Comments on: The Brand Called Christmas

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 08:42:21 +0000

@David – This post was going to start ONLY talking about how at one point, we only said “Merry Christmas.” And how we realized, wait a minute the US is such a melting pot of traditions, Christmas isn’t the only one.
It would be interesting to learn the tipping point where/when retailers made the shift.
Thank you for the Hanukkah information. Interesting.
Thanks for your comments and your knowledge!

By: David Reich

David Reich — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:32:57 +0000

In the 1950s in the U.S., many Jewish parents felt pressured by all the commercialization of Christmas to make a bigger deal of the Festival of Lights — Chanukah — than it really merits in Jewish tradition. With it came the advent of the Chanukah Bush, a Christmas tree disguised so it wouldn’t seem totally foreign in a Jewish home.
Another thing to add to your timeline is the age of political correctness of a few years ago, when people started saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. If I know someone’s Christian, I (a Jew) will wish them a Merry Christmas. If I’m not sure, I might then wish them a nice holiday or I might even ask if they celebrate Christmas. (The other day, for example, I asked that question of the Korean woman in the deli I go to, and the Indian woman where I bank, since not everyone is Christian in those cultures.) If the answer is yes, then I’ll wish them a merry one.
And to all of you readers here, I wish you (if you celebrate Christmas) a Merry Christmas. To you and to everyone else, have a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 02:12:51 +0000

Great information! Very helpful for both adults and kids.

By: Tangerine Toad

Tangerine Toad — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:10:39 +0000

Well done, interesting post.
What’s sad is that so few Americans are aware of this history, and truly believe that Christmas was celebrated back in Colonial times as it is today.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:35:12 +0000

@Bill – Of course. How could I leave that off the list?
For those who don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas or any other Christmastime tradition they may enjoy Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us.
The tradition of Festivus begins with an aluminium pole. During Festivus, the unadorned Festivus Pole is displayed. The pole was chosen in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, and because tinsel can be “distracting”.
The holiday includes novel practices such as the “Airing of Grievances”, in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him/her over the past year.
Also, after the Festivus meal, the “Feats of Strength” are performed, involving wrestling the head of the household to the floor, the holiday only ending if the head of the household is actually pinned.
You can read more on Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

By: Harry hallman

Harry hallman — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:13:34 +0000

Thanks Paul. A very informative and fun post.
Everyone have great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

By: Bill Gammell

Bill Gammell — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:52:48 +0000

Paul,
How does Festivus work into all of this? Great job putting this work together!

By: Lewis Green

Lewis Green — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:35:09 +0000

Paul,
Blessings of peace to you, yours and all your readers.

By: Susan Denby

Susan Denby — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:28:41 +0000

wonderful post-Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays!

By: KermitFan

KermitFan — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:20:23 +0000

Fabulous post — thanks for the great information and for providing some Christmas cheer. Happy Holidays!

By: Vahe

Vahe — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:51:21 +0000

Merry Christmas, Paul… and great post, btw.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:35:06 +0000

Vahe – Yes, you’re right…
He was from Patara, near Myra. (Which is now modern-day Turkey).
Happy Holidays!

By: Vahe

Vahe — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:53:00 +0000

Just to clarify… There was no Turkey in the third century; the Turks invaded Asia Minor 800 years later, in the 11th century from Central Asia. Santa was probably Greek (most of what’s now Turkey was Greek, Armenian, Kurdish…). Bottom line: Santa was most definitely not Turkish.