Merry Christmas, or Happy Water Buffalo Day?

To me, Christmas is about Hope and the Spirit of Giving. The generosity and mercy that light hope in hearts during the darkest time of the year. I know Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Wiccans who have Christmas trees and wish people Merry Christmas because to them, as to me, generosity and mercy have no religion. For us, the good will represented by the traditional secular elements of Christmas are part of our Western culture.

I find it painfully ironic that there are as many non-Christians and advocates of “political correctness” campaigning to make Jesus ”the reason for the season” as there are hard line Christians. For example, last year I was standing with four other people in the office at my daughter’s middle school when the school counselor said, ”Happy Holidays.”

I smiled and returned a hearty, ”Merry Christmas.” Three people relaxed, smiled back, and returned the seasonal greeting.

In a lofty, educational tone, the counselor informed me, “Not everyone celebrates Christmas.”

Really? And this matters why when it’s clear my intent is to spread good will in the traditional manner of my people? Where’s the tolerance for my culture?

This got me to thinking. . . . If I were a member of an indigenous culture that worshipped water buffalo, and I wished Merry Christmas objectors a Happy Water Buffalo Day, would they inform me that they don’t worship water buffalo? Or would they recognize that I am blessing them with good will and the best of intentions in the manner of my people?

Little girl wishing a baby water buffalo a Happy Water Buffalo Day

To answer this question, I decided I would spend a day greeting people with religious good wishes that were not of Christian origin. There are no water buffalo in the Rockies so in honor of my Wiccan friends who have a holy day this Wednesday (Western Hemisphere), I went around town wishing people a Happy Solstice as I ran my errands. I didn’t mutter it. I didn’t pick and choose who I said it to. I smiled, looked everyone in the eye, and spoke with confidence, just as I would have said Merry Christmas in the middle of a down home tent revival. This is what I found with my limited sampling of approximately 17 people. . . .

• All but two looked at me like I was a talking frog.
• The two who didn’t were people who know me. Hmm.
• Most women recovered, smiled back, and said, ”Thank you,” or “You, too.”
• Men alone also recovered and said, “Thank you.”
• Men in groups continued staring as if I were a talking frog and said nothing.
• And the school counselor? She stopped, pointed her finger at me, smiled, and said, “Thank you.” The next day, she even returned my daughter’s Happy Solstice with a Happy Solstice of her own. . . . Yes, I bribed my daughter to do this.

Interestingly, not one single person became offended or informed me that they do not celebrate the Solstice.

Solstice at Stonehenge – The Beautiful Darkness, the Celebration of Light

This little experiment led me to ponder literal meanings. Christmas originated as “Christ’s Mass” so technically, it is a purely Catholic holiday. Also, “holidays” means, literally, “holy days.” If the argument is that I’m implying everyone I speak to is or should be a Christian when I say “Merry Christmas,” am I not, therefore, implying everyone should have holy days in December when I wish them “Happy Holidays”? Why aren’t Hindus and Buddhists becoming offended by this? Taken literally, Christmas is something Protestant Christians don’t celebrate at all, and “Happy Holidays” is no more culturally sensitive than “Merry Christmas.”

I’d like to know what you think? What does “Merry Christmas” mean to you? Is it a cultural expression, or a religious one? 

I’d love it if you would join me in expanding this experiment. Today, I’m asking you to walk through your town wishing people a Happy Solstice. Please let me know how they respond to your warm wishes of the season.

Oh. I learned one more thing with my little experiment. My son might actually be able to die of embarrassment because of the things his mother does in public.

All the best to all of you for a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, a Peaceful, Joyful Season, or just a really nice day.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse

Which Holiday One are You?

I admit it. I love the holidays. True, Baseball is my religion, and our holy days are held in October. We call them the World Series. But it is part of my culture to celebrate in December with Santa, decorated trees, and enough twinkling lights for my address to be mistaken for the mother ship.

Several religions have holy days on or near the Winter Solstice with themes of love, rededication, and light. Those celebrations have many names, but at their root is the same recognition that the darkest hour is before dawn, and that sooner or later, in the deep midwinter, there is a dawn. There is salvation. There is Hope.

I’m of the mind that Hope by any name is still Hope, and I believe in Hope. So I embrace this time of year, along with everything in it.

I’m the one with house lights that cause air traffic to reroute. I’m the one who walks around with frosting on her jeans after snatching a sugar cookie. I’m the one with the festive party, Santa and all, that is an annual reunion for fifty of my closest friends. And yes. I’m the one who drives around town with reindeer antlers and a big red nose on her car.

Some of you may be asking what Santas, lights, and reindeer car costumes have to do with Hope. They are my traditions. Traditions that supersede any religion. The act of decorating, the act of baking for others, the act of cleaning the house for a party by shoving random objects under the bed as the doorbell rings . . . these are the acts of my people for untold generations.

At a time when the world is torn by war, the economy is tanking, and, on a personal level, we are losing both of our beloved canine companions, these acts anchor me to those who came before. To those who faced and survived wars, depressions, and personal losses untold. Remembering with my actions that there is nothing new under the sun reminds me, also, that all darkness passes, and new days dawn.

So whether to each of us it’s about a holy child, a rededication, or the birth of light on the shortest day of the year, the Hope that the world can be a better place is the first step toward making it one.

Do you celebrate a holiday this season? Lights? Cookies? Garlands? Candles? Which one are you? 

In the spirit of embracing the season, I love this campaign by the Old Spice Guy to give everyone on the planet a gift. This is only one of a few dozen videos in the YouTube MANta Claus campaign.

