Not only do I insist on "Christmas", I also never use the abbreviation "X-mas". My Christmas cards always depict the true meaning of the holiday, and NEVER has a Santa on them.
And, one last thought, the true meaning of the holiday has nothing to do with "family" or getting together with friends, or anything other than God's sacrifice for us.
I'm in Ireland, and when I was a child and my late departed mam would see X-mas she would do her nut!
She said to me as a child..'X-mas...X is the sign of the divil. Never, ever send me a card with X-mas on it!'
From that day to this, I've never written 'Happy X-mas on a card'.
In fact I hate it.
When I am out and about on the streets during November and December, I have made it a practice to ask Salvation Army bell ringers what the "Salvation" means in the name of their organization. Only about 1/3 have a clue. I have a very well written tract that explains God's Gift of Eternal Life and have had opportunity to share Christ on numerous occasions with the ringers themselves as well as interested "religious" folk who are nearby.
Feliz (Joyeous) Navidad (Birth)!
Not only do I insist on "Christmas", I also never use the abbreviation "X-mas". My Christmas cards always depict the true meaning of the holiday, and NEVER has a Santa on them.
And, one last thought, the true meaning of the holiday has nothing to do with "family" or getting together with friends, or anything other than God's sacrifice for us.
TRIPLE NON-POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AMENS TO THAT
The reason why many people nowadays say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is out of respect for Non-Christians of other religious faiths who don't celebrate Christmas, but may celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa instead. I don't feel that saying either is appropriate, because Holiday means Holy Day and that term also has a religious reference and people have to keep in mind that not all religions celebrate a holiday or holidays near or around December and there are also those who don't celebrate any holidays period that can be identified as religious ones, because they are Agnostic or Atheist. Therefore I feel that saying Happy Holidays is inappropriate period, especially saying Merry Christmas, because despite the fact that some Christian Conservatives like to deceive people by claiming that Christmas is nearly about Santa Claus and receiving presents in order to lure Non-Christians into thinking that it is okay for them to celebrate Christmas even though it goes against their religion and their personal beliefs. Christmas is a religious holiday and it's main purpose is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as the Savior and the Lord, which no other religion believes except Christianity. For devout Christians Christmas is just that and Non-Christians, such as myself are aware of this fact. I feel that the influence of Christmas and Christianity in general in society is too overwhelming, even in the Film Industry, depsite the fact that it is predominately Jewish, the Industry still feels the need to conceal that fact due to a fear of further antisemitism, and it chooses to make dozens of movies about Christmas and not one real film about Hanukkah, because they are aware of the fact that many Christian Americans mistaken Hanukkah for Christmas and they feel it's best to be silent on the matter and let them think whatever, but not really say what Hanukkah is to play it safe rather than educate people, because they'd rather not have to deal with the negative reaction towards judaism that many Christians, in particular Devout Christians once they know that Jews don't believe that Jesus if God or the Son of God and Hanukkah is not Christmas nor does it have anything to do with Christmas at all.In general there is not enough education in American Schools and in American Society on various Cultures and Religions and about other Countries. Numerous surveys have found that far too many Americans believe more in stereotypes rather than in reality, in regard to other Cultures, Countries and Religions, and many are unaware of what it is that other religions believe in the first place.I've heard many Americans refer to Hanukkah as a Jewish Christmas, which is as far from reality as it gets. I've also talked to Americans to were surprised that Jews and Muslims as well as people of other faiths don't believe that Jesus is the son of God or God.How stupid can you get!At least in Europe people are aware of what other faiths believe and Europeans know more about American History than Americans know about European History or even their own History.I also find it disturbing that American Children are only taught Anglo-American History and about Anglo-Contributions, they are not really taught about the contributions of Non-ethnic Whites and people of Non-Christians faiths to America, yet American claims to be a democracy, made up of all people and for all people and people always say that this is what makes America so great, well then why are Non-ethnic Whites and Non-Christians excluded, why are there only quick and few references to them in American children's History books.The meaning of Christmas should not be taught in schools unless it's done in a non-influential atmosphere, which Christians teachers find often hard to do without claiming that Jesus is God or the Son of God.I feel that in general there is a too overwhelming focus on Christmas in schools and I'm glad that it's being put to a stop. I don't feel it's fair to teach about Christian beliefs if you're not going to teach about Jewish beliefs and Muslim beliefs and so on and about Non-Christian Holidays.Children, especially young children can be easily influenced and that's why I feel it's important to keep the whole Christmas thing out of public schools, especially if the teacher or the school chooses to only talk about Christmas and no other religious holiday that is Non-Christian. It's important, because it can make Non-Christian children feel as if they have to justify their faith to others in the class. Some people will say that they have a choice not to be involved or to ask the teacher to just have a end of the year party, but we all know that peer pressure, especially at a young age is often hard to just ignore, plus the child may be made to feel guilty by the other classmates or the teacher her/himself, because they feel uncomfortable with the idea.Even though there is a law against teaching religious influence in public schools some teachers still do it. I remember one of my teachers when I was in America saying that Jesus is the Son of God right everyone, which naturally is completely unappropriate.I remember another incident when I was talking with my guidance counselor and I was around 13 and she asked me if I've accepted Jesus into my life and I said No and she said that I had to otherwise I would go to hell.I told her that I don't believe that and I don't believe in hell, and I asked her why it's so important that I believe like her in the first place and she said, becuase it is and she said otherwise you will be punished and mentioned hell again. This is exactly the reason why I feel that realigion has no place inside a classroom except in an atmosphere where a student is learning about various religions on an educational basis rather than on a influential one, which requires that students read the bible.Teachers have to make a distinction between teaching about various religions rather than teaching about one in particular, which might be in an influential manner.
"Nothing" is rather strong and doesn't strike me as accurate at all. After all, the story of the Holy Family is part of the "true meaning".