Hands Off Christmas

I do and will not say Happy Holidays, or Merry Winter Solstice. I do not and will not write "xmas." I do not and will not denigrate Christmas as a derivative of a Roman pagan celebration. I do not poke fun at the notion of a fat faced, fat bellied, white bearded (and white skinned) Santa Claus, reindeer, or a sleigh piled high with toys careening through the skies on Christmas Eve night. I cannot imagine my house without lights, a Christmas tree, Christmas stockings, egg nog (with a spike or two for good measure), and non stop playing of the old time Christmas classics. I can't imagine not wishing any and all in the most full throated tone, a Merry Christmas. I will again this year rail at anyone who wants to take the Christ, the spirit, joy, and tradition out of Christmas.

Yes, yes, I know this all sounds practically Stone Ageish in the era of love everybody's traditions and where it's practically a state mandated edit to pay homage to religious and cultural and ethnic diversity when it comes to a holiday celebration. But you see I was raised in the most traditional of traditional blend of Catholic and Protestant homes. And in that home it was sacrilege not to revel in the time tested etched in rock standard celebration of Christmas that generations of Americans observed, and like it or not admit it or not, still do. I am a bit past adolescent age, and wide eyed kid wonderment at a tree filled with presents on Christmas day. Yet the tradition, the magic and most of all the thrill and enjoyment of keeping Christmas the way I and millions have always kept Christmas is still alive and well in me on December 25. So I say Hands off Christmas.