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Why Happy Holidays?
10 years ago
"Hey, here's a GOOD thought! Instead of all this political correctness crap with 'Happy Holidays,' why don't we just call it CHRISTMAS!"
Glad you asked.
In America, Thanksgiving is sometimes before Advent and sometimes after it; this year it was before. In the rest of the world, we can use the start of Advent as the beginning of "The Holidays." As for when they end, traditionally that would be "Twelfth Night," the twelfth day of Christmas, which is January 5th every year.
So what? Well, poking through various online calendars, I found 21 Christian holy days that happen over "The Holidays". I also found 10 non-Christian holy days and 20 secular observances. Here's my list, (feel free to skim):
Advent - November 29th to December 25th
Advent is the lead-up to Christmas, a time to prepare. Advent Sunday is the 4th Sunday before Christmas; Advent ends on Christmas Day.
Midwest FurFest (Chicago, IL) - December 4th to 6th
This is strictly Furry of course, but it's safe to call it a part of The Holidays for us.
Hanukkah - sunset of December 6th to December 14th
The Jewish festival of lights, it commemorates a minor miracle that occurred during the blessing of the second Jerusalem temple. (They had enough oil for the lamps for one day, but somehow it lasted nine days.)
Saint Nicholas Day - December 6th
Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey, a kind and generous man. Once he heard of a family that was going to have to sell their three daughters into prostitution so the rest could live. He prepared three little bags of gold, climbed their roof and tossed them down the chimney. Each bag landed in one daughters' stocking, which had been washed and hung over their fire to dry. St Nicholas is the patron saint of children, (also sailors and fishers, merchants, broadcasters, brewers, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers and the falsely accused.) Santa Claus is an Anglicization of Sinterklaus, which is Dutch for St Nicholas.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - December 8th
This is a celebration of God making Mary pregnant without... you know... violating her virginity.
Rohatsu/Bodhi Day - December 8th
This is the Buddhist celebration of The Buddha's enlightenment. Some Buddists believe it was also his Birfday and the day he died and went to Nirvana.
Feast Day of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic) - December 12th
On December 9th, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico and asked for a church in her honour there. Three days later, he told the archbishop and showed him Castilian roses, (which you'd never find in Mexico, especially in December), and an image of The Virgin inside his cloak to prove it.
Advent Fast - December 12th
This is the start of Advent for Orthodox Christians.
Monkey Day - December 14th
This is a secular day of honour for all the monkeys, apes and other simians sacrificed for science.
Posadas Navidenas - December 16th to 25th
Mexican children go from house to house each night, pretending to be the Holy Family, looking for shelter in the streets of Bethlehem. There's a party in one house or another every night, if they can find it.
Yule (Christian) - December 21st
Also called Yuletide or Christmastide, it's mainly an acknowledgement by Christians that it's dark out. Yule traditions they keep are largely taken from the Pagan celebrations; mistletoe, Yule logs, decorated trees, etc.
Yule (Pagan) - December 21st
For devotees of the old Celtic and Germanic religions, this is a celebration of the wheel of the year turning from darkness back to light; the rebirth of the Sun King, the journey back to warmth and Spring.
Milad un Nabi - December 21st
Sunni Muslims celebrate the birfday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Winter Solstice - December 22nd
Usually it's the 21st, this year it's a day later.
Asara B'Tevet - December 22nd from sunrise to sunset
For Jews, this is a minor fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II.
Mawlid an-Nabi - December 22nd at sunset
This is also the Prophet Muhammad's birfday. (The various calendars that I consulted to make this list disagreed as to exactly which day this should be.)
Humanlight - December 23rd
Secular Humanist Christmas, it's supposed to be a celebration of "a Humanist's vision of a good future."
Festivus - December 23rd
Introduced by the "Seinfeld" show in 1997, it was originated by screenwriter Dan O'Keefe and his family. Traditions include dinner, a Festivus pole, the Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and Festivus Miracles.
