Yesterday my work sent out an invitation that really ticked me off.  We have always had a Christmas lunch at work either the second or third Friday of December.  The company provides the meat and everyone else brings in sides or desserts.  They purchase beautiful poinsetta's for the tables and then raffle them off after the lunch is over.  Before 911 and we became a secure site we even had a man that came in dressed up as Santa Claus. The last couple of years we have had a Can Building Contest where we are assigned teams and we build a structure out of cans.  Once the contest is over we donate the cans to Harvester's.  Last year the team I was on made a sleigh...we covered all the cans with red construction paper.  We had a guy dress up like Rudolf and we played the Rudolf music and got everyone to sing along.  It was really neat. I think we won 3rd place.  Anyway back to my story....

So last year when the invitation came out it was titled Holiday Luncheon.  I immediately got on the phone and called our office manager and asked why the name had been changed from Christmas Lunch to Holiday Luncheon.  She tells me that Human Resources will no longer allow us to have a CHRISTMAS lunch but that we can have a HOLIDAY lunch.  She tells me it is the same thing but just being called by a different name.  I didn't like it but I went.

Now this year the invitation comes out and it is titled "End of Year Event".   For one December 15 is NOT the end of the year so why call it something it is not?  It is what it is....our traditional Christmas lunch but it cannot be called that because "someone" might get offended.  Well... I am offended.  Why not just call it "Come Eat"?  I am taking a stand and not attending this so called End of Year Event.  It is the time of the year in which we celebrate the birth of Christ.  I do not understand why those that do believe in Christ have to change our ways in order to accomodate those that don't.  And if everything is going to change and mask the fact that it is about Christ then I am not going to be involved with it.  I sent an email to a handful of my co workers and told them how I felt.  I also told them that I would be going out to lunch that day and if anyone wanted to join me to let me know.  So far I have 2 other associates joining me for lunch outside of the office.

Our admin's normally coordinate the lunches and I know it is not their fault....they are just doing what they have been told to do.  But you have to take a stance when you believe in something and this I strongly believe in.  I am always on the planning committee for this lunch, as well I help decorate, I help set up, I work the lunch and I help clean up.  Unfortunately when they call to ask me this year I will tell them exactly how I feel about it and decline to be a part of it.

Have a great day!