Keep the Christ in Oh For Christ's Sake

I know I've been an absent blogger, but I had to make a last minute trip to the wild lands of New Jersey, just after Christmas. But now I am back in business.

So as I was driving around the beautifully bountiful suburbs I noticed signs on lawns and bumper stickers on cars (both the ultimate American suburban form of self-expression offline) adorned with 'Keep the Christ in Christmas.'

Now, while I do understand that sometimes Christmas feels like Santamas, the anger this year seem to be aimed at all of those well-wishers who say 'Happy Holidays,' instead of Merry Christmas. If you are in Sweden this might seem new to you, but when you are from a culturally diverse area such as the suburbs of New Jersey, sometimes it is a lot easier to say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year. (I would LOVE to be able to just say 'Good continuation...' but we don't have that sentiment).

Anyways, apparently some people don't take too kindly to being wished a Happy Holiday. This is some how insulting to their sense of Christ, since we all know Happy Holiday is PC code for Merry Christmas.

Whatever. Maybe I was just wishing you a Happy Holiday. Maybe I couldn't read your ethnicity. Seriously, if you believe in Christ and celebrate his birthday, why does it matter what I say or do not say to you. I DO NOT GET IT!

Now let us look at Sweden. Sweden is where most of the people I know self-identify as card carrying atheists and non-believers. Sweden is where I went to a church children's group because it was the only music class that wasn't full in town where the clergywoman told us that the virgin birth story was crazy talk and the resurrection, well, it wasn't really a miracle it could probably be explained by physics.

Here, in this peoplehaveforsakenGod land, everyone and their mother will wish you a Merry Christmas. God Jul is hung from all the signs in the shops. Your boss will wish you one as will your neighbors. Ok it is true, Swedes took the Christ out of Christmas centuries ago by calling it Jul instead of Christmas, but God Jul is still the same sentiment isn't it? Or are Europeans automatically damned due to linguistics. Should we be saying God Christjul or Joyeux Nochristel?