The Reicht Wing's Attack on the Christian Holy Days

[Paula Sims]

OK, as we start into the holiday season (yes, along with the Halloween candy there's the Christmas stuff), please let me tell you MY side of the "Happy Holidays" debate.

I am Byzantine Rite Catholic and am very observant. It is the way I choose to live and in no way am I saying it's better or worse than others -- it's just the way hubby and I choose to live. OK fine, great, move on. As such, we have lots and lots of Holy Days between Thanksgiving and New Year's day (and after). Among them are (for 2015/2016):

*Dec 6 - Feast of St. Nicholas

*December 9 (8) - The Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God by the Righteous Anna

*December 13 - Second Sunday Before Christmas (Holy Forefathers)

*December 20 - Sunday Before Christmas (Holy Fathers)

*December 25 - The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus

*December 26 - Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God

*December 27 - First-Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen

*December 2 - Sunday after the Nativity: Commemoration of the Holy Righteous David the King, Joseph the Betrothed, and James the Brother of the Lord

*December 28 - 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

*December 29 - 14,000 Infants (the Holy Innocents) Slain by Herod at Bethlehem

*January 1 - Circumcision of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ (bet you didn't know that one!!!) and Feast of St. Basil the Great

*January 6 - Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus (do these people even know what Theophany is?!?!?)

*January 11 - Sunday After Theophany

So saying to me "Merry Christmas" before 12/25 (or 1/7 -- some of us celebrate using the Julian Calendar, some the Gregorian, some BOTH) is disrespectful to ME and MY Holy Days (Holidays), all of which I celebrate above. Why aren't they acknowledging those holy days? Why aren't they wishing me a "Joyous Circumcision of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ"!! <<I DARE THEM>>

And that's why we have the term Holidays -- it's from "Holy Days". I like when people say "Have a Blessed Holiday Season".

I know, that means a bit more thinking and reading. Too much for that crowd.

Philistines. . .

[Kath1]

1. Very nice, Paula Sims!

Wishing you and hubby an EXCELLENT Holiday Season! - from ex-catholic Kath!

"Too much for that crowd." You are so right about that!

[bananas]

2. Have a Blessed Holiday Season, Paula! nt

[ladyVet]

3. Because you aren't the right kind of Christian, silly!

Why aren't they acknowledging those holy days?

If you would just be saved (in the flavor of the moment sect), then all would be well, and you'd wish everyone a Merry Christmas like Jesus wants. But noooooo. You want to believe all that nonsense about mass and.....

Oh. Wait. Christ's Mass. Christmas. Duh.

[ncjustice80]

4. Hmmm, I didn't know that.

It sounds like we need to find a different word for "holiday" that would be a more appropriately secular term in regards to national and state days off. Remembrance days? Liberty days? Recess days?

[smirkymonkey]

5. Even if you just celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve/Day wishing someone "Happy Holidays" is

appropriate. I never understood the problem with that greeting. Also, I lived in NYC for a long time and you don't always know what holidays someone celebrates so wishing everyone "Happy Holidays" was a good catch-all seasonal way to wish others well.