With the 25th of December just a few days in the offing, this morning I pondered over what to select for Meander With Me. Of course, it would have to be something Christmasy but decided to postpone the decision until after grocery shopping. While standing before the luncheon meat and cheese cases waiting my turn, I could not help but notice the complete absence of holiday greetings, not even a Happy Holiday. When I mentioned the fact to the clerk who was taking care of my purchase, she told me it was against the rules. Against the rules? Lest they offend someone, they were not permitted to acknowledge the Season. “Nonsense”, I replied loud enough for all to hear. “Merry Christmas”, I retorted, then added “And I’m an atheist!” I added another Merry Christmas for good measure before proceeding on to other aisles for other purchases. After I paid for my groceries and wished the clerk a Merry Christmas, she came out from behind her cash register, and gave me a hug. I guess the “powers that be” who manage the management, have no say over Merry Christmas hugs.
Here is a Christmas poem I wrote and sent out in lieu of cards a few years ago.
LET’S NOT
Mary A. Gallagher Kaufman
If we did away with Christmas,
as there’s some would have us do,
if we banished Christmas carols,
mistletoe and holly, too:
if the sound of childish laughter
on each Christmas morn was stilled,
if there were no eager footsteps
down the hall to stockings, filled,
if we put away the tinsel
and extinguished each bright light,
if we sent the heavenly angels
back into the starry night,
if we left the cradled Jesus,
with the Wise Men from the East
in their tissue paper wrappings,
Mother, Joseph, shepherds, beasts;
if we overlooked the Season,
all its gay frivolity,
would the world be better for it?
Would it really, really be?
Every Christmas I feel a sense of sadness for the children of a few enlightened, but misguided parents who refuse to celebrate the joy of the Solstice Season for no other reason than early Christians usurped the sun-god Mithra’s birthday and declared the day to be the birthday of Jesus. The sun is on its way back to bless the north with its warmth, isn’t it, and isn’t that reason enough for rejoicing every 25th of December? Does anyone really know when Jesus was born? Does it really matter on what day of what month Jesus was born? Let’s keep Christmas alive—both Christians and non-Christians. Let everyone winnow the commercialism from the occasion and make each and every Christmas a Christmas to remember.
mary,, this is THE definitive post on the subject.. i absolutely cannot imagine anything more perfect.. i have already sent it off to my sister,, and i am hoping someday,, one or the other of us will have the courage to share it with our parents… you have a way with words,, my dear,, you certainly have a way with words…..
if you would consider it,, i would love to feature this poem on the ink pot on christmas day… here is a link to the ink pot,, so you can get a feel for the blog and see if you would allow me to post it there,, with full credit of course and a link to your blog……
“the ink pot”
Beautiful Mary! Paisley is right…you certainly have a way with words! MERRY CHRISTMAS! (((HUGS)))
What wonderful words! I’ll be looking forward to more of your work!
This poem is one of my favorites.
I love your perspective, Mary. The question, “Would the world be better for it?” is a great one. I said Merry Christmas to someone today and they almost gasped, shocked that I was so upfront with my sentiment. That’s a sad day, I think. But thank you for crafting a poem honestly, for acknowledging various perspectives while still nodding, mostly, to the importance of celebration. I enjoy your work thoroughly.
Linda
I think I shall retire to bed tonight still pleased beyond words and not yet quite believing all the nice compliments coming my way. Thanks JCK . . . my oldest son. . . thanks Paisley, Linda, Jo, and Shirley.
I think Stephen Colbert said it best when he said, “And remember, whatever holiday you celebrate, have a Merry Christmas!”
Stephen Colbert is my favorite comedian. If Christians do not mind the fact that they are, in reality, also celebrating the birth of the sun god Mithra, whose birthday was celebrated on the 25th of December before the birth of Jesus, should anybody object to Christians choosing the day to celebrate his birthday?
Merry Christmas hugs to you, Mary. I absolutely loved your poem. Merry Christmas hugs . . . I just may start that as a new tradition.
Hugs to you Suzy and a Merry Christmas.
The store was absent all holiday greetings? Very Scrooge-like of that management indeed. I would expect that they will be visited by three spirits. You were the first!!!
On the other hand, I do see legitimate reasons for merchants and others to stick with the more general “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” when they don’t know if their audience is receptive to the more specific “Merry Christmas”. For example, on Monday, the day before Christmas, I was taking leave of an acquaintance and I offered him wishes of a Merry Christmas, forgetting, for a moment, that the man is Jewish. I realized my mistake immediately, and I wanted to turn around and correct the error; but I figured that would just make it worse. I felt bad about that lapse; I hope that he knows me to be generally more sensitive and will forgive the error.
Another concern I have is this: The company I work for gave me three days off–with pay–to celebrate Christmas. I fear–should Christians successfully argue that Christmas is ONLY about Christ–that companies and governments may not be permitted to discriminate between religions by giving paid leave to celebrate one holy day but not others. I love Christmas above all other holidays; and I like the time off from work I get to celebrate it. I worry that folks are messing with that.