Do you know something I do not understand? Why is it that “Seasons Greetings,” “Happy Holidays,” and “X-Mas” offends Christians, but most non-Christians don’t get offended if you wish them a “Merry Christmas?”

There are hundreds of holidays celebrated between Thanksgiving and the first week of January, the “traditional” Christmas season. Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Bodhi, Solstice, Saturnalia, Yule, Mawlid El-Nabi, Advent, St. Nicholas Day (you know, the dude Santa Claus is based on,) Watch Night/New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day…even the Appalachian tradition of new Christmas (December 25th) and old Christmas (January 6th) come to my mind. I know there are others, but I am too lazy to look them up. So why NOT wish everyone “Season’s Greetings” Or “Happy Holidays?”

Did you know the abbreviation X-Mas is not X-ing out Christ? The "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Christós, which became Christ in English. The suffix -mas is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass. So, Xmas and Christmas are one in the same.

So much of the symbols we commonly associate with Christmas are borrowed from other celebrations, including the date itself. Many scholars and scientists estimate His birth was during the summer, while others have estimated October based on ancient celestial movements. They correlate that the Star of Bethlehem could have been a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter which occurred in October of 7 BC. The ancient church moved the celebration to December 25th to coincide with the Pagan celebrations of Yule and Saturnalia.

The decorated trees; the colors of red, white, and green; holly and ivy; caroling, feasting, and giving presents are all found in other religions. Most of which pre-date Christianity. Even the nativity and the story of a Savior being born of a virgin on December 25th are not exclusive to Christianity. Horus, an Egyptian god, was born of a virgin on the 25th. Likewise, Mithra, from Persia, Buddha, Babylonia’s Thammuz, Krishna, and the Greek’s Hermes. "Mithramas" doesn’t roll off the tongue, though, does it? 😁

Knowing this doesn’t change the meaning of the story of Jesus Christ, though. As a Christian, I know that none of these other gods hold the same power that my God does. But the Bible is noticeably clear on how we are to treat foreigners in our lands, which I extend to people of other faiths: “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:33-34)

Of course, I am over-simplifying things as usual. I could write on this all day…but if you have time to complain that someone wished you Happy Holidays, you’ve got time to read up on these things.

Happy Holidays Y’All!

❤️🎄💚