As many of you undoubtedly know, Christian conservatives have recently begun a boycott of major retail stores for their alleged exclusion of the word "Christmas" from their seasonal advertising. Boycotted stores include Target and Wal-Mart. Groups took offense at, for instance, sales of "Holiday Trees" at Lowes. They have pledged their boycott until stores reinstate the word "Christmas" back into their holiday advertising, which a few have done.
Here's one take on the story:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/13/comm...gedin_fortune/
Other reports are welcome.
I want to get everyone's take on this.
My view:
Haven't we been making large strides in recent years to get retailers and the general public alike to ackowledge the existance of the other holidays around Christmastime? It seemed we were making major progress until this seemingly "backward" step. I rather liked the retailer's attempts to include us all, with spots such as "Happy Hannukwanzkamis!" or other similar lighthearted, inclusionary attempts. Even the increasing use of the phrase "Happy Holidays" seemed a vast recognition of the fact that, well, there are other holidays going on now besides Christmas. To insist on the word Christmas being included in every holiday advertisement seems a myopic demand that "Christmas" is the only "reason for the season." When in fact there are 3 other significant holidays occuring at this time: Hannukah, Kwanza, and the winter solstice. Why aren't these groups fighting for the inclusion of all faiths in advertising? Are they so blind to think theirs is the only holiday?
It seems that movements to include all faiths in the holiday season are decent attempts at fairness and inclusivity, and not a vast left-wing conspiracy as some have suggested:
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...books&v=glance)
Christmas is not the only "reason for the season" as most Christmas revelers will tell you. I have celebrated Christmas Day in my family for my whole life and I have never once used the word "Jesus" on the day (unless I was swearing at a youngin spilling cranberry sauce on their shirt but that's another story.) Christmas has always been a consumer/family holiday for me, which it seems to be for most other Americans as well. To celebrate Christmas is no longer the same as celebrating the birth of Christ. When my family meets on Christmas Day it is not about him, it is about our family. We celebrate Christmas as a family holiday, and that is why it is important to us. It can be a celebration of Christ to others, to us it is a time of getting-together, eating, and gift-giving. There are no religious undertones.
December 25, as many may know, is not the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. In fact, the Bible allegedly gives no date of his birth. The Bible tells of herders tending their sheep in the fields during the birth of Christ, which would indicate a time of fall or spring, not the dead of winter. (Of course, it is now common knowledge that he was also born around 4 BC) It has been suggested that Jesus was conceived on the 25th of December, and this date was chosen as the celebration of his birth to pacify pagan Romans who also celebrated a major holiday on this date (Babylonians also celebrated a holiday at this time with feasting and gift-giving). Caroling seems to be a tradition derived from pagan Roman practices. The Christmas tree is a tradition that began with pagans bringing fir bows and limbs into the home during a celebration of the winter solstice. Kissing under mistletoe was originally a pagan fertility ritual.
All this goes to show that the celebration of Christ-Mass has its roots in non-Christ holidays and rituals. Many of which were celebrations of the one natural event which will occur long after Chritianity and humanity have come and gone; the winter solstice.
Should we then back off the focus on Christmas during the holiday season? Should we allow for other's beliefs at this time? Should we back off Christian demands that retailers use the word Christmas in their advertising? And would it mean more to greet all neighbors with an all-encompassing "Happy Holidays?" I do! I invite you all to share your views on this.
Happy holidays.