In December, when people say Happy Holidays, could they possibly be showing respect for the many celebrations during that month and not just Christmas?
However, Christmas IS one of those many holidays celebrated during December and should be said with just as much love as any of them ... on the day it is celebrated or a few days before.
Of course, this is anyone's choice to say it whenever they wish, yet we do not go around saying happy "whatever holiday" during the rest of the year until the day of, or maybe a day or two before. Why should Christmas be any different? Why should I say "Merry (or Happy) Christmas" on December 10th, for instance? It's not Christmas yet.
There are numerous (see below) holidays throughout December and it would seem logical, to me, to encompass them all under the heading of "Happy Holidays" during the month.
Anyway, now that we, hopefully, understand this saying a little better, shouldn't we stop being "Christmas arrogant" and show a little more respect for the entire month of holiday celebrations? I do hope so.
December Holidays per Wiki:
1) Advent: four weeks prior to Christmas.
2) Saint Nicholas' Day: 6 December
3) Bodhi Day: 8 December - Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Guatama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).
4) Saint Lucy's Day: 13 December - Church Feast Day. Saint Lucy comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.
5) Winter Solstice: 21 December-22 December - midwinter
6) Soyal: 21 December - Zuni and Hopi
7) Yalda: 21 December - The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means 'birthday eve.' According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on the 22nd of December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning 'night gazing'. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.
8) Mōdraniht: or Mothers' Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.
9) Saturnalia: the Roman winter solstice festival
10) Pancha Ganapati: Five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha. December 21–25.
11) Christmas Eve: 24 December
12) Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): late Roman Empire - 25 December
13) Christmas: 25 December
14) Twelve Days of Christmas: 25 December through 6 January
15) Yule: Pagan winter festival that was celebrated by the historical Germanic people from late December to early January.
16) Anastasia of Sirmium Feast Day: 25 December
17) Malkh: 25 December
18) Boxing Day: 26 December - Gift-giving day after Christmas.
19) Kwanzaa: 26 December - 1 January - Pan-African festival celebrated in North America
20) Saint Stephen's Day: 26 December
21) Saint John the Evangelist's Day: 27 December
22) Holy Innocents' Day: 28 December
23) Saint Sylvester's Day: 31 December
24) Watch Night: 31 December
25) New Year's Eve: 31 December - Last day of the Gregorian year
26) Hogmanay: Night of 31 December - Before dawn of 1 January - Scottish New Year's Eve celebration
Peace on Earth and Good Will To All
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