The word merry as in “Merry Christmas” means pleasing or agreeable. It conveys notions of joy and delight. “Happy holidays” just doesn’t do it.
I thought about that when I recently added a smile to a cheerful “Merry Christmas” greeting as I made a purchase. The store clerk returned my pleasantry with a deadpan look accompanied by the sullen response of “Happy Holidays”.
Clearly, the association of Christ with Christmas was not agreeable to the poor man. But why then the holiday? What, if anything, would be a suitable substitute? “Happy Unbelief”? “Miserable Moment”? “Unhappy Memories”? Or no holiday at all, no eager anticipation, just the same old same old, day-by-day, surviving.
For what? What is there to live for in a world where the expectation that Christmas brings is missing? Behind the jingle bells and sparkly fir trees and gaily-wrapped gifts and cries of “Merry Christmas” is the joyful truth that the greatest gift of all is Jesus Christ—our Creator, Savior, King and Eternal Friend.
Those poor souls who don’t recognize Jesus certainly don’t have anything to be merry about at Christmas, or any other time; and those empty souls who celebrate Christmas but confuse Jesus and Santa Claus all year round, also don’t have anything to be merry about.
Spare them a thought this Christmas season.