As John Lennon said: "Merry Krimble"

Depending on my scheduling and time at my disposal I might write another blog prior to Christmas. I’ll just have to see what time permits. If I don’t (or even if I do) I do want to wish all my valued blogger friends an extremely Merry Christmas.

You’ll note that I wrote ‘Merry Christmas’, not ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Season’s Greetings’ or any of the other euphemistic expressions that abound these days so that we don’t offend the sensibilities of those who don’t ‘subscribe’, at least in titular fashion (like me), to the tenets of Christianity.

Not that Christmas has much to do with Christianity in the first place. In fact, for centuries Christmas was largely disregarded by your clerical sorts, who placed much more emphasis on Good Friday and Easter, what with the message of salvation and all.

In fact, many of our cherished and time-honored Christmas traditions are Teutonic in origin and probably even a tad Druidic, what with the mistletoe and all. They were rendered popular in Britain when Queen Victoria married Albert, who was a Germanic sort and brought along those Tannenbaumen mit him. Anyway, those traditions transferred to North America and that is where our traditional Yuletide frolics come from; right down to the eggnog and ‘figgy pudding.’

I only bring about the ‘Merry Christmas’ issue because of a newspaper item I read yesterday that observed that ‘most’ North Americans are more comfortable with such aforementioned references as Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings, just in case they don’t offend fellow citizens of other persuasions.

What a bunch of spineless wienies we’ve become, if that’s the case. I have no problem with other seasonal traditions adhered to by other faiths and cultures. I think Hanukah and Ramadan and Diwali are ever so jolly (rhyme unintentional) and would defend to the death the rights of the adherents to those faiths to honor what is sacred to the.

I just want to see ‘my’ traditions honored in the same manner. And, surprisingly enough, Jews, Muslims and Hindus have never asked for us to cut them slack in that regard. In fact, most respect those of Christian background who honor their heritage as well.

As I said, I’m not a practicing Christian. I was raised Anglican (Episcopal) but essentially dropped out after I was confirmed (my mother’s only demand in that regard). I have my own set of beliefs and they serve me quite nicely, thank you, without benefit of clergy.

However, I happen to like the sacred message of the Christmas story, and I love the sacred music of Christmas, and plan to keep doing so.

We’re saddled with enough guilt at this season, what with fretting about the homeless and the impoverished and the morons who go wacky with their credit cards. I refuse to let Christmas (so-named) to make me feel guilty.

So to you, dear friends, a Very Merry CHRISTMAS. And, to non-adherents, have a wonderful season. I do happen to believe in inclusivity as much as anything else.