The reason for the season

Before we even reached the halfway mark of November, folks were sparring about “Christmas” versus “Holidays”. Come on. Who cares? Oy vey. Is this really about political correctness? Is it really about putting Christ back into Christmas or, for that matter, keeping him there? And now? Well, and now someone has decided Starbucks has an ulterior, anti-Christmasleaning- toward-Holiday motive. Yep, they sure do. Imagine the nerve of the some barista pouring your “Iced, half-caff, ristretto, venti, 4- pump, sugar free, cinnamon, candy cane, dolce soy skinny latte” into one of those heathen “holiday” red cups! Good grief, Charlie Brown!

What the H E double candy canes is wrong with us? We couldn’t possibly be any more annoyed, with absolutely anything, than we are right now. Autumn was barely underway when we lined up at the gate. Shucks, Walmart had barely put the Hallowe’en treats on sale when the first comment about Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas appeared on social media. One October day, while looking for a birthday card, I heard a woman say how she’d never deviate from what she considered the norm. She felt the need to let me to know she was going to email the greeting card company and tell them that anything other than Merry Christmas was positively wrong. “What would Jesus think of this Happy Holidays nonsense?” Indeed, what would Jesus think about how we’ve tinselled- up his birthday. In all of my years I never thought the debate over dark versus light fruitcakes would take a backseat to anything. Obviously, the hue of your fruit cake has nothing on the subliminal messages of greeting cards and coffee cups. And what about head coverings? How did we get so intense about head coverings? Hey, in a Canadian winter, we’re all covered up. It probably wouldn’t hurt if some of us remembered that the birthday boy’s mom likely wore a head covering, most of the time. I don’t think I’ve seen an image of a bareheaded mother of God. Let’s be clear about this, Mary is pretty much the reason for the season from my perspective. So if you’re on board with this candy cane logic, you should dig out your head coverings.

We’ve twisted it all out of shape, kids. This Christmas thing, I mean. We don’t even know what the season is all about, anymore. It should be a time to be grateful, to show our appreciation for the good things and good people in our lives. It shouldn’t just be a Christian thing. Here we are, stubborn and stupid about the words on a greeting card, the colour of a takeout cup or if a person who chooses to wear a head covering is worthy of being in this country, let alone celebrate the season. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

And what about Santa Claus? How does Santa Claus even fit into our messed up, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings thinking?

Red coffee cups. Head scarves. Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Light fruitcake. Dark fruitcake. Santa Claus. To quote a funny guy we all know, “Actually, my trouble is Christmas. I just don’t understand it. Instead of feeling happy, I feel sort of let down.” I feel a bit let down myself. We’ve missed the point. Yep, we missed the point.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca