"MERRY CHRISTMAS" vs. "HAPPY HOLIDAYS"

The fullness of Christmastide is almost upon us...A few more days 'til we celebrate the great day when God showed Himself as a humble babe as a sign of redemption for the earth. But there's something that is truly bothering me. As a Filipino used to the merriness and length of the Christmas season in the Philippines, I cannot avoid being bothered by the greeting "Happy Holidays" in many malls and establishments and programs on radio and TV in the country, which they prefer rather than using "Merry Christmas."

Let us have a look at how many really are attempting to be "Grinchy" enough to wage a war on good Christmas. First they try to avoid putting up Nativity scenes or even mentioning the real essence of Christmas (as mentioning Jesus' coming as the Word made Flesh). Then they try to cram our mind with many other things like sales and material glory to cover up the Divine aspect of the season. Next, they try to introduce more and more secular songs into the scene that neither mention Jesus nor lead the people to contemplate on the specialness of what we are celebrating. Christmas songs today often mention receiving gifts, and merry-making and drinking but never Christ. Why is that?

But still it adds on. The Missa de Gallo or Missa de Aguinaldo popularly known as Simbang Gabi (the annual Philippine Dawn Masses offered to Our Lady 9 days before Christmas Day) somehow has kept its charm but many of todays youth have often misplaced its meaning as just a way to bond with friends, to chat in church grounds, to grab a wish after the 9 days or even as a way to cuddle up with a love one which leads to unpleasant behavior in church.

Another big thing is replacing or even abolishing the greeting "Merry Christmas" in preference to "Happy Holidays." It is very good  to consider that in a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, and with many other Christian denominations to top it all, it is very ridiculous to use "Happy Holidays" if we are knowledgeable that there is no other holiday in the Philippines than Christmas. We do not have extra holidays this season such as Kwanzaa or Hanukkah like in the USA. It is out of the context and out of the question.

This is a good evidence of how hard Christ's enemies try to influence us into losing what we ought t know about Christmas. Many are pursuing also for a "Christmas for everyone" not only for us Christians hence the secularization of Christmas songs, greetings and making "politically correct" terms for this season. But alas, the name Christmas cannot be separated from its root, Christ. I'm afraid that maybe one day they'd be ridiculous enough even to replace Christmas with "Shopsmas" or "Lightsmas" or even "Boozemas" as some have taken the season as meaning the same.

What do we need to do? Well it's simple. Let's start from small beginnings like our Savior did, shall we?

Let's consider using the greeting Merry Christmas, because that is properly so. Second, let's try to reflect upon, in everything that we do, whether at Missa de Gallo or planning for Noche Buena or buying gifts, on the true meaning of why we have this season. Third, let us not drown ourselves too much in the hectic race of shopping frenzies and parties but rather consider focusing ourselves on God  and the Mystery of the Incarnation. Let us take time to go to church this season mindful of the thanksgiving and love we owe Him. Fourth, let us be like our Blesses Mother Mary, "who pondered and kept within her heart all these things", because she is the greatest example of being a good Christian.

Lastly, let us teach the younger ones the meaning of Christ in Christmas. Making them used to a non-materialistic and a non-secularized Christmas within family and home can be a great start to make them good Christians.

Let's not forget nor forsake Christ from Christmas... After all, it is His day. "Venite Adoremus" (Come, let us adore) Him that cometh not as a great king but to be humbled and to be among us as Example and Salvation. He is the Emmanuel, Born of the Virgin Mary! Merry CHRIST-mas!