Christmas Adam - December 23rd
...because biblically speaking, Adam came before Eve.
Christmas Eve - December 24th
It's just the night before Christmas, a day to run around taking care of last minute errands before the big day. However, some churches perform rituals on this night.
Christmas Day - December 25th
The Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. This is also the start of the Christmas Season properly; it lasts twelve days until January 5th. Incidentally the moon will be full at 11:11AM today; this will be the Full Cold Moon or Full Long Nights Moon.
Boxing Day - December 26th
The meaning of this celebration has been lost to time. Being the day after Christmas, it is a convenient excuse for Holiday "sales."
Feast of St Stephen - December 26th
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was one of Christ's apostles, stoned to death for preaching Christ's word. (At least one Christmas miracle occurred on December 26th, if "Good King Wenceslaus" is accurate.)
Wren Day - December 26th
"Wren Boys" go "hunting" for a stuffed toy wren which is paraded around town, (as the boys ask for contributions), then ritually sacrificed. The story behind it is that St Stephen was hiding in bushes from the Sanhedrin, who were pursuing him to stone him to death, but a chattering wren betrayed him. There might be Celtic or Germanic origins as well.
Mawlid an-Nabi - December 26th
Shi'a Muslims celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birfday on this day.
Zarathosht Diso - December 26th
For Zoroastrians, this is the commemoration of the death of the Prophet Zarathushtra.
Kwanzaa - December 26th to January 1st
Created by 1966 by Maulana Karenga, this is a celebration of black culture in America.
National Whiners Day - December 26th
Created in 1986 by Reverend Kevin Zaborney, it is meant to encourage people to be thankful for what they have rather than unhappy about what they don't.
Feast of the Holy Family - December 27th
This is a Catholic celebration of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Holy Innocents - December 28th
This commemorates the boy children who were slaughtered in Bethlehem by Roman soldiers at the instructions of Herod the Great when the three wise men spilled the beans about Jesus.
New Year's Eve - December 31st
Billions and billions of westerners stay up all night, celebrating the new year, screaming, getting drunk and otherwise misbehaving.
Watch Night - December 31st
Instead of the usual revels, some Christians spend New Year's Eve praying, confessing their sins and making resolutions. Actual rites vary by sect.
New Years Eve Con - December 31 to January 1
A Furry New Year convention in Oak Brook, Illinois.
New Years Furry Ball - December 31 to January 1
A Furry New Year convention in Newark, Delaware.
New Year's Day - January 1st
the morning after the night before for most of the western world
Mary Mother of God - January 1st
A Catholic celebration of the Virgin Mary.
World Day of Peace - January 1st
a Catholic celebration, meant to promote peace in the world
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ - January 1st
Well, he was born a Jew, after all!
Feast of St Basil - January 1st
For Orthodox Christians, it's a commemoration of one of their greatest saints.
Gantan-sai - January 1st
New Year's Day for Shintoists
Global Family Day - January 1st
A secular celebration, it happens to fall on January 1st.
Day After New Year's Day (Canada, esp. Quebec) - January 2nd and
New Year Holiday (Scotland) - January 2nd
...given how hungover people are likely to be on January 1st, this is a great idea!
Handsel Monday - January 4th
The first Monday of the New Year, children, household servants, letter carriers and other delivery operators expect a tip on this day.
Twelfth Night - January 5th
You've heard the song about the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Christmas Day is the first day; January 5th is the twelfth, the day before the Epiphany season begins. It is sometimes celebrated with dinner parties at which a "kings cake" is served; a fancy dessert in which a coin is embedded. (Whoever gets the coin has to host the party next year.) Some believe it is bad luck to have your Christmas tree and decorations up after this day.
Guru Gobind Singh's Birfday - January 5th
A celebration for Sikhs of their tenth guru, the last who was a human. Among his accomplishments, he compiled the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book.