Keep an eye out for the Bayard/Lamb 2012 Campaign Blog Tour. We’ll be stopping by to visit Myndi Shafer this Wednesday.

All the best to all of you for a season of Hope.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse

To Merry or Not to Merry?

Ok. I’ll just say it. I’m a Merry Christmas person. I say, “Merry Christmas.” It’s my culture.

To be clear, my religion is Baseball. My Holy Days are known as the World Series. They start in late October, and they are made more holy when the ordained priests of my order, the Yankees, are playing. I hope some day to make a pilgrimmage with my writing partner, Holmes, to The Cathedral in the Bronx to attend a ceremony in person, both for the religious experience and to write The Canter-Bronxy Tales.

The Cathedral in the Bronx at Christmas

To me, Christmas is about the Spirit of Giving. The generosity and mercy that light hope in hearts during the darkest time of the year. I know Muslims, Jews, and Wiccans who have Christmas trees and wish people Merry Christmas because to them, as to me, generosity and mercy have no religion. For us, it’s just part of our Western cultural tradition. 

I find it painfully ironic that there are as many non-Christians campaigning to make Jesus ”the reason for the season” as there are Christians. So when I became embroiled in a Merry Christmas-Happy Holidays discussion at my daughter’s school the other day, it inspired me to perform my own little sociological experiment. (Watch out. She’s messing with people again.) Here’s how it went down. . . .

Five people were  standing in the front office of my daughter’s middle school when the school counselor said, ”Happy Holidays.”

I smiled and returned a hearty, ”Merry Christmas.” Three people relaxed, smiled back, and returned the traditional greeting.

In a friendly, educational tone, as is appropriate at a school, the counselor informed me, “Not everyone celebrates Christmas.”

Really? Duh. 

This got me to thinking. . . . If I were a member of an indigenous culture that worshipped water buffalo, and I wished Merry Christmas objectors a Happy Water Buffalo Day, would they inform me that they don’t worship water buffalo? Or would they recognize that I am blessing them with good will and the best of intentions in the manner of my people?

Little Girl wishing baby water buffalo a Happy Water Buffalo Day

To answer this question, I decided I would spend a day greeting people with religious good wishes that were not of Christian origin, just to see what they would do. There are no water buffalo in the Rockies so in honor of my Wiccan friends who have a holy day tomorrow, I went around town wishing people a Happy Solstice as I ran my errands. I didn’t mutter it. I didn’t pick and choose who I said it to. I smiled, looked everyone in the eye, and spoke with confidence, just as I would have said Merry Christmas in the middle of a tent revival. This is what I found with my limited sampling of approximately 17 people. . . .

• All but two looked at me like I was a talking frog. 
• The two who didn’t were people who know me. . . . Hmm. Why weren’t they surprised?
• Most women recovered, smiled back, and said, ”Thank you,” or “You, too.”
• Men alone also recovered and said, “Thank you.”
• Men in groups continued staring as if I was a talking frog and said nothing. . . . Hmm. Waiting for an Alpha to act, I suppose. 
• And the school counselor? She stopped, pointed her finger at me, smiled, and said, “Thank you.” The next day, she even returned my daughter’s Happy Solstice with a Happy Solstice of her own. (Yes, I had to bribe my daughter to do this.)

Interestingly, not one single person became offended or informed me that they do not celebrate the Solstice.

The Beautiful Darkness. The Celebration of Light. Stonehenge

This little experiment led my mind to literal meanings. (Quick, call her 12-Step sponsor. She put on her attorney hat.) Christmas originated as “Christ’s Mass” so shouldn’t it be a purely Catholic holiday? Also, “holidays” means, literally, “holy days,” so isn’t Happy Holidays just as objectionable as Merry Christmas? I mean, if I’m implying that everyone I speak to is or should be a Christian when I say Merry Christmas, which I’m not, by the way, am I not also implying that everyone does or should have holy days when I wish them Happy Holidays? You see, taken literally, Christmas is something Protestants don’t celebrate at all, and Happy Holidays is no more “culturally sensitive” than Merry Christmas.

Kind of makes you wonder what ”Merry Christmas” really means in modern society. Please help me out here. What does “Merry Christmas” mean to you? Is it a cultural expression or a religious one? 

For extra credit, I’m challenging you brave readers to walk through your town today wishing people a Happy Solstice, since the 21st is, after all, the Winter Solstice. In fact, it’s not just the Solstice, it’s the Solstice with a full lunar eclipse. (Click here for info.) Then, please let me know what you discover about the people around you and how they respond to your warm wishes of the season.

Oh, . . . And I learned one more thing with my little experiment. My son might actually be able to die of embarrassment because of things his mother does in public. (Nope. Couldn’t bribe him.)

If you’d like a simple way to celebrate the Spirit of Giving, Andi, who lost her home in the Four Mile Canyon fire in Boulder in September, is asking for Christmas cards for her little dog, Nellie, to cheer them on their journey through their post-apocalyptic world. Andi writes about The Poetry of Loss at her blog, Burning Down the House. To send a card to Nellie and Andi, please address it to Princess Nellie; c/o Chautauqua Main Office; 900 Baseline Road; Boulder, CO  80302.

All the best to all of you for a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, Happy Solstice, a Peaceful, Joyful Season, or just a really nice day.

Piper Bayard–The Pale Writer of the Apocalypse

“You only have to do one thing to be friends with me. Be nice.” — Holmes