A dozen years ago, I said “Merry Christmas” to a colleague who was leaving early to start his long holiday weekend. Knowing that I was raised as a secular Jew, he responded, “Thanks — and Happy Hanukkah to you!”
That year, Hanukkah ended several days before Christmas (as opposed to this year when the two holidays coincide). Wishing me Happy Hanukkah at that point was like wishing someone a Merry Christmas on December 30th. Yet I didn’t say anything because I knew he didn’t know when or what Hanukkah was.
He just assumed it was always at the same time as Christmas, as if it were a Jewish version of that holiday — which it isn’t — and I wasn’t up to explaining the difference yet again. Besides, I appreciated his attempt at inclusion.
There was a time in my life when, if someone said “Merry Christmas” to me, I’d be offended by their assumption that everyone celebrates that Christian holiday. But then I became less defensive when I realized that, even though Christmas means nothing to me, I can still have a merry day.
There’s nothing wrong with “merry.” In fact, Christmas is the only day of the year to which that adjective should be appended. No one ever says, “Have a Merry Thanksgiving, Stephanie” or “Merry Arbor Day, Bill!”
These days, I not only accept all merry wishes, I even offer them. So, from my family to yours, may you have a very Merry Every Day!