National Bird Day - January 5th
an American celebration of birds
Epiphany - January 6th to February 3rd
Aka Dia de los Reyes, also Feast of the Epiphany for Orthodox Christians, this is the celebration of the Visitation of the Three Wise Men, (although it also encompasses Jesus's baptism by John and the miracle at the marriage in Cana.)
Nativity of Christ - January 6th
For Armenian Orthodox Christians, this is the celebration of Christ's birth.
Orthodox Christmas Day - January 7th and
Orthodox New Year - January 14th
Orthodox Christians prefer the old Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar that we follow today.
You ask about "The Holidays?" Well, there they are; twenty one Christian Holy Days, plus ten from other religions, seventeen secular observances and three Furry cons, fifty one in all, celebrated by one group or another about this time of year. And you seriously think you can just call it "Christmas?" Wave good bye to Ignorance Land, 'cause now you know!
-- Dee
Glad you asked.
In America, Thanksgiving is sometimes before Advent and sometimes after it; this year it was before. In the rest of the world, we can use the start of Advent as the beginning of "The Holidays." As for when they end, traditionally that would be "Twelfth Night," the twelfth day of Christmas, which is January 5th every year.
So what? Well, poking through various online calendars, I found 21 Christian holy days that happen over "The Holidays". I also found 10 non-Christian holy days and 20 secular observances. Here's my list, (feel free to skim):
Advent - November 29th to December 25th
Advent is the lead-up to Christmas, a time to prepare. Advent Sunday is the 4th Sunday before Christmas; Advent ends on Christmas Day.
Midwest FurFest (Chicago, IL) - December 4th to 6th
This is strictly Furry of course, but it's safe to call it a part of The Holidays for us.
Hanukkah - sunset of December 6th to December 14th
The Jewish festival of lights, it commemorates a minor miracle that occurred during the blessing of the second Jerusalem temple. (They had enough oil for the lamps for one day, but somehow it lasted nine days.)
Saint Nicholas Day - December 6th
Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey, a kind and generous man. Once he heard of a family that was going to have to sell their three daughters into prostitution so the rest could live. He prepared three little bags of gold, climbed their roof and tossed them down the chimney. Each bag landed in one daughters' stocking, which had been washed and hung over their fire to dry. St Nicholas is the patron saint of children, (also sailors and fishers, merchants, broadcasters, brewers, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers and the falsely accused.) Santa Claus is an Anglicization of Sinterklaus, which is Dutch for St Nicholas.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - December 8th
This is a celebration of God making Mary pregnant without... you know... violating her virginity.
Rohatsu/Bodhi Day - December 8th
This is the Buddhist celebration of The Buddha's enlightenment. Some Buddists believe it was also his Birfday and the day he died and went to Nirvana.
Feast Day of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic) - December 12th
On December 9th, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico and asked for a church in her honour there. Three days later, he told the archbishop and showed him Castilian roses, (which you'd never find in Mexico, especially in December), and an image of The Virgin inside his cloak to prove it.
Advent Fast - December 12th
This is the start of Advent for Orthodox Christians.
Monkey Day - December 14th
This is a secular day of honour for all the monkeys, apes and other simians sacrificed for science.
Posadas Navidenas - December 16th to 25th
Mexican children go from house to house each night, pretending to be the Holy Family, looking for shelter in the streets of Bethlehem. There's a party in one house or another every night, if they can find it.
Yule (Christian) - December 21st
Also called Yuletide or Christmastide, it's mainly an acknowledgement by Christians that it's dark out. Yule traditions they keep are largely taken from the Pagan celebrations; mistletoe, Yule logs, decorated trees, etc.
Yule (Pagan) - December 21st
For devotees of the old Celtic and Germanic religions, this is a celebration of the wheel of the year turning from darkness back to light; the rebirth of the Sun King, the journey back to warmth and Spring.
