Contrary to what you may have heard from certain politicians, the phrase “Merry Christmas” was never banned. Some stores, out of respect for customers of different religious faiths, use the phrase “Happy Holidays,” and there’s no reason to ban that sign of tolerance.
As a Jew growing up in Houston, my family celebrated Christmas every year. We decorated a Christmas tree, we children woke up at dawn to open our presents. We looked for any evidence that Santa had visited. We didn’t have a chimney but we were sure he brought our gifts. We didn’t attach any religious meaning to Christmas.
Celebrate as you wish. In this country, we have freedom of religion and many religious faiths and traditions.
My wish for this day is that we look inward and find the compassion and heart to fight for a world of kindness, compassion, and justice for all people. Care for others. Life is better for each of us when it is better for all of us.
Instead of sending Christmas greetings to me, do something specific and meaningful. Join the Network for Public Education and support better public schools for all children and families.
Merry Christmas!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Merry Christmas, Diane!
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Not just stores found “Happy Holidays” well suited to the season.
Almost every teacher in a public school has understood that children from many faith traditions, and none, are attending school.
The calendar of a typical school year is arranged, in part, to support a commercialized culture where marketing tied to “a season” (including agricultural seasons) or to a national or a state holiday.
The changing proportions of people with specific religious affiliations is well documented in this report from the Public Religion Research Institute: America’s Changing Religious Identity. https://www.prri.org/research/american-religious-landscape-christian-religiously-unaffiliated/
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y Feliz Navidad a ti, Diane.
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Gracias, Duane. Feliz Navidad!
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Merry Christmas Diane to you and your family! Thank you for being a strong guidance of truth in education. We must stand firm with our public education for all and not let privatization try and take over. For that we will always fight against and protect all children with a public education. Bill and I always knew “Merry Christmas” never went away and today many of us celebrate Christ’s birth, but truly believe we must not forget all so we say “Happy Holidays.” Nevertheless we all, together, will perceive!
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Peace on earth, and good will toward all people!
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Thank you, Diane. I needed this. Not so “merry” over here.
May PEACE, JOY, & LOVE reign.
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More important than what we call the Holiday Season . Yesterday was my exchanging of gifts with all the Publications and Organizations that have given me so much insight and looked to protect me over the years and the Network for Public Education was on what for me was a list that keeps getting longer.
Merry Christmas ,Happy Holidays , Happy New Year and God speed to Mueller in the New Year (LOL)
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Seasons’s Greetings, Diane and NPE!
I’m right there with ya. A lot of American Jews grew up having Christmas trees and Santa Claus. Our families did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, but as a major component of a season of love demonstrated by caring and sharing.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza & Happy New Year = Happy Holidays!
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I had a Christian and a Jewish Grandmother, but we celebrated the American Xmas, Santa Claus and a tree, and stockings. I am in Austin now, with my Son’s wife’s family… up to my ears Xmas cookies and loving family.
Happy New year!
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Merry Christmas, Diane. You are bringing some much needed light to a world that seems dark lately. Let’s hope that with the solstice and the return of light incrementally, we can see a similar incremental return of hope in the new year.
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