstice!” and “Merry moments on dark days!” seem cold. Among my Christian friends are one who puts his hand by his mouth and, as if telling a secret, whispers to all “Christ is coming....” Another insists on “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” our traditional Easter acclamation; he explains to those perplexed by his greeting that without Easter we would not be celebrating Christmas. I love these friends, but their December “hellos” are a bit much for me.

Being who I am, one who finds light and peace and joy through God in Christ, I wish others “Merry Christmas!” unless I somehow sense that “Happy Holidays!” or “Hanukkah Cheers!” or “Happy Kwanza!” or “Have a sensational season!” are more likely to convey to them what I wish for them.

When their response lets me know that they have not heard and understood what I am wishing, I get literal and say, “I wish for you and all who you love the light and peace and joy we all desire at this time of year and need all year round....”

By the time I am finished with such wordy sentiments, most are happy for my simple “Merry Christmas!”

(THE VERY REV’D CANON)

PETER D. HAYNES