As we crawl deeper into December, the Internet and the people take their turn fanning a fire that shouldn’t even exist. The annual Christmas vs. Holiday war rages on, with no end in sight. As it fills up my Facebook feed and Google News, it eats away at me that this is even a topic of discussion. The truth of the matter is that there is no “War on Christmas.”
There, I’ve said it. Maybe take a second, give it another read. In fact, I’ll repeat it: There is no war on Christmas. It doesn’t exist.
Before you disregard what I’m saying with a scoff, and a brochure of every Christmas – holiday word change in the past 50 years, allow me to explain. This debate consists largely of two parts: winter greetings, and trees.
In the case of the greetings debate, the answer is simple. There are multiple holidays in a short span of time. If you celebrate Christmas, you may happen to notice on any calendar ever, that it is quickly followed by New Years, which, incidentally, is also a holiday.
Businesses would see benefit in promoting the term “happy holidays” because they are selling to people who may or may not celebrate. It is never a bad thing to encompass the beliefs of others, especially when you’re trying to make sales to a large anonymous group of people. God will (likely) not strike you down if you aren’t enraged that a business would promote the term “happy holidays.”
As for the “holiday tree” debacle, I honestly think it’s dumb in its own way. Mostly, it’s such a rare occurrence, I’m not even sure it’s worth mentioning. The media has a way of taking individual and relatively isolated incidents, and popularizing them. The more we see something, the more inclined we are to believe it’s a big deal. It’s a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. As soon as people hear about it, an opinion is formed, a side is taken, and a tiny thing becomes the beast it never was.
This “war” is only exists as long as we allow it. The vast majority of people are not saying “holiday” in order to deliberately persecute Christians who want to celebrate. Say “Christmas” all you want! Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! Nobody is walking around with a nightstick, threatening to beat you for celebrating Christmas. Nobody is telling you that you are wrong. Anyone who is replacing words isn’t doing so against Christianity, they are doing so for the rest of the population who isn’t, and that’s okay! Acceptance is okay, I promise.
I do not personally believe that there is any real need to make the switch and call decorated pines “holiday trees.” But at the end of the day, it hasn’t affected me at all. Must your religion receive constant validation from the government in order to remain real? If you are comfortable with your faith, and your reason for celebration, how will these changes truly affect your celebration?
This year, when you’re about to repost an Internet story about that one thing that one guy said about Christmas, and how mad you are it’s being stolen away, remember, this isn’t about you, and it doesn’t change anything. Perhaps you can make a goal out of it: Every minute you spend mad because you’re entitled to the term “Christmas,” you can spend the same amount of time volunteering your time to a food bank, or give some money to a charity, or do anything (I mean it, anything) else that will actually do some good. There is no time or reason for this battle to continue. Let the fire die, and whatever you celebrate, let’s make sure everyone has a good one.
Opinions expressed in editorial and opinion articles are the views of individual NIC students. These views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Sentinel, North Idaho College, or any other organizations or groups there-in. North Idaho College is not responsible for the accuracy of statements or opinions shared.
