'Tis the season for kindness

There are many holidays in December and the term "merry Christmas" can be used generically as a pleasant greeting among people, sort of like, "Hi, how ya' doin'?" or it can be a meaningful greeting between two people who both celebrate Christmas and truly wish each other well. Since communication is interpreted by both the speaker and the listener, I believe the term "merry Christmas" should be used if the speaker knows that the person they are talking to does celebrate Christmas. However, not everyone does, and in a public setting, such as a department store, I feel "happy holidays" is more appropriate. Is it worth the fuss to make everyone conform? Hmmm … good question.

May I offer other terms which have evolved (and continue to evolve) over the years. I've recently heard two TV shows use the terms Chrismakkah and Hannumas as they referred to the holidays celebrated in blended Christian and Jewish families. When I was very young, my mom and I made up the term Chrishannukah, which soon became Chrisolhan when I learned about the Solstice. It expanded into Chrisolhanzaa after Kwanzaa was created. After learning about Ramadan, it became Chrisolhanzaaden, and then I added "ter" for "Winter." Just a few years ago, a friend introduced me to St. Lucia Day and we added it, so now we have Happy Chrisolhanzaadanterlucia!

Interestingly, this year Channukah begins on the evening of Christmas Day and coincides with Kwanzaa ending on New Year's Day. 'Tis the season for kindness — not fighting over terminology. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet … "

Thank you and happy holidays (or is it holidaze? — as we are all in a daze by the time this is over.)

ELLEN WEISSMAN

Sandpoint