Although the religious gravitas on Christmas took hits from the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany last Century, certainly capitalism has diminished the faith-basing in honor of the cash-generating. Yet, Peter Brimelaw and Bill O’Reilly have cranked up a rallying cry on ‘The War on Christmas’ for a dozen years or more, evidencing the public schools and other small gov’t civic institutions secularizing public December observations after being called to task in the ’90s over the whitewashing of America, which is not only WASP but full of lots of all kinds of peoples non-aboriginal. If you say the code words Merry Christmas you can disguise many sweatshop/uncharitable evils from those with privilege panic. But if you intone Happy Holiday as an inclusive, welcoming allowance (even in an Irving Berlin way), you have once again killed the King of the Jews.
Sounds like we’re taking sides, but it’s ALL about Christmas, so it’s all included this month. Angry us vs. them bashing, ironic jollity, ambiguity, and celebration–any song that circles the controversy will be allowed to wage war from any angle. A few may be good. Let’s see….
Honestly too few songs make the fuss about how we should be less Christian for this party. I certainly played my share couple months ago when we celebrated Festivus, Kwanzaa, and Solstice Night.
Kari Maaren has a bit of fun with C.S. Lewis’s Narnia lore in her folksy “I Won’t Say Merry Christmas to You.” This White Witch monologue to music seems to be part of some Off-Off-Off-Broadway attempt. Smart, and with Turkish delight.
Kara Square also relies on the ukulele with her atheist’s appeal: “Please Don’t Wish Me a Merry Christmas.” Her sensitivity comes with instructions. Everyone get along, now!