Merry Christmas, Anyway!

   Alright, the bird's in the oven and dinner preparations are underway. Never mind opening a can, I made the cranberry sauce myself, earlier this morning, using fresh berries. Rather than the water the package tells you to use, I cook my sauce with orange juice. A few extra vitamins never hurt. Orange juice is naturally sweet (no sugar added!) and that also helps with the tartness of the berries. I use half of the called-for sugar, and it still goes great with the turkey. We never have any sauce left over.
   The bird is seasoned with garlic and onion powders, as well as sage and thyme. The cavity is filled with a bigbigbig onion, and the oven is set at 550 degrees for the first half hour to sear in the juices. I'll turn it down then to roast for the required twenty minutes/pound of turkey. Potatoes will be next on my list of "what to tackle now". I'll peel them ahead of time and leave them sitting in cold, salted water in the pan in which they will boil. That's a time-saver to help with the last minute rush. The stove top stuffing and salad can be done later. The lace tablecloth is already out on the table, as are the candles and the red & green tablecloth confetti. This is a special time of year, and a special day to be sharing with loved ones.
   It is Christmas. This year, the day itself coincides with the first day of Hanukkah, a not too common occurrence, although they often are close to each other. Still, when December 25th dawns, it will be Christmas day, no matter what else it may be as well. Christmas. It is right and good to wish people a "Merry Christmas". That is what the festival is called. No matter whether it originated as a christian festival or not, it is Christmas. Can you tell I get worked up about this? Cut the politically correct, wishy-washy nonsense. Don't wish anyone a "Happy Holiday" . The festival is not called "Holiday". Whether it is celebrated with consumerism galore or religiosity up to the eyebrows, it is still Christmas. To worry that it would actually offend someone to wish them a merry Christmas, is to take a step off the deep end of silliness.
   I am a christian of anglo/italian descent. Christmas is a part of my heritage. Don't try to take it away from me. If someone wishes to extend whatever wishes are appropriate for the chinese New Year, Eid ul-Fitr, Hanukkah, Diwali, or whatever festival is part of their heritage, I will take no offense. Why should I take offense? Why should anyone else take offense at my celebration of part of my heritage?
   If Canada is supposed to be so proudly multi-cultural, let's be sure that we remember to include in that multiculturalism the freedom for everyone to be who they are. I shouldn't have to worry about saying Merry Christmas" to everyone I meet. It is the right time of year for me to wish well to everybody, and that is how it is traditionally done. If Christmas is not part of someone's heritage, but they have an open mind and a sense of curiosity, I would be more than willing to explain it all, and to share some of it with them. I have done exactly that already, more than once. I would sincerely hope that the feeling would be returned. Certainly, if it were, it would be a wonderful step to take toward world peace. It is never anything but peaceful pleasure to share good times with neighbours, whether they be old acquaintances, or the brand new family on the block.
   So I say this with no reservations, no feelings of bashful timidity. Merry Christmas everyone! May your creator bless you with a wonderful day, and a wonderful year to come. May that year be filled with laughter and love, happiness and good health. Peace be with every single one of you.