Our American winter holiday season begins and ends with secular holidays (Thanksgiving Day and New Year's Day). In between are secular (non-religious), sectarian (religious), ethnic, cultural, seasonal and regional celebrations. They are merging yet different holiday traditions.
Peace and goodwill are the reasons for the season. Our winter holidays become the season of peace and goodwill when they are inclusive and not exclusive.
Peace and goodwill are principles proclaimed by one of the oldest songs of the holiday season. There will be “peace on the earth and goodwill to men”, women and children when we respect the traditions of others and reject the badwill of those who presumptuously claim their tradition is the reason for the season.
Our secular celebrations are inclusive and involve Thanksgiving feasts, winter solstice observances, Santa Clause, elves, flying reindeer with red-nosed Rudolph, sleighs with bells, gift-giving, snowmen/women, fireplace stockings, decorative trees, holly, poinsettias, mistletoe, eggnog, candy canes, fruit cakes, caroling, the Grinch, holiday cheer and welcoming the New Year plus much, much more.
Sectarian celebrations are exclusive and involve only those practicing a religion. It is important to note less than 50% of Americans belong to a church, synagogue or mosque (Gallup poll).
“Season's Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” refer to the entire festive period and all traditions. “Merry Christmas” refers to one day (December 25) and one tradition. The word “Christmas” is Latin for “Christ's mass” which is an exclusive ritual of one religious denomination.
American colonists (Puritans, Congregationalists, Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, et al) opposed celebrating Christmas because it was a Roman Catholic Church religious ceremonial. Southern States first began celebrating December 25th with feasting, drinking, dancing, gambling, hunting, fishing and socializing. It later became an American public holiday at the initiation of banks and businesses and is our biggest commercial holiday.
Yuletide celebrations and decorated trees originated with pagan winter festivals of Germanic people from European antiquity. They are not mentioned in religious scripture.
American Christianities commemorate the fictitious birth date of a foreign Jewish figure from the ancient Middle East. The day, month or year of the birth of Yeshua or Jesus is not known. It was celebrated at different times for 300 years until a 4th Century Roman Catholic pope arbitrarily set December 25 to compete with the pagan winter solstice festivals celebrated throughout Europe. There is not one birth story but three different birth versions (Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; Revelation 12). All were compiled from hearsay and written in ancient Greek by anonymous non-eyewitness authors long after he reportedly lived. They cannot be reconciled when compared.
Saint Nicholas was a gift giver to children and 4th Century Eastern Orthodox bishop in Asia. His December 6th festival day was a holiday dedicated to children. He was recreated as our secular Santa Clause and the date changed to December 25th. This was the genesis for our secular gift-giving tradition.
The term “Xmas” is not sacrilegious, does not replace Christ with an English “X” and does not remove Christ from Christmas. Those who claim otherwise are ignorant of Christian history. “Xmas” originated in the early Christian church as an acceptable abbreviation for Christmas because the New Testament was written in ancient Greek and its letter for Christ was “X”. The Greek letter “X” is deeply rooted in Christianity and has been used as a sacred Christ symbol for centuries by Christian churches.
Knowledge of historical facts about the winter holiday season provides wisdom, insight and perspective. “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored” as English philosopher Aldous Huxley wisely wrote.
Every member of the American military takes the sworn oath to support, defend and bear true faith and allegiance to the United States Constitution. Fidelity to the Constitution is the foundation of American military service. We are one nation under the Constitution and it is the Constitution in which we trust.
The Constitution, Department of Defense directives and Armed Forces regulations prohibit the military from endorsing a religion and require the military to remain neutral regarding religion (neither pro-religion nor anti-religion but religion-neutral). Religious displays are authorized only at military chapels. Also, religious worship is authorized at military chapels and religious instruction is authorized from military chaplains.
Our American military is composed of men and women of different faiths, beliefs, cultures, regions, traditions and ethnic origins. At all times and especially during this winter holiday season, it is incumbent on military leaders to promote the goodwill of inclusiveness which enhances morale and prevent the badwill of exclusiveness which diminishes morale.
Respect for all Americans and their traditions fosters peace and goodwill. Christianity, for example, blesses peacemaking (Matthew 5:9; Romans 14:19; James 3:18) and encourages goodwill to others (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). Peacemakers and goodwillers care about fellow Americans, welcome different holiday traditions, accept human diversity and avoid imposing their beliefs on others. Peacebreakers and badwillers do not. More respectful inclusiveness and less disrespectful exclusiveness will ensure peace and goodwill for all during this winter holiday season.
“So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all this sad world needs.”
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (American poet)
Happy Holiday Trails!
John Compere
Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Texas rancher
