Lately there is a lot of hoopla about whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I’ve even started being afraid to say Happy Holidays. As a believer, I say Merry Christmas! As a believer, I say Happy Holidays! I know there are christians that are crabby about the Happy Holidays saying but let me tell you why I say both.

I was not a christian as a child. I was raised in a home where it was common knowledge there was God the creator and His son who was Baby Jesus who was born in a manger on Christmas. He died on the cross and rose up on Easter morning. I knew all these things. But during Christmas time I really felt the love and joy. When I was little I remember school breaks where my sister and I stayed home alone and practiced our Christmas Eve productions. On those evenings we sang songs for our family and danced. We made up comedy skits and put on a regular variety show, complete with a couple of fights for everyone to watch.

As soon as Halloween was over I knew good things were on their way. It became colder, and the nights grew longer. Lights began to sparkle, and fire places began to burn. During Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, everything smelled like food cooking. I had a great aunt who’s house smelled like heaven! It didn’t matter if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas, it all smelled so wonderful. There were always cookies, candy and presents! I have such amazing and wonderful memories of family and love and the feeling of God just so present and warm. I loved Baby Jesus and I was told over and over who he was and his mother the virgin who we sang about in Silent Night. Joy to the World, What Child is This?, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Do you Hear What I Hear? I’m dying! I loved Christmas so much as a child, it was like a safe zone in the world that came once a year.

For me when someone says Happy Holidays I feel that time in my life. I hear Bing singing Happy Holidays! He sang that back in 1942 during a time when family values were strong and White Christmas was a new song. The holidays are all the special days between Thanksgiving and New Years. I can’t get mad about being told to have happy ones. They are the happiest of days, Happy holidays! Happy happy hol-i-days! Enjoy your family, and your people you love so much! Embrace the love, the comfort and the joy! Don’t get mad about how someone wishes you well, just be well and love them. Besides, everyone knows the real Christmas love and spirit only lives inside us anyway. Just ask any Who!

Wishing you and yours a wonderful and beautiful holiday season! Merry Christmas!