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It's Christmas, Isn't It?
by David Eller
| 'Tis the season! But which one? Controversy has recently developed nationally and locally over religious-themed floats (like in the Denver-based Parade of Lights), Christmas trees, and the very name "Christmas." Some have recommended calling this time of year "the holidays" and wishing people "Happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." But it's Christmas, so why not say so? Or is it? |
The answer is yes, it is Christmas…to Christians, but not to other religions, because they do not have a holiday called Christmas. The name "Christmas," after all, derives from the Old English "Christ masse," which meant Christ's festival. But other religions that do not believe in Christ do not have a festival in his name. To other religions, it is either some other holiday (Hanukkah occurs around this time in Judaism) or no holiday at all. |
But isn't it "really" Christmas? Again, Christians have put a day called Christmas on the calendar, but then Muslims put a month called Ramadan on the calendar too. Hindus have holidays such as Ganesh Jayanti, Buddhists have holidays like Vesak (Buddha's birthday-religions apparently like to celebrate the birthdays of their founders), and Wiccans have holidays like Samhain. All of them are "real" holidays, in the sense that somebody celebrates them and that the rest of us can see them on a calendar of holidays. But no one person or group celebrates all of them. |
Which takes us to the question of floats, trees, and "Merry Christmas." In a society that was 100% Christian, it might be possible to celebrate Christmas exclusively. In a society that was 100% Wiccan, I suppose everyone would celebrate Samhain. But in a society that is multi-religious, what should we do? There are those who accuse "liberals" and "secular humanists" of trying to ban Christmas from schools, public spaces, and the government. While secularists have no interest in Christmas (any more than Hindus or Wiccans do), the point is not banning anything. The point is that celebrating only Christmas in a society supposedly committed to inclusion and diversity is to show favoritism to one religion over all others. Critics might respond that America is "a Christian country," but in fact it is not; it is a FREE country. You are free to practice your religion, and everyone else is free to practice his or hers. But no one is free to expect favoritism. And even if the majority of Americans are Christians, that does not entitle them to favoritism: the majority of Americans are white, but we do not allow favoritism based on race. |
It would be simpler if religions did not confuse society with their disparate and contradictory claims and holidays, but since they all exist, we have two (good) choices. We can include all religions in our lively multicultural society: put up Ramadan decorations, sing Ganesh Jayanti carols, give Vesak presents, and wish people a merry Samhain. Or we can all be encouraged to celebrate whatever we want, in the privacy of our homes and churches, without expecting or receiving any favoritism. But demanding-and expecting-that your religion and your religion alone get all the attention is exclusionary and quite frankly un-American. |
So, the next time someone insists that "Christmas" be displayed in public, remind them of all the other religions that want displays too. Merry Ganesh Jayanti! |
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