Milad un Nabi - December 21st
Sunni Muslims celebrate the birfday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Winter Solstice - December 22nd
Usually it's the 21st, this year it's a day later.
Asara B'Tevet - December 22nd from sunrise to sunset
For Jews, this is a minor fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II.
Mawlid an-Nabi - December 22nd at sunset
This is also the Prophet Muhammad's birfday. (The various calendars that I consulted to make this list disagreed as to exactly which day this should be.)
Humanlight - December 23rd
Secular Humanist Christmas, it's supposed to be a celebration of "a Humanist's vision of a good future."
Festivus - December 23rd
Introduced by the "Seinfeld" show in 1997, it was originated by screenwriter Dan O'Keefe and his family. Traditions include dinner, a Festivus pole, the Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength and Festivus Miracles.
Christmas Adam - December 23rd
...because biblically speaking, Adam came before Eve.
Christmas Eve - December 24th
It's just the night before Christmas, a day to run around taking care of last minute errands before the big day. However, some churches perform rituals on this night.
Christmas Day - December 25th
The Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. This is also the start of the Christmas Season properly; it lasts twelve days until January 5th. Incidentally the moon will be full at 11:11AM today; this will be the Full Cold Moon or Full Long Nights Moon.
Boxing Day - December 26th
The meaning of this celebration has been lost to time. Being the day after Christmas, it is a convenient excuse for Holiday "sales."
Feast of St Stephen - December 26th
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. He was one of Christ's apostles, stoned to death for preaching Christ's word. (At least one Christmas miracle occurred on December 26th, if "Good King Wenceslaus" is accurate.)
Wren Day - December 26th
"Wren Boys" go "hunting" for a stuffed toy wren which is paraded around town, (as the boys ask for contributions), then ritually sacrificed. The story behind it is that St Stephen was hiding in bushes from the Sanhedrin, who were pursuing him to stone him to death, but a chattering wren betrayed him. There might be Celtic or Germanic origins as well.
Mawlid an-Nabi - December 26th
Shi'a Muslims celebrate the Prophet Muhammad's birfday on this day.
Zarathosht Diso - December 26th
For Zoroastrians, this is the commemoration of the death of the Prophet Zarathushtra.
Kwanzaa - December 26th to January 1st
Created by 1966 by Maulana Karenga, this is a celebration of black culture in America.
National Whiners Day - December 26th
Created in 1986 by Reverend Kevin Zaborney, it is meant to encourage people to be thankful for what they have rather than unhappy about what they don't.
Feast of the Holy Family - December 27th
This is a Catholic celebration of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Holy Innocents - December 28th
This commemorates the boy children who were slaughtered in Bethlehem by Roman soldiers at the instructions of Herod the Great when the three wise men spilled the beans about Jesus.
New Year's Eve - December 31st
Billions and billions of westerners stay up all night, celebrating the new year, screaming, getting drunk and otherwise misbehaving.
Watch Night - December 31st
Instead of the usual revels, some Christians spend New Year's Eve praying, confessing their sins and making resolutions. Actual rites vary by sect.
New Years Eve Con - December 31 to January 1
A Furry New Year convention in Oak Brook, Illinois.
New Years Furry Ball - December 31 to January 1
A Furry New Year convention in Newark, Delaware.
New Year's Day - January 1st
the morning after the night before for most of the western world
Mary Mother of God - January 1st
A Catholic celebration of the Virgin Mary.
World Day of Peace - January 1st
a Catholic celebration, meant to promote peace in the world
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ - January 1st
Well, he was born a Jew, after all!
Feast of St Basil - January 1st
For Orthodox Christians, it's a commemoration of one of their greatest saints.
Gantan-sai - January 1st
New Year's Day for Shintoists
Global Family Day - January 1st
A secular celebration, it happens to fall on January 1st.
