No, we're not taking up the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" battle here - we feel that scuffle is best fought by the far ends of each wing to to keep them busy while the rest of us enjoy the celebration and good will.  Both the person who is offended by being wished a "Merry Christmas", and the person who has turned the phrase into a weapon to steal back something that was not stolen, well, they both miss the point. TPP is of the opinion that Jesus himself would greet either view with a 'Seriously, stop it. Haven't you heard a word that I've said? Just stop it.' He wasn't much on turf wars over words. The petty legalisms of the Pharisees were a favorite target for him.

In the roughly 2000 years since that night in Bethlehem, the phrase "Merry Christmas" has taken on more meaning than "Happy Birthday Jesus!" Merry Christmas calls us to our better ideals - generosity, charity, peace on earth, good will to all. Merry Christmas is more than a greeting in the same way that America is more than a word or a name - it is an idea.

"Merry Christmas" is firmly rooted in Christianity, as a celebration day for the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, who in the historic context was a Jewish preacher of the first century AD (or CE, as the historians like to say now). The exact date on which Jesus was born is unknown so the celebration feast (Christ's Mass) floated about for a number of years. The date of December 25th was finally settled on as that date coincided with one of the major Pagan feasts (the feast of Mithros) during the solstice celebrations in Rome. This provided the earliest of evangelicals an opportunity to convert.

We can see the Apostle Paul's fingerprints on this idea, as he was single-handedly the greatest marketer of Christianity ever. We quote from 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 "And to the Jews I became a Jew, that I might win Jew; to those who are under the law, as under the law, though not being myself under the law, that I might win those under the law; to those without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men that I may by all means, save some."

Over the years the holiday of Christmas has had it's ups and downs - it's attachment to pagan vices followed it around like a dark cloud. Most of the conservative Christian movement had until recently shunned Christmas in favor of Easter. At it's best, Christmas in the European tradition was an opportunity to provide for the poor and indigent - usually in the form of a meal. At it's worst, it was an excuse for all of the excesses of mankind that we now reserve for New Year's eve.

It is in America that Christmas took hold as an idea beyond Christianity. As America grew prosperous during the industrial age, more people had larger amounts of disposable income. Christmas became a time to indulge the children a bit with gifts and treats. C. Clement Moore's poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" captured the spirit of the times, and is to this date read as a tradition in many homes each Christmas Eve. The evangelical church in America took a cue from the Catholic church, in providing services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

These were considered celebratory services, and used to give thanks for personal blessing and to appeal to the generous spirit of those who had done well to help those who had not.  As American prosperity grew, so did it's commitment to help those who were not enjoying in that prosperity. Communities organized to gather food and gifts so that as many as possible could have at least one day of enjoyment and free of cares. As time went on, major organizations joined in the charitable giving, and even government entities (The USMC's "Toys for Tots" is a favorite example).

Today, Christmas is less a Christian holiday, and that is vexing to many Christians, hence the battle over words. There is less talk about Jesus and more about the Christmas spirit, but how do we define Christmas spirit? It is an appeal for each of us to be more thankful for those good things in our lives, and to share more willingly with those who have less. It asks us to be kinder and more honorable. It asks us to put aside petty grievances. It teaches us exactly what Jesus taught us, and asks us to live our lives as he did.

The Christmas spirit is an ideal suited to liberal and conservative; to Christian, Jew or Muslim; to any other belief in God, or to those who believe that humanity is the highest form.  Appealing to the better spirits within us makes it easier to live - by way of the shared cab, the offered parking space, or the smiling greeting - even that tattered dollar in the Salvation Army pot. Offering our best side makes others feel good, and makes us feel good within ourselves. If only we could make it last for more than two weeks per year.

So please - Have a Very Merry Christmas (even if you celebrate something else) and may the coming year be the best yet for you and your family!

RLB