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Beginning tomorrow, I will plunge into an annual indulgence of imposing my religion on everyone I meet.
Everywhere I go, I will wish those I meet and speak with a “Merry Christmas!”
Strictly speaking, the liturgical Christmas season (in the Roman tradition) starts after Christmas Day. The days leading up to Christmas comprise Advent, a period of repentance and preparation in the spirit of Lent.
For Grinches thinking about grousing, or Scrooges muttering humbug, or retailers cringing at the thought of huffy customers, Rasmussen discovered that your odds are better at pleasing people with a sincere “Merry Christmas!” than a lily-livered “Happy Holidays”:
Christmas is just around the corner, and a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of American adults prefer stores to show signs saying “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.”
Only one-quarter of adults (25%) favor signs that say “Happy Holidays.” Those figures are virtually unchanged from our survey conducted this time last year.
(Link in original.)
Another annual ritual: I will drop change into every Salvation Army kettle and warmly greet the bellringer. This year, in Texas after Hurricane Ike, the folks from the Salvation Army continued their tradition of outstanding response to emergencies. They deserve all the coins you can scrounge from the bottom of your purse or pocket.
Tags: advent, Christianity, christmas, holiday greeting, religion in the public square, salvation army
