Words Matter

I am debating writing about this because I am feeling old fashioned, too conservative, and, antiquated. I want to be progressive – I want to be cool and open-minded. I want to be middle of the road and listen to all sides, but I just can’t do it on this issue.

I am debating writing about this because I am feeling old fashioned, too conservative, and, antiquated. I want to be progressive – I want to be cool and open-minded. I want to be middle of the road and listen to all sides, but I just can’t do it about this.

Recently I have really been bothered by people referring to our Easter vacation as “spring break.” It is the same way I feel when people refer to our Christmas vacation as our “winter break.”

As a Catholic educator for over 30 years, I find it difficult to see some of our Catholic tradition being eased out by secular language and thinking. We have an Easter vacation to remember what happened during Holy Week and the celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Our Easter vacation has nothing to do with the season of spring, but everything to do with Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.

We celebrate our Christmas vacation because we want to experience the joy of God sending his own Son into the world, not to celebrate the snowflakes and cold weather of the winter season. Our liturgical calendar gives us opportunities to celebrate liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary time, Lent, and Easter. These are the seasons for our Catholic faith.

I know I am putting myself out there for criticism and ridicule. “Get with it.” “Don’t be so conservative and uptight.” “If doesn’t really matter what we call our vacations.” “You need to get over it – it is the way of the world.” I have been trying to “get over it.” I have been trying not to rock the boat. I have been trying to let it go and focus on other things. And yet, every time I hear spring and winter break, I cringe – something pricks my conscience and tells me that it is not OK – that I need to say something – that I just can’t keep hiding behind “this is the way it is.”

This feeling – this voice – it keeps prodding me to say something – to stand up for the core of my Catholic faith – and I know from past experience, it will not leave me alone until I do something – until I listen – take a risk – and say what THE VOICE is asking me to say: As Catholics, as a Catholic school, we celebrate Christmas and Easter vacation.

I feel better already.