Bah, Humbug!

Thanksgiving is over, but this is not “National Humbug Month.”  When Scrooge repeatedly called Christmas “humbug,” it was because he believed the holiday fit the bill in more ways than one. He thought Christmas tricked people into feeling cheerful and thankful when they had nothing to feel cheerful about or thankful for. “What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough,” he tells his nephew Fred.

He used the expression because he believed people had “nothing to feel cheerful about or thankful for.” “Bah” was an expression of contempt or annoyance.

With Thanksgiving over and emphasis on Christmas ensuing some folks leave a thankful heart behind. Some even show contempt for Christmas. What a value swing: contempt or cheer?

There was another meaning to “humbug” other than the demeaning way Scrooge used it. Around 1820 in England large sticks of red and white striped peppermint were a popular candy. These sticks of candy were called “humbugs.” They were a treat that brought goodwill and cheer. Though not by that name peppermint sticks still fulfill that role. They were analogous for goodwill and cheer.

So the word humbug had two extremely different meanings. Consider them:

Scrooge used the word disparagingly, meaning there is no reason for cheer.

The public in general saw it as symbolical for good cheer.

Which do you prefer?

At the birth of Jesus the angel announced “peace of earth, good will to men.”

In the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” there is the line, “There is no peace on earth good will to men.”

Those who hold to this thought miss the true use of the expression. The expression at the birth of Jesus was not a promise of peace and good will, but it was a prescription for peace and good will. Banish “bah,” let there be humbug, good cheer, on earth.

Keep that in mind as you plan for Christmas. Sing and pray these words for “Let there be peace on Earth.”

“Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth The peace that was meant to be
With God as our Father Brothers all are we Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now. With ev’ry step I take Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me.”