Merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa and have a splendid Chanukah. If I offended you in that opening sentence, then I’m sorry, but not really. People share these phrases with good-hearted intentions yet there are businesses and organizations that don’t allow their employees or members to utter these words.

People may not be aware of this, but there are companies out there that ban their employees from telling customers “Merry Christmas.” According to Liberty Council, an organization that seeks out to advance religious freedom, companies that exclude any reference of “Christmas” from their businesses include Polo Ralph Lauren, RadioShack and Aerie to name a few. 

Indeed many, if not all Christians feel the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ. But, the phrase “Have a Merry Christmas” has more to it than just enjoying the Christian holiday. 

As a server and bartender at a restaurant, telling customers to have a Merry Christmas as they leave has become a habit around this time of year. I do it without even thinking. As far as family-owned Mexican restaurants in Livingston Parish go, more often than not a customer will tip more generously when you say, “Merry Christmas” compared to “Happy Holidays.” 

I don’t really know how I would go about speaking to costumers if my boss banned the saying of  “Merry Christmas.” What would I tell them as they leave? “Have a nice next several weeks as the New Year approaches” just doesn’t have the same effect to it. 

When somebody tells you to have a Merry Christmas, I’ve always taken it as a sign to have an enjoyable time and live on in peace during the final wintery days of the year. 

I am a Catholic. Even if a waiter, pizza delivery guy or cashier tells me to have a Happy Chanukah, I will accept the comment as warmly as if that person said “Merry Christmas.” 

One doesn’t have to be a member of a certain religion to respect and understand what it means when I say Merry Christmas. It is something that is said to be courteous. Love and generosity are virtues that everyone should show, no matter what religion, race, gender or ethnicity a person may be.

Next time you’re in line at Starbucks and the barista tells you ‘Merry Christmas’ as they hand you that gingerbread latte, don’t be offended. It would not be the Christian thing to do, but the cordial, and dare I say, kind thing to give them a “you have a Merry Christmas, too”  in return.