Growing up in a rural area of a mid-western state and attending a Lutheran Liberal Arts college, I was pretty much surrounded by ELCA Lutherans and Catholics for the first 22 years of my life. There are some differences in specific beliefs between people raised in different denominations of Christianity, but overall, most of us were coming from similar backgrounds and theologies when we talked about our Faith. All this to say, I knew that people of other faiths existed – but that wasn’t at all my reality for over two decades of my life. Roughly 75% of North Americans identify with Christianity, and that percentage was even higher where I lived. To me, the holidays were about Christmas and Jesus’ birth. End of story.
As an adult, I’ve come to realize that sometimes people of different beliefs get offended when people say “Merry Christmas” because the holiday season to them is about Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Yule, the Winter Solstice, etc. – and to them, saying “Merry Christmas” excludes their holy day. Apparently it is now more politically correct to say “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons’ Greetings” in order to acknowledge religious and cultural diversity.
That being said – I am religious – and to me, the holidays are about Christmas… so what’s a person to do?
I talked briefly with my husband about this when I was designing our Christmas cards this year. There were a couple of “Happy Holidays” designs that were okay that I was considering going with in order to be more inclusive because of the aforementioned p.c. issue, but his knee jerk reaction was similar to mine.
But it’s CHRISTMAS. I want to say Merry Christmas to my friends & family!
So that’s what we did.
In the end, I figured people working in the public can worry about being p.c., but when the greetings are coming personally from my family, the holidays greetings will match our beliefs, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that we could not imagine having gone through this past year and the loss of my aunt, Charlie’s sister Jaime, and my grandmother without our Faith in God being our rock.
All that to say – Merry Christmas from my family to yours! 🙂
Some of you may recognize Jaime’s memorial bench that we are sitting on in this picture. 🙂 Our front name was also on the front of the card, but I deleted it for internet purposes.
Sorry this is a little blurry – I just took a screen shot from Minted (where I ordered our cards from – awesome company!).
I loved your card! Beautiful! I chose Merry Christmas too this year when Ive avoided it in the past. Interesting! I thought, well this is what I’m celebrating, and what it means to me.
I’m a happy holidays girl myself, making the switch in college when my best friends were all Jewish. And it stuck. But I personally love “merry Christmas!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all!
I agree with you about being PC. Though I do it in a professional setting, I don’t think twice about wishing people who are Wicca “Happy Solistice” or those who are Jewish “Happy Chanukkan.” I think there’s a respect there that actually shows you care.
Merry Christmas Jos. I know it’s been a roller coaster of a year for you and your family. May your celebration be one of joy and beautiful memories.
I love that you’re sitting on the bench. Merry Christmas. I hope your family, especially your inlaws, can have a peaceful holiday today and tomorrow.
I love that you are sitting on Jamie’s bench, I noticed that right away.
We are Catholic so Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🙂
Merry Christmas honey! From my family to yours we wish you all the very best in 2015!
Much love
Merry Christmas! I’m with you on expressing whatever faith you follow. And I love that your card includes the whole family – so many of our friends included photos only of their kids, and as much as I love cute kids, I like to see photos of MY friends too!
Merry Christmas! Love your card.
Merry Christmas to you and your family! I love that you took the picture on Jaime’s bench. She is always with you.
We went with Merry Christmas too. My thought was that I would not be offended if friends sent me a Happy Hanukkah card. I’d love it just the same. Shrug.
Your card, your message! I think the card is just perfect; I love that you’re sitting on the bench! Merry Christmas to you as well!!
Cute card,and an awesome idea to acknowledge Jaime. There’s being sensitive to others, who maybe don’t celebrate Christmas, and then there’s your cards you send to your family and friends. 🙂