tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58692805318097703712024-03-13T23:21:25.803-07:00Merry Christmassantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-21400467791116701302013-09-09T06:30:00.005-07:002013-09-09T06:30:52.907-07:00Happy Holidays Vs Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Yet another political battle takes place in America's arena</b>. Happy Holidays offends Christians and Merry Christmas offends everyone else. We should be enjoying the vast differences we have in this world. But at the very least, I don't know why we can't learn to relax and tolerate those differences we find in others.
In the business world, it makes perfect sense to use Happy Holidays. For one, the holidays seem to blend together this time of year. We have Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Rohatsu, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, Yule, Fesivus, Omisoka and New Years in addition to the many other celebrations people have this time of year. In fact, it's getting so huge that the holiday season has extended to Halloween. Plenty of stores are decorating with trees, wreaths and paper snowflakes before the Halloween costumes are even off the shelves. This is the holiday season.
When watching television, it's perfectly normal to expect to see Happy Holidays this time of year. The television audience isn't just made up of Christians celebrating Christmas. There are also Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus in the audience as well as other cultures and peoples who do not necessarily fall under any specific religion. There are agnostics and atheists as well. They love to celebrate this time of year, but they don't hold the notion that Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. They see a wonderful time of year with family gatherings and great food. It's a gift giving season to them and they don't expect to have religion shoved down their throats when that's not the reason they celebrate the holidays with everyone else.
Christmas has long become a dual holiday anyway. Santa Clause and Rudolph have long been staples of Christmas and non-religious families have the right to enjoy Christmas with those unique traditions in mind. Saint Nick climbs down the chimney and puts gifts under the tree. Then, he eats the cookies and drinks the milk before going to the next house. Regardless if you have a chimney or not, he brings gifts to every home throughout the world in one night.
Of course, our kids are growing up on us quicker than we ever thought. One year when my daughter was much younger, I put the gifts under the tree the night before and my daughter watched me. She couldn't go to sleep later that night so I brought her in my room to go to sleep. She kept getting up and looking out the window because she thought she could hear Santa. The next morning, she said that Santa didn't come. When I asked her why she thought that, she said that the gifts under the tree were the same ones as the night before. I learned my lesson and she learned something too.
But regardless of what you think, Santa Claus is part of the season. Not only that, but so are Dreidals and Menorahs, fig trees and feasts, drums and jewelry, prayerstick making and rabbit hunts. Christians don't own the holiday season. They have a day that they celebrate as the birth of Jesus. That's there's. But, it's not the only thing going on this time of year. Christians need to be more understanding of the fact that they aren't the only people in this world, even though they can't seem to get past the notion that they are the only ones who know any truth.
Merry Christmas is a greeting Christians should use to greet others who celebrate the same holiday. But, they would do themselves a great service by learning more about the world around them. What they call secular, I call our world. It's a better place when you learn to enjoy it.
<img alt="http://mochadad.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mocha-dad-merry-christmas1.jpg" class="shrinkToFit" height="601" src="http://mochadad.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/mocha-dad-merry-christmas1.jpg" width="601" /><img alt="http://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/merry-christmas.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://www.cp-africa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/merry-christmas.jpg" /><img alt="http://disneydose.com/wp-content/uploads/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party-1-2012.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://disneydose.com/wp-content/uploads/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party-1-2012.jpg" /><img alt="http://i.123g.us/c/edec_c_spirit/card/105539.gif" class="decoded" src="http://i.123g.us/c/edec_c_spirit/card/105539.gif" /><img alt="http://0.tqn.com/d/create/1/0/R/l/1/-/MERRY-CHRISTMAS.jpg" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="601" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/create/1/0/R/l/1/-/MERRY-CHRISTMAS.jpg" width="801" /></div>
santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-49365078470643162392013-09-09T06:28:00.001-07:002013-09-09T06:28:08.747-07:00Wishing You an Unapologetic Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Merry Christmas!</b>
In society today, it is not politically-correct to wish others Christmas Greetings. And yet, Christ bore His cross for us, knowing full well that His message of reconciliation and redemption would not be popular with the political and social elite. The least I can do is pick up my own small cross and risk a blank stare or harsh word in return.
Perhaps non-believers or those of other faiths will be offended by these words. When we wish someone a "Merry Christmas," we verbalize our desire that another of God's creation experience the message that Christ brings: God's Love, Peace, and Joy is for us all. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Agnostic, Atheistic, or uncertain, these gifts and God's grace are what He desires for us. "Merry Christmas" means I desire them for you as well.
