Merry Christmas to all: ‘Happy holidays’ just doesn’t cut it

What a ridiculous position to find ourselves in, we’re so fearful our opinions won’t go down well that we change them or don’t share them at all, writes Kylie Lang.

It’s merry Christmas or nothing for associate Courier-Mail editor Kyle Lang.

For as long as I have breath in me, I will continue to wish people a merry Christmas.

“Happy holidays” just doesn’t cut it.

Might I offend someone who is not a Christian or doesn’t follow secular Christmas traditions such as decorating a tree or unwrapping presents?

Potentially, if that person has a very thin skin or forgets this is Australia.

The phrase happy holidays arrived here from North America, where political correctness has ramped up since the 1990s (although the term is much older, its root in Marxist-Leninist language after the 1917 Russian Revolution).

In much of corporate US and Canada now, foisting a merry Christmas upon a colleague or client is deemed not only inconsiderate but also unprofessional.

What if the recipient of your greeting were Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist or newly arrived from Mars?

Imagine the hurt you could cause by making them feel excluded.

One Canadian firm of “inclusion consultants” insists happy holidays is the professional approach because it “recognises the diversity of religious and cultural practices of all employees”.

I’m all for people celebrating their traditions, but I am not talking about Hanukkah or Chinese New Year – I’m talking about Christmas and, etymologically at the very least, it has Christ in it.

The way we express holiday cheer has become controversial in recent years.

I challenge anyone not to be moved by the sentiments expressed in Tim Minchin’s Christmas classic White Wine in the Sun, or Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy.

As these two quintessential Aussie songs demonstrate you don’t have to be religious to recognise the traditions of Christmas.

And sadly while not everyone will enjoy the day, due to personal circumstances, I don’t think we should be attempting to cancel its cultural significance.

Frustratingly, however, Australia is in danger of succumbing to woke outrage.

A few years ago the Diversity Council of Australia told bosses they should use “holiday greetings” in lieu of uttering the word Christmas.

Never mind that Christianity remains Australia’s most common religion, according to the latest census, or that Christmas has been a national public holiday since the early 20th century.

Research by the Institute of Public Affairs shows 79 per cent of Australians believe merry Christmas is an inclusive phrase to which all can relate, with only seven per cent disagreeing.

Bella d’Abrera, director of the IPA’s foundations of western civilisation program, says those who enforce the term happy holidays seek to censor a Christian holiday in a way they would not attempt with any other religious holiday.

Fair point. Where’s the push to scrap “happy Hanukkah”?

Dr d’Abrera also says happy holidays could refer to any period when people are taking a break from work.

Frankly, the term is so broad as to be beige.

I know many families which follow religions other than Christianity – or no religion at all – and still enjoy Christmas festivities.

These are the same people joining the rest of the country in swarming shopping centres that are dripping with tinsel, their stores heaving with products unabashedly aligned with Christmas.

These are the same people queuing so their kids can have a photo with Santa, adding to their wealth of family memories.

Surely, if Christmas were on the nose, retail figures would be down but it’s the reverse.

This year Australia’s collective spend on presents is tipped to reach $11.8bn, up $1.6bn on 2023 figures, according to research firm Roy Morgan.

Shoppers will also be forking out more on Christmas pudding and other festive treats, splashing $28bn, an increase of 4.2 per cent on last year.

Even in a cost-of-living crisis, Christmas counts.

What a pity politically correct obsessives would have us erase it.

Social research firm McCrindle says the impact of cancel culture is huge.

“It means Australians are increasingly self-censoring when and with whom they share their opinions (65 per cent) alongside hiding their perspective on topical issues because they are afraid of how people will respond (54 per cent),” MrCrindle says.

What a ridiculous position to find ourselves in.

We’re so fearful our opinions won’t go down well that we change them or don’t share them at all.

Well, here’s mine.

If you’re taking holidays, I hope they’re happy.

When it comes to Christmas, may yours be merry.

Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail

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