Merry Christmas, indeed, to all!

...and to all a good night!

I certainly extend best wishes to all, including those who may not be Christians and/or who celebrate the midwinter holiday under different names, but I do not feel constrained to say "Happy Holidays" as a way to avoid any mention of Christmas.

Christmas is, quite unavoidably, a feature of our culture and has as much purely secular import as it does religious, including the many Yuletide traditions that predate the arrival of Christianity in Northern Europe.

Those who lack interest in the religious dimension of Christmas are free to ignore it, or to regard it in a patronizing fashion, or whatever they wish.

It seems very silly to me that some folks find it necessary to pretend that Christmas doesn't exist.

So that's why I do NOT say "Happy Holidays" in preference to "Merry Christmas." Still in all, I'm perfectly willing to wish everyone a "Cool Yule"!