Opinion: Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ celebrates a tenacious holiday with a remarkable history

To the editor: Neil J. Young’s “revelation” about the unimportance of Christmas as a Christian holiday — and of “Merry Christmas” having its origins in “drunken mobs,” — is rather amazing. (“The profane origins of ‘Merry Christmas,’” Opinion, Dec. 22)

Using a minor episode in the 2,000-year history of Christianity, Young comes up with a conclusion that strike me as silly. On the face of it, how could celebrating the birth of Christ, the central figure of Christianity, be a “small event” for Christians?

Christmas was instituted formally in the Roman Empire by the Christian emperor Constantine in the year 336. It was codified to fall on Dec. 25 by Pope Julius I. Christmas was universally observed through the Middle Ages; after the Reformation, it continued to be celebrated by Martin Luther and the Protestants.

Following the English civil war, Christmas celebrations were banned by Oliver Cromwell. The vilification of Christmas was brought by the Puritans to the New World, but other Christian groups continued to celebrate the holiday.

A belated Merry Christmas to Young.

Jack Kaczorowski, Los Angeles

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To the editor: As a Jewish person and a non-native speaker of English, I feel that saying “Merry Christmas” is illogical and strange. I assumed that Christians who said it did so out of rejoicing at the birth of their messiah.

Now that I know the history of this idiom, I have developed an aversion to its use. Acknowledging the antipathy of conservative Christians to “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings,” from now on I will use the following: “Blessed holy days and a happy and healthy new year.”

I want my wishes to express my sincere meaning and to be understood as such.

Susanne Spira, Beverly Hills

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To the editor: As a Jew, I am so sick of President Trump’s so-called “Merry Christmas” war.

I have no objection to Christians wishing each other “Merry Christmas,” but to all of us who do not celebrate the holiday, it just feels foolish to be wished a joyful celebration of something we do not believe. If I wished Christians “Happy Hanukkah,” they would probably be a bit taken aback.

Most people might not realize that Jews were here at the time of the Revolutionary War and fought on both sides in the Civil War. And yet, we are still made to feel as latecomers and unwelcome, thanks in part to a president with no conscience.

To be lectured to by this three-times married, accused sexual predator about “Merry Christmas” is ridiculous and obscene.

Eileen Martin, North Hollywood

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