Happy Holidays?

This phrase gets a lot of flack these days, and maybe rightfully so.  I see no reason to be angry at someone who groups all the holidays we celebrate during this time of year into one, but then I see no reason to group them either.  So, this is my strategy.  I only offer people good wishes for one holiday at a time.  So, until recently I said “Happy Thanksgiving,” no matter how much Christmas stuff was already up in the stores.  Now I either say “have a Merry Christmas” (because it’s not Christmas yet) or to those Catholics and other Christians I know well enough, I’ll say “Happy Advent.”  That last one is not catchy or anything, but you never know… it may catch on.  Then when Christmas Eve rolls around, I’ll switch to “Merry Christmas.”  Then on New Years Eve comes, it’ll be “Happy New Year.”  Lastly, I’m very serious about continuing to wish people “Merry Christmas” until the Christmas season actually ends, which is January 8 this year in the US.

I don’t have to be preachy, but I can speak the truth!