“It’s the most wonderful time of
the year!” Christmas is quickly
approaching on the calendar.
Sugarplum fairies are dancing
about, candy canes are everywhere, and people are, once again, saying “Merry
Christmas!” to one another.
I’ve had Sirius satellite radio
for nearly two decades. Although it is
now SiriusXM, I enjoy their service because commercial ads are limited or
non-existent. They also offer
specialized programming of sports, live concerts, and music by the decade.
But this time of year they offer
around-the-clock Holiday Music; that’s their term, not mine.
Christmas is a Christian holiday,
honoring and remembering the virgin birth of Baby Jesus.
As a Christian, this holiday is a
pretty big deal. Just behind Easter
Sunday, this day is held special, but not for presents and such.
Decorated trees are great, gold
and silver tinsel, glass balls, lighted angels, miniature lights, and gaily
wrapped gifts remain integral parts of the season.
SiriusXM have it right. As of November 1st, they began
broadcasting that non-stop Christmas music, albeit on a limited basis.
Burl Ives, The Carpenters, Frank
Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and the normal host of familiar others sing their way
into the New Year, commercial free. Yea! Countless replays of Mariah Carey
caterwauling – as if she was being beaten with a violin – are some of the
special “gifts” that keep me coming back for more. But I digress.
As an aside, while we’re talking
about Christmas tunes, one song mentions “figgy pudding.” This is ridiculous, as I have three fig trees
and figs are not in-season in December, November, or October, and they won’t
keep until Christmas Day. But I digress.
Everyone tries to get in on the
holiday spirit. Stores have continuous
sales with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Countless trees lose their lives for all those extra newspaper flyers
and cheesy wrapping paper. And craft
fairs are beginning to popup at nearly every Eastern Shore
church.
All this commerce is terrific for
the economy. Practically everyone wants
to either sell something or buy something for the Christmas season.
So it was with interest that I
noticed, for the past decade, or so, that the easily offended among us wanted America
The reasoning behind this verbal
communication campaign was to protect the ears of our Jewish friends. They don’t believe Jesus was the Son of Man,
the Savior. With such reasoning, Merry
Christmas is offensive to Jewish folks.
On the other hand, Neil Diamond,
Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Buffet, and Adam Sandler, all Jews, don’t mind cashing
in on the Christmas season with their songs.
I’m sure their royalties make them feel better about themselves and
their bank accounts. And so, the words
“Happy Holiday” are not really necessary since our Jewish brethren are giddy to
participate in this profitable season.
So, if it were not for Saint
Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Baby Jesus, the Christmas season would be
less lucrative for so many.
Merry Christmas to all!
