Verbal Greetings
Greetings at Christmas extend beyond a mere wish of "Merry Christmas"
or "Happy Holidays." Christmas greetings embody a wish that all will go well in whatever preparations need
to be made, and a genuine sentiment that much joy, happiness and well being will be experienced by the individual
and loved ones during the season.
The season of good cheer and wishes also reflect the jolly Ho,
Ho, Ho nature of Santa Claus. To the delight of children, it is very easy for them to run into many jolly fellows dressed
as Santa Claus during the Christmas season who will quiz them about whether they have been good or naughty. Many times when
friends, relatives and loved ones call each other during the Christmas season, they will speak to the children and wish them
Merry Christmas, but not without a warning that they had better be good or else there will be no presents from Santa Claus.
For children therefore, a greeting of "Merry Christmas" has the
purpose of increasing their anticipation for the arrival of Christmas Eve and Santa's visit to leave toys and Christmas presents
under the tree.
Because children also take part in many traditions associated
with Christmas, holiday greetings for them is also a reminder of the fun they will have in doing such activities as decorating
the tree, helping to bake cookies and wrapping presents. When children have these things to look forward to at Christmas,
it creates a lasting memory for them and helps to make their childhood one which they will later reflect upon with much fondness.
The more prevalent greeting of "Happy Holidays" that is
used today reflects in part the also prevalent nature to be politically correct in speech and communication.
The greeting of "Happy Holidays" can be given to anyone whether or not they celebrate Christmas. It prevents
any offense being given if someone is wished "Merry Christmas" when it's a celebration in which they don't participate
or observe.
"Happy Holidays" is also used to extend a greeting of
goodwill beyond Christmas to the coming New Year holiday period. For procrastinators and the chronically
late greeting card senders, they can still drop a 'Happy Holiday' greeting card in the mail to friends and loved ones close
to Christmas Day or even after and it will still be relevant.
Cards
Christmas greeting cards play a big role
in communicating Christmas greetings and good cheer for the holiday season. It's a tradition that started in Britain in 1840
with the start of the first public postal deliveries. The production of large numbers of Christmas greeting cards started
about twenty years later in 1860 with the improvement of printing methods.
Today, Christmas greetings and greeting cards have further evolved
with massive changes and development in technology. The computer, which has become a necessary electronic equipment in just
about every home, is commonly used to send Christmas greetings through emailing an online greeting or postcard.
Online greeting cards also have brought other changes such as
being interactive or animated, and they can also be easily personalized with pictures of individuals or families. Online greeting
cards can be sent from websites that are accessible to everyone or they can be easily created on a home computer.
Gifts
Another way in which Christmas greetings are sent is by mailing
gifts and presents to relatives and friends who live elsewhere. Except for the dreaded tax season, there is no other
time when post offices become more crowded than during the Christmas season. Post Offices therefore play an important role
in relaying Christmas greetings by handling thousands of greeting card mailings and gift packages for Christmas.
With just about everyone having a cheerful spirit for the Christmas
season, it becomes very easy to pause for even a brief conversation and extend a greeting of goodwill to friends, acquaintances,
colleagues, neighbors and others.
