"Happy Holiday" is No Threat

Many of your letter writers, so adamant that someone is trying to take away their Christmas, need to know a few facts. St. Boniface “Christianized” a ritual celebrated by the Germanic tribes in which they placed gifts around a tree to honor the god Odin. More than 200 years after the death of Christ, a bishop decided that solstice festivals celebrating the birth of the “sun” Dec. 25 were a threat to the faith. And so Dec. 25 became the day to celebrate the birth of the “son,” although he was probably born in the spring. These were arbitrary symbols chosen for politically religious reasons, just as much of today's criticism is political.Those lashing out in a mean-spirited manner might want to refer to their Bibles to learn how to love their neighbors. Christ said, “By their works ye shall know them,” and he spoke against making a public display of religion. Shopping and going into debt every December has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. The true celebration takes place in the churches and homes of the faithful where there are millions of Christians quietly and reverently practicing their faith. They realize that Christianity is not so weak that it is threatened by someone's “Happy holiday,” which is said by many of us out of respect for others, whether religious or not, during the season's various holy days as well as to commemorate the beginning of the New Year.

BETTIE J. REINA

Milmay

Letter published in Press of Atlantic City, December 25, 2005

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/opsed/story/5790153p-5806844c.html