I woke up this morning and looked outside. It has been snowing again, and the snow is deep, crisp and clean. Having lived in Australia for the last seven years, the possibility of a White Christmas is absolutely non-existent. At the moment it is around 30 degrees centigrade in Perth. Even living in the UK, I can’t remember when I last saw a White Christmas.
So it is very exciting to be knee deep in snow this year. Merry Christmas from Vancouver!! Oh no, wait a minute, I can’t say that, can I?
I have been mystified in America as Christmas has approached, and I have seen many signs reading “Happy Holidays”, and have been wished the same on many occasions by other people. I have asked a few people about this, and have been told that this began a few years ago.
Apparently, not wanting to offend people of other religious beliefs, the powers-that-be decided that “Merry Christmas” was “too christian”, and that “Happy Holidays” would be a much more acceptable form of greeting for all.
Now, I am not someone who would wish to offend anyone else at all, but come on! – isn’t this just political correctness gone mad?
I would never be offended if anyone wished me “Happy Hanukkah”, or any other form of cheery seasonal wishes, after all, surely the intention is more important, not the implied religious belief.
This is a completely new concept to me, as in both the UK and Australia I have never come across this idea.
So, without the slightest intention to cause any offence to anyone, from me, I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.
There is a lot of discussion of this on the internet, you can search for yourself, I will simply link to Wikipedia’s impartial comments on the matter:-
Wikipedia – Holiday Greetings