What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[Carol]

Susan wrote:
> Debatable that most Christmas traditions were originally pagan?
> When I grew up in the Catholic Church, it was explained specifically 
> to me that Catholics were trying to suppress pagan religion and were 
> deliberately adopting some of the imagery....
> 
> What do you think ISN'T pagan about Christmas? The birth of the son 
> of god? The tree? The Yule log? 
> 
> Susan
>
Carol responds:
What's not pagan about Christmas is, for example, the Nativity story
(though there are pagan analogues) and the Three Wise Men (originally
associated with Epiphany). But, of course, mistletoe and holly, Yule
logs, Christmas trees, etc., have pagan origins. Which makes me wonder
why pagans don't simply embrace Christmas as a pagan holiday, another
name for Yule, and if not actually wishing others a merry Christmas,
at least accept the greeting in the spirit of peace, love, and joy in
which it's intended.

Carol, who always writes "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" in her
Christmas cards <winks at Alla>