Happpppppy holidays!
Dec. 22nd, 2016 09:55 am![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
debgeislerI celebrate Christmas because my family does. It gives us joy and hope, and it brings us together. And if I meet a Christian this time of year, I wish them "Merry Christmas," even if their celebration isn't on Dec. 25.
I don't celebrate Chanukah because my husband does not. If he did, I'd be all over that dreidl. But I wish friends and acquaintances and inlaws who are Jews a Happy Chanukah, because spreading joy is a good thing.
When Muslim friends and students observe Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, I wish them Eid Mubarak. Because it is the courteous thing to do. And if they celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi, we'll try to honor that this weekend, too, wishing them joy and peace.
And when I don't know someone's faith (and it's so not my business) or know their holy times, I just wish them Happy Holidays because I want to say something nice without diminishing them.
So don't get on your high horse and tell me it's a season all about Christians. Because human beings have been celebrating joy and good things and sun return and stuff around this time for tens of thousands of years. Stop acting like you own the calendar and no one else's feelings matter.
I don't celebrate Chanukah because my husband does not. If he did, I'd be all over that dreidl. But I wish friends and acquaintances and inlaws who are Jews a Happy Chanukah, because spreading joy is a good thing.
When Muslim friends and students observe Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, I wish them Eid Mubarak. Because it is the courteous thing to do. And if they celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi, we'll try to honor that this weekend, too, wishing them joy and peace.
And when I don't know someone's faith (and it's so not my business) or know their holy times, I just wish them Happy Holidays because I want to say something nice without diminishing them.
So don't get on your high horse and tell me it's a season all about Christians. Because human beings have been celebrating joy and good things and sun return and stuff around this time for tens of thousands of years. Stop acting like you own the calendar and no one else's feelings matter.