Day After New Year's Day (Canada, esp. Quebec) - January 2nd and
New Year Holiday (Scotland) - January 2nd
...given how hungover people are likely to be on January 1st, this is a great idea!
Handsel Monday - January 4th
The first Monday of the New Year, children, household servants, letter carriers and other delivery operators expect a tip on this day.
Twelfth Night - January 5th
You've heard the song about the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Christmas Day is the first day; January 5th is the twelfth, the day before the Epiphany season begins. It is sometimes celebrated with dinner parties at which a "kings cake" is served; a fancy dessert in which a coin is embedded. (Whoever gets the coin has to host the party next year.) Some believe it is bad luck to have your Christmas tree and decorations up after this day.
Guru Gobind Singh's Birfday - January 5th
A celebration for Sikhs of their tenth guru, the last who was a human. Among his accomplishments, he compiled the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book.
National Bird Day - January 5th
an American celebration of birds
Epiphany - January 6th to February 3rd
Aka Dia de los Reyes, also Feast of the Epiphany for Orthodox Christians, this is the celebration of the Visitation of the Three Wise Men, (although it also encompasses Jesus's baptism by John and the miracle at the marriage in Cana.)
Nativity of Christ - January 6th
For Armenian Orthodox Christians, this is the celebration of Christ's birth.
Orthodox Christmas Day - January 7th and
Orthodox New Year - January 14th
Orthodox Christians prefer the old Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar that we follow today.
You ask about "The Holidays?" Well, there they are; twenty one Christian Holy Days, plus ten from other religions, seventeen secular observances and three Furry cons, fifty one in all, celebrated by one group or another about this time of year. And you seriously think you can just call it "Christmas?" Wave good bye to Ignorance Land, 'cause now you know!
-- Dee
honest question, no ire intended. If someone says too me "oh sorry, i celebrate "x" "
i just go " oh, thats neat! well, happy "x" too you and yours! btw, what is "x" all about? :)"
i just dont like happy holidays because it is far too generalized. i think it is much better too be corrected and then learn about differing customs straight from the horses mouth, as it were :)
i dunno, maybe im strange
I'm sure that we can agree on one thing, though. "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" is no attack on Christianity! In fact, it actually takes in much more Christian celebration than concentrating on Christmas alone.
Christmas Adam? I wonder where that one came from.
http://grammarist.com/words/christmas-adam/
On topic of the question and provision of opinion; I've always been comfortable, or more comfortable, with 'Merry Christmas'. You could look at it like someone goofing and saying 'Good morning!' as they pass on the street, but having it be the afternoon whence doing so. (I make this mistake a lot more than I'd like; the wording, I mean.) The intent is going to be the same as far as wishes I try to convey when I say that, or when I say 'Merry Christmas'; regardless of including the word 'Christmas', I make a point of wishing a body and their family the best, however they celebrate the day or what they choose to do on it, usually verbatim to that. To me, that's what Christmas is about: being close to family and friends, and overall having a good day, however any given person chooses to spend it or how or what they celebrate specifically (if anything in particular).
I like the name, but I don't think the name is necessarily the most important thing. It's what you honestly wish for a person, and what you do yourself with the day. But I definitely like 'Merry Christmas'! ^_^ Winter pup bias. o_o
-2Paw.
BTW, your birfday isn't in the TorFur Birthday List. Would you like it to be?
Is not? Please feel free to add it, if you'd like. Danke for offering to do so!
-2Paw.
...I'm still in time to add it to the TorFur Birfday List, though. Thanks, Tracy!
anyway, interesting compliation. :)
"Acknowledged" is the best word I can think of for it; since its meaning is lost to time, nobody really knows what to do with it, other than hold so-called "sales." I wouldn't be awfully surprised if it was invented by some store as an excuse to raise prices 10% on all their goods, then slap half-price stickers on them.
Oh, and that compilation isn't even complete; I found more holy days and occasions since making it! Ecclesiastically and socially, this is a very busy time of year!