We Christians complain about the mainstream media and the commercialization of the Christmas season. We despair over their substitution of "XMas" for "Christmas." For the record, abbreviating "Christmas" as "Xmas" existed long before political correctness was born. "X" is the Greek letter "Chi" and was used to represent Christ as early as the 9th century. Christ in Greek is "Xristos". Since the first texts were written in Greek and later translated into other languages, the use of this abbreviation is arguably biblical. Many, particularly the mainstream media believe they have been successful in "removing Christ from Christmas." And yet, He remains nonetheless as it should be. The question for those of us who believe remains: Will we remove Christ from our dialogue or will we share the true spirit of Christmas with others?
May God bless you and your family with His unending abundance, love and peace.
<img alt="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXJhOWwWhg0/UNlggdBr7fI/AAAAAAAAYsw/U66Q9-rmyEw/s400/Merry-Christmas-Lily-lilyz-27825010-1024-768.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXJhOWwWhg0/UNlggdBr7fI/AAAAAAAAYsw/U66Q9-rmyEw/s400/Merry-Christmas-Lily-lilyz-27825010-1024-768.jpg" /><img alt="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XVNiBUE5Oi0/TRGK4thdgjI/AAAAAAAAAPk/xa1A1ICYOG4/s320/Christmas+Picture.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XVNiBUE5Oi0/TRGK4thdgjI/AAAAAAAAAPk/xa1A1ICYOG4/s320/Christmas+Picture.jpg" /><img alt="http://iconicyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/Merry-Christmas-Celebration-2012.jpg" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="601" src="http://iconicyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/Merry-Christmas-Celebration-2012.jpg" width="960" /><img alt="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWUHCH5vHAQ/UMqOjaLBZSI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/CApJGZlXB14/s400/merry-christmas443-copy.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWUHCH5vHAQ/UMqOjaLBZSI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/CApJGZlXB14/s400/merry-christmas443-copy.jpg" /><img alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Nativity_tree2011.jpg" class="shrinkToFit" height="601" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Nativity_tree2011.jpg" width="897" /></div>
santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-1951596302576441082013-09-09T06:25:00.001-07:002013-09-09T06:25:06.531-07:00Merry Christmas or Happy New Holidays?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b> The debate over what is the appropriate greeting for the season has been going on for years</b>. December 25th became an official federal holiday in 1870 when it was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. Why, then, has Christmas become the focus of so much controversy?
A Rasmussen poll taken earlier this month shows that 92% of American adults celebrate Christmas in their family. Of the small percentage who don't celebrate Christmas, 84% of them would not be offended if a casual acquaintance wished them a Merry Christmas. These numbers rose among women (92%), respondents in the 18 to 29 age group (100%) and was slightly higher with those 65+ (86%). So there seems to be no problem here.
The Pew Research survey of American religious affiliations (conducted in 2002) indicates that 82% of the adults surveyed identify themselves as Christians. Jewish 1%, Muslim 0.5%, Atheist 1%, Agnostic 2% and no preference 10%. This confirms that the United States is overwhelmingly a nation of Christians. Our history suggests that all religions are free to worship according to their beliefs without fear of persecution. And those with no religious affiliations or who have no faith are entitled to follow their hearts and minds as they wish.
Why then must a few dissidents or politically correct extremists be allowed to disrupt this sacred day celebrated by more than 9 out of 10 Americans? When New Seniors were growing up, virtually everyone wished one another a Merry Christmas, even those of other religions. Those who had friends and acquaintances of the Jewish faith, for instance, might wish them a Happy Chanukah and they in turn would say Merry Christmas. Overall, no one was put off by a pleasant wish for a Merry Christmas. Is that why Christmases of the '40s, '50s and'60s seem more joyous than today?
There was a time when Protestant religious leaders mounted an effort to put Christ back in Christmas. Their rationale was that the season had become too commercial and this was overshadowing the spirit and true meaning of Christmas. Now, it takes a continual effort to keep the word Christmas in the celebration.
When Christmas Day was declared an official holiday so were New Year's Day, July 4th and Thanksgiving. Does anyone get upset with Happy New Year, Happy 4th of July or Happy Thanksgiving, even though the latter suggests there is a Deity to which we are thankful? Maybe the problem is the word Merry. How would it be if we switched from Merry Christmas to Happy Christmas?
That idea is about as ridiculous as the whole rhubarb over the celebration of Christmas. If we simply remember what Christmas is all about and treat others in the spirit of the Advent season, there is little reason for the scoffers to be annoyed. So don't challenge them. Instead, simply wish them a Merry Christmas. And mean it.
