Wednesdays @ WeHaKee: Season’s Greetings Are Just Fine!
Well, the holiday season begins it’s unofficial official start with tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day. Amid the charged discussion over the advancing start of the holiday shopping season – now moving into the Thanksgiving holiday – there has also been some discourse over the apparent change in terminology at the White House regarding the Holiday Tree, formerly know as the Christmas Tree. It seems some of the Christian persuasion feel that this is yet another sign of our society slipping away from Christian values. I suggest its much ado about nothing!
It has always seemed to me that we really have multiple seasons occuring near the end of each calendar year. The most visible being the holiday season where many decorate homes and offices, play holiday music, throw some holiday parties and shop until they drop (all in the name of giving, of course!). Another being the Christmas Season that begins on Christmas Day and extends into the new year – a sacred time when Christians celebrate the birth Jesus Christ. Prior to Christmas, many of those Christians also take time to reflect and prepare during the Advent Season as well. And many in the Jewish community celebrate Hanukkah while many in the African American communities observe the period of Kwaanza – I don’t share much of these as I lack sufficient knowledge to comment on the values and rituals involved in these celebrations, but yet have a deep respect and would love to learn more!
So… what’s the point in all this you ask? I bring this forward to suggest that we appreciate what we all bring to the table and not squabble over who gets acknowledged and who gets ignored. As a Christian, Christmas is a very special & sacred season to me, but I couldn’t give a cracked candy kane if the White House decides to put up a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. My faith is not determined by presidential decree, nor is it set by Macy’s or WalMart. Although I do not fault them for what they choose to do in the name of political correctness or capitalism, their choices do not build nor shake my faith.
We all can celebrate our chosen seasons and many of us will celebrate multiple seasons, even some seemingly in conflict. I plan to wish anyone and everyone a very Merry Christmas, maybe even a Blessed Christmas this year and if I get a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwaanza in return, all the better. Nothing would give me a greater feeling of respect than to receive the honor of a greeting in a seasonal, cultural, or spiritual context other than my own. Sharing is such a wonderful thing!
With all that said, I unabashedly, yet humbly and honorably wish each and everyone of you a very Blessed Advent and a wonderful & Joyous Christmas! Let this and all seasons be a universal time of Peace, Love, Understanding, Forgiveness and Acceptance! Oh… and God Bless, too!
