From the Desk of Janet Barclay

It’s that time of year when I get to wish my readers a very merry Christmas - or do I?

I think back to when I was a child and my dad had his own business. He didn’t send Christmas cards to his customers, because he didn’t believe in using a religious holiday for commercial purposes. He was also sensitive to the fact that he had a number of customers who were Jewish and would therefore not be celebrating Christmas.

For a few years as a young adult, I belonged to a church which did not allow their members to celebrate Christmas due to its pagan origins. At that time I noticed that in my small department at work there was only one person who officially celebrated Christmas, however, most of the others gave out Christmas cards even though they didn’t practice other traditions.

While our society has become increasingly multicultural, there is also much more focus on being politically correct. One of the biggest debates here in Hamilton is whether the lights at the side of the Mountain should say MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HOLIDAYS. On the years when it says MERRY CHRISTMAS, some non-Christian residents will complain that they are being excluded. Yet when it says HAPPY HOLIDAYS, some Christians will complain that the Christmas message is being diluted and/or secularized. In a way, since we do claim to be a nation who embraces diversity, yet with roots in Christianity, they are both correct, so what is the solution? Then when you factor in the question of whether or not it’s appropriate for businesses to use the holiday season to stay in touch with their clients, it gets even more complicated!

So I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say this:

If you are celebrating Christmas in any shape or form, whether it be a religious occasion for you or merely an opportunity for special time with your loved ones, then I wish you a very Merry Christmas! If you are celebrating (or have already celebrated) Hanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa, or any other special occasion, then I hope it is (or was) wonderful for you in every way. And if you’re not celebrating anything at all, I respect your decision, and hope you will still find a reason to rejoice in the wonders of life.