Skip to content

Merry Christmas

When offence is taken because the word Christmas isn't or isn't used as a greeting - well folks ,,, It's wintertime - chill.

The call for political correctness around the Christmas season is nothing new. The question of whether to wish someone happy holidays or Merry Christmas rages on year after year.

Using either greeting can result in a lot of anger and angst. Some will be upset if you use the “C” word; others will get bent out of shape if you don’t.

One example of taking political correctness to an absurd level occurred during the McCarthy hearings in the States in the ‘50s. Fearing being labelled a Communist sympathizer, Gene Autry removed the following verse from Here Comes Santa Claus:

Here comes Santa Claus,

here comes Santa Claus,

Right down Santa Claus lane

He doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor

He loves you just the same

Santa Claus knows we’re all God’s children

That makes everything right

So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer

‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

As Charlie Brown later remarked,

“Good grief!”

Just accept the fact that someone is offering you good tidings and be grateful. It would be so helpful if we all simply agreed to allow others the grace to greet us in peace.

Merry Christmas to all.