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Happy Holidays to all our Texas Federation of Republican Women.

I wish people a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and so on, but sometimes I want to say Happy Holidays. Wishing your fellow American a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday has become a debate that is both religiously and politically charged. Personally, I am tired of linguistics politics during this joyous season, and I do not say Happy Holidays to be politically correct nor do I succumb to the fear of offending someone if I wish them a Merry Christmas. I like a little variety in my season greetings, and I offer these greetings with respect to their original intentions.

The season greetings of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” mutually have religious roots. Christmas comes from Crist Maessa, or Christ Mass, and has been used since 1083 to describe the mass held to commemorate Christ’s birth. Holiday evolved during the 1500s from the word haligdaeg, first seen in the 950s, which means holy day. The phrase Happy Holidays was originally used to wish someone Happy Holy Days during the Advent season beginning the first night of advent and continuing through the Epiphany. If you consider the history of the two greetings the meaning of Happy Holidays is separate from Merry Christmas and not a replacement.

If I wish you a Happy Holiday, I am not diminishing the true meaning of Christmas, quite the opposite, I am wishing you a celebration of the season of giving admiration, love, and joy to others. Wish your fellow Americans a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Happy New Year, or a Happy Holiday, so long as you wish your fellow American well during this wonderful season.

Merry Christmas, and Blessings for a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Karen C. Newton, President

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