I walked into a Starbucks this weekend and it was already
covered with Christmassy Christmasness.
Peppermint mocha was already being pushed as a
“special” and snowman mugs and gingerbread loaves sat
plump, enthroned on the coffee-store counter.
Pilgrims before reindeers, that has always been the schedule
right?
But since the pilgrims don’t give out presents or
encourage the masses to spend millions, they are quickly scuttled
out of the spotlight by department-store Santas and peppermint
sticks.
This is probably my favorite thing about corporate America:
Christmas comes at least a month earlier than it’s supposed
to.
It is a shame we see a wave of secular fanaticism washing over
the U.S. and restricting holidays such as Christmas with bans on
advertising and public displays. The First Amendment gives us the
freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
America has always had a strange relationship with religion.
Many of the first arrivals to the New World were escaping religious
persecution, but that didn’t stop them from later burning
witches in the name of faith.
The founders made it clear in the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence that they held a belief in a higher
power but did not want to establish a state church. And,
interestingly enough, in 1659 (not a time particularly known for
secular movements) the Puritans in Boston actually banned Christmas
for 22 years because of its connection to paganism.
But when a WorldNetDaily story reveals a first-grade teacher in
Sacramento is informed that she is no longer allowed to use the
word “Christmas” in her class, or a superintendent in
Yonkers, N.Y., goes so far as to ban holiday decorations, there is
something stranger than the smell of eggnog in the air.
I understand that all religions have a right to the store window
and that holidays such as Hanukkah remain important to those who
celebrate them, but they still maintain much stronger ties to
religion than does our corporate Christmas.
This is mostly because the Christmas I speak of ““ the one
with Rudolph, Charlie Brown and sugar cookies ““ is pretty
much secular.
People can go home and take part in a religious Christmas, or
Eid or Hanukkah, but as a part of a larger American community, it
makes sense to include some of our traditions into our celebrations
so we can better connect with each other.
I respect the rich traditions of other celebrations such as
Hanukkah and the diversity they represent, but I also respect the
right of Americans to celebrate a pseudo-secular holiday with
people of other faiths. With popular Christmas, religion is not as
much of an issue anymore.
The tinsel-lit pines in town squares and malls are not holiday
bushes ““ they are Christmas trees.
The proper greetings for the holiday seasons are “Merry
Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” not
“Season’s Greetings.” What is that last phrase
supposed to mean anyway? That winter is here to greet you and you
should be thrilled that the temperature will now continue to drop
steadily for three months?
Yes, I can now see that Macy’s window: snow-covered fields
and frost-bitten children painted in the midst of a blizzard. There
would be no colors, of course ““ red, green, blue and silver
all representing dangerous biases ““ and a complete absence of
history, culture or tradition.
The strange thing about this controversy is that we already have
a great law that balances the private religious aspect of Christmas
and other winter festivals with the shiny, capitalist side.
The “three-reindeer rule” requires that
non-religious items and messages be shown with religious ones to
balance out the public display.
Retailers can show a nativity scene, but there must also be a
“Happy Holidays” sign or a Santa Claus in sight. The
general greetings sign is used as an inclusive device; a Nativity
scene is obviously a Christmas decoration and adding the
“Happy Holidays” sign reaches out to other
celebrations.
As of four years ago, 76 percent of Americans described
themselves as Protestants or Catholics, so does the fact that
Christmas is our nation’s economy-boosting, box
office-dominating extravaganza of the year surprise anyone?
Given the fact that Rudolph and Frosty are just about as
religiously suggestive as Ronald McDonald or Yogi Bear, I would say
that, really, the Christmas we see in stores and on TV is for
everyone. It is a fun, merry little state of being that you can
choose to participate in.
And, thanks to the merchandising giants, it always arrives
bright and early, so get a red hat on, buy a tree, and cut out some
snowflakes … I won’t tell anyone.
Send gingerbread cookies now to rjoshi@media.ucla.edu.
E-mail general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.