<img alt="http://www.rumorscomedyclub.com/myticketbooth/themes/rumorscomedyclub/images/events/127_1.jpg" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="601" src="http://www.rumorscomedyclub.com/myticketbooth/themes/rumorscomedyclub/images/events/127_1.jpg" width="751" /><img alt="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/alisafoytik/alisafoytik1110/alisafoytik111000798/11059219-vintage-christmas-card-merry-christmas-lettering.jpg" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="601" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/alisafoytik/alisafoytik1110/alisafoytik111000798/11059219-vintage-christmas-card-merry-christmas-lettering.jpg" width="601" /><img alt="http://www.hdwallpapersinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Merry-Christmas-Candles-218077.jpeg" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="601" src="http://www.hdwallpapersinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Merry-Christmas-Candles-218077.jpeg" width="801" /></div>
santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-39049619716056766092013-09-02T12:26:00.002-07:002013-09-02T12:26:32.316-07:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-68121963739830864742013-09-01T10:44:00.001-07:002013-09-01T10:44:18.084-07:00Merry Christmas Wishes <br />
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<b>We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year</b>.
These are the magic words that are around us this festive season. We start using them a few weeks prior to the Christmas holiday. It is believed that an English admiral first used the term "Merry Christmas" in an informal letter, way back in 1699. Merry means pleasant and we are happy to wish all a pleasant Christmas during the happy celebrations. What better way than to gift our family and friends a reminder of these wishes.
Merry Christmas imprinted on gifts like mugs makes you fondly remembered the year through. Cards and postcards help to carry your message to all. An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 cards arrive in their place. This festive season sending your greetings with Merry Christmas wording will add a special touch to your greetings.
X-mas is the most widely celebrated festival and is the season for joy and sharing. It is the time for time spent with family and friends, for sparkling lights and brightly decorated gifts. Christmas is for love and sharing gifts and cards has become a sort of universal way to communicate joy and good wishes. Let us express the wishes this festive season in a different way. Let our gifts too spell these words to cast the spell of the festive season over all. My Christmas wishes to all those who are reading this article. May this season fill you with joy and happiness.
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santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5869280531809770371.post-77817344057233114062013-09-01T10:43:00.001-07:002013-09-01T10:43:08.777-07:00Wishing Others "Merry Christmas"! <br />
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<b>Merry Christmas - Christmas is celebrated each year in December by many thousands of people worldwide</b>. Coming up to this special day on December 25th, it is common for people to greet others by saying "Merry Christmas". This is done to wish them a safe and happy holiday.
Looking back on the history of Christmas takes us all the way back, just over 2,000 years, to the birth of Jesus Christ. The celebration of Christmas day was initially to join with others in remembering the birth of the Savior of the world.
The actual word 'Christmas' means literally "Mass of Christ". Although Jesus birth occurred over two millennia ago, Christmas itself was not celebrated for many years. Historically, a fourth-century saint, Saint Nicholas, gained a reputation as a secret gift-giver. It is told that Saint Nicholas used to place coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him.
Since the times of Saint Nicholas, Christmas has continued to prosper and become popular with people of different faiths. Although beginning with Christians, Christmas is now celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. Although the ways that people celebrate Christmas may differ, depending on their faith, it is true to say that Christmas is a time of goodwill, kindness and wishing "Merry Christmas" to others, more than any other time of year. Gift giving still continues, even as the folklore and traditions that came from Saint Nicholas back in the 4th century demonstrated.
There are many that say that Christmas has in fact become too commercialized and that it now focuses more on receiving rather than on giving. Either way though, Christmas is here to stay and the giving and receiving of gifts and wishing "Merry Christmas" is a big part of it.
The holiday greeting of 'Merry Christmas' was first used in 1565, written in the Hereford Municipal Manuscript. Since that date it has continued to be used around the world during the weeks leading up to Christmas day each year. The initial meaning of the word 'merry', as used in this holiday greeting, meant 'pleasant' or 'agreeable'. These days 'merry', as used in merry Christmas, tends to mean 'jolly', 'joyous' or 'happy' more than 'pleasant'. Today many families give gifts to each other on Christmas Eve and then have a big family celebration and meal together on Christmas day.
Another holiday tradition is the hanging of a Christmas stocking, up above the fireplace on the mantel, for each family member. Gifts are then placed into every stocking so that each family member receives something special. It is even possible to get specially made stockings. Many families purchase individual and unique stockings, each with a family member's name on it. Not only are the stockings useful for small gifts, but they also form part of the Christmas decorations used to liven up the home with bright colors.
There are many other Christmas holiday traditions, some which are celebrated widely by many people and then other family traditions that have developed over the years in certain homes. One thing remains true and that is Christmas is a time to remember family and those we love; a time of giving and receiving gifts; a time to remember those less fortunate and a time to wish each other a very Merry Christmas!
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santahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04740048017309826763noreply@blogger.com