Although it’s been said many times many ways…

Written by: Charles Chatelain

… there are few phrases which may be used in order to wish someone a… oh, how should we say it… good time in late December, at the workplace. 

Let’s take a trip down memory lane, back when angels gained their wings and store windows reminded shoppers of the real meaning of the season: holiday clearance sales.  This was a kinder, gentler time in history, when it was acceptable to leave packaged, processed, refined-sugar cookies out all night long, for a jolly man who enjoyed a little nosh as he snuck around peoples’ homes in the middle of the night leaving behind gifts for small children while they slept innocently.  In this world, carolers could trek across private property, right in the middle of primetime television, to sing out of tune for local residents.  Of course, with every neighborhood came the family that took outdoor decorations and lighting a little too far.  What a simple world we once lived in.  But that was then, and this is now.   

It might seem that in today’s world however, when distributing out kind sentiments and wishes of merriment to a coworker, one only has two options in doing so: “happy holidays,” and/or “seasons greetings.”  Kind as they are, it is difficult to accept that in even the most routine workplaces, no other greetings are available in wishing someone well during this time.  Open to any suggestion or idea, I decided to go out on the streets of Los Angeles to find out how employees in many different industries spread the joy of the season, while taking into consideration, everyone’s beliefs.  Stretching across a cornucopia of various workplaces and employee job titles, I was determined to find out other ways in which to spread the joy of the holidays, as exercised by folks in different work environments.  Here are some of the results of my research:

“Happy Christmannaukwanzamadan!”  It’s real, and it covers most of the bases” states a software engineer working at a non-profit Organization in Brentwood.  “Working in this environment exposes employees to a League of Nations.  It’s not only an education, but a treat to be around so many various cultures and backgrounds, although one must be careful during the holidays not to offend anyone.”

“Happy Merry Joy,” is a preferred greeting from an IT Manager based out of a film studio office in Culver City.  “No matter the religion or ethnicity, I cannot imagine someone not wanting to be happy, merry, or joyous during this time.”

“Pleasant Religious and/or Calendar Year seasonal days,” remarks an Accountant in a private practice, downtown.  It’s fair, on all accounts.

“Aloha!”  This greeting is used each year by a retail manager in Beverly Hills, who is well-known for consistently throwing wild and crazy annual Christmas parties, which include swans, fake snow, and celebrity guests.  Please note, the host of these legendary soirees is Jewish.  “It’s best to keep things vague,” he states.

“Comfort” expresses a print-shop owner in Burbank.  She continues: “in my business, I’m always coming up with ways to recycle slogans for future use, to save on the cost of printing.”

“Solstice, except to an Aquarius,” reveals a retail shop owner in Silverlake.  “It’s best not to bring it up around an Aquarius.  To those individuals, I usually wish them ‘kind constellations’ so that all people are equally saved from any sort of insult or ill-feeling.”

“La Kayim!” shouts an interior designer in Manhattan Beach when asked how he spreads the love around this time of year.  “If anyone accuses you of being offensive, just tell them you’re auditioning for Fiddler on the Roof, and they’ll calm down.”

“Be temperate - warmth during the cold, and cool breezes through the heat,” a mechanic in West Hollywood tells me, after I introduced myself followed by a ‘happy holidays.’  “Living in Southern California, you never know what sort of weather the season will bring.  Whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or a Scientologist, we all want to expect good weather while the rest of the country is snowed under.  That, we can all agree on” he concludes.  At least something is established in which all people in Los Angeles can join in agreement- good weather.  Let’s cross our fingers and hope that we’ll experience some of it sometime soon (since it’s such a rarity in this part of the country).

Some more appropriate than others, I found the various greetings and phrases to be quite interesting, though I may not borrow all of them for my own use.  Perhaps a certain respected sushi chef in Santa Monica said it best: “Peace to You!”   “Peace to you, I tell them.  I have so many types of customers from all different walks of life.  My job is to keep them happy with a good meal.  It makes me happy to see them enjoy it.  By working hard and being nice, we all can share the peace during this time, and throughout the year.”

Wouldn’t it be a miracle if we could in fact, share peace this holiday season?  Maybe, just maybe, another greeting has been established that will ring out across the land, and be spread to folks on the streets, amongst our friends, and in our workplaces.  The sincerity behind it can stand tall as a universal sentiment.  There’s nothing offensive about wanting to share peace, is there?  This is, after all, the City of Angels…

Taking into consideration the many ways people wish to celebrate, and remind themselves and others of this special time of year (however you might want to do so), may you all experience peace and happiness throughout the season, and for many months to follow.

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, and Peace to You!

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