As text messages to family, friends, and colleagues are sent on this Christmas day, I want to asure you that “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Xmas” is not only acceptable but very Christian.
In fact, I would contend that “Happy Holidays” might be the best way for Christians to greet others–especially if the person is not a Christian. Why is this so?
Very simple. If they are not a Christian, then the expression “Merry Christmas” might be offensive to them. Perhaps they are not celebrating Christmas but another holiday. If this is the case, then the expression Happy Holidays” becomes one of the best ways to carry out the command to “love our neighbor as ourselves” because you are not imposing your holiday on them, but are instead are greeting them in a manner that respects their beliefs.
Now, if the other person is a Christian, it is quite acceptable to use “Merry Xmas.” This is not “taking the Christ out of Christmas.” On the contrary, it is simply an alternative way of writing “Christmas.” After all, “X” (or Chi; “pronounced like “kai” or “chee”) is the first letter in the Greek name for Christ. In fact, as the icon at the top of this post illustrates, “Jesus Christ” was often written with just the first and last letters of the word: hence, “Jesus” becomes “IC” (the “C” is what the Greek letter “S” when it is the final letter of a word)–see the letters to the left of Christ–and “Christ” becomes “XC”–see the letters to the right of Christ.
So “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas!”
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