The troubling greeting of “Merry Christmas”

CULTURAL NOTES

Richard Kinnud

"Agawid kayo nu Christmas?" (Are you going home this Christmas?)  This is a question commonly asked to those who have left their hometown, probably for work or some other economic reasons, and especially when one doesn't have that so-called permanent address. I have been asked that question several times already since the "ber" months started. 
    When someone whom I know to be from another place too, I threw back to him the question.  And he answered, “Haan san!  Narigat met gamin ti agawid ta adu da ti mangreet ti ‘Merry Christmas!’” (Perhaps not!  It is tough to go home as many will be greeting ‘Merry Christmas!’” 
    He explained that such greeting of Merry Christmas often comes with the expectations of the greeter to be given something, maybe some goods, or even money.  The expectation is higher if the greeting is coming from a close relative who thinks that those who went away for work always go home better off. 
   ***
At an office, a boss issued a memo that had a statement that goes something like “We should not be having a Christmas party.  If you are planning one, please do inform me.  But do not expect me to finance the said party.”
    A staff’s reaction to this was, “Narigat ti ag-Christmas nu kastoy ti panunot ti boss!” (It’s tough to celebrate Christmas if this is the thinking of the boss.)
   ***
When I shared these stories to a friend and asked the question, “Don’t you think the greeting of ‘Merry Christmas’ is really troubling?”  He answered that sometimes it is because the culture or maybe some cultural change has made it so.  It starts from the lowest grade level in school that they have classroom party and exchange gifts, he pointed out.
    That made me remember the Christmas gift I received when I was in Grade I.  I had two pieces of binakle (rice cake) wrapped in Grade I writing paper.  That most probably was cooked by the mother of my classmate who got my name during the draw (bunotan).  Our class shared tambo-tambong that was prepared by parents and our teacher.  “Christmas gifts and parties, need not be expensive!”  I pointed out to my friend.
    He fired back, “Try gifting the one drawn by your child with two pieces of suman and see if you will not be peppered with curses and complaints from your fellow parents.”
    “Cursing will surely ruin Christmas,” I said.  And we ended up laughing at the thought of being pulled by the hair by a parent just because of giving a Christmas gift that did not approximate the monetary value as agreed upon during a parents-teacher meeting.
   ***
That sparked a discussion on what has become of Christmas.  There’s the popular statement,“Christ is the reason for the season!”  It is the birth of Christ that is being commemorated, some would say.  Others would argue that it is the purpose of that birth that is being instilled.  Or that these commemorations are actually part of our preparation as a people for the second coming. 
    There are various observances that churches do churchgoers reflect on these and related themes.  There are symbols such as the Advent wreath, and the Belen, the depiction of scenes during the birth of Christ as recorded in the scriptures, that are supposed remind those who see these of the spiritual nature of the celebration.
    But on the other hand, the statements “Christmas sale” or “Christmas promo” are also popular.  Christmas parties are made fun with games.  Christmas adornments are often made a contest whether formally or informally.  “Happy Holidays!” has also become a convenient greeting.
   ***
These illustrate the duality of the character of Christmas.  Others would call it the Christian value and the commercial value; or the spiritual nature and the secular nature.  Sometimes, it can be observed that the second overwhelms the first. 
    My friend and I ended our discussion with this question unanswered, “Would Christmas becoming very commercialized spells trouble to Christian value of the season?” 
***
Speaking of trouble, the story of the birth of Christ was full of themes about it.  When the Gabriel, the angel, greeted Mary about being a favored one, the Bible text has it that “she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”  The angel replied that she should not be afraid.  She would eventually say “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
    Bible scholars interpret these texts as illustrations of the humility of the Mary.  But did the angel’s assurance for her not be afraid led to a trouble-free story?  The rest of the story tells it is not.  There’s the account of the couple Joseph and Mary not being able to find a house to rest when they went back home for an ordained registration.  This situation led to birth at a manger.  And there is the plot to kill the child Jesus.  These are surely wearisome. 
    On the other hand, these could be inspirational as we reflect on the accounts.  I heard a pastor tell his congregation, “If Christ was victorious in carrying out his mission despite the troubles during his birth, we can draw motivation from here that despite troubles in our economic life, we can be victorious in our spiritual life.”
     Hearing that, my thought went back to my friend who plans to skip going back to his hometown because of fear of being greeted “Merry Christmas” and of the boss who won’t like to celebrate an office party.  Would their greeters be more understanding if they say, “Well, let’s just reflect on the spiritual side rather than deal much on the economic side.”
   ***
Before I forget, may I greet readers of the Northern Philippines times including those who would come across this in other platforms such as the paper’s blog and on facebook, friends, and kins, a very Merry Christmas.  I hope this greeting won’t be troubling for you.  I just mean how the online dictionary defines this – “ Merry Christmas (idiom) —used to wish someone an enjoyable Christmas holiday.”