While we are mildly pleased that the Asheville Holiday Parade will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in downtown Asheville, we absolutely despise this politically correct and hypocritical name by which it is — and has been — called for many years now.

As we’ve stated before (and recently), out of respect for tradition — and the native residents, who, we think, should have the biggest say in this matter — the name should revert to ... the Asheville Christmas Parade.

That was the parade’s founding moniker that was linked to a proud tradition, again, under that name, for countless decades, emphasizing its religious and cultural significance. We note here that we at the Daily Planet, in our 20-plus years of service to the area, have never met an Asheville or Buncombe County native who likes the name “Asheville Holiday Parade.” 

The parade name change appears to have been influenced by Northern carpetbaggers, who were aided by a few local scalawags in their hatchet job in exorcising “Christmas” from our parade name — and inserting “Holiday.” 

As for the parade history, AI Overview stated the following:

“The first Asheville Christmas (now Holiday) Parade was held in 1946. Like the film ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ which also debuted that year, the parade has become a beloved tradition in the city.

“Details about the inaugural event are sparse, but the parade’s history confirms it began in 1946 and that it quickly became a local tradition. Early Christmas parades in Asheville featured floats from local department stores — and attendees would come from neighboring towns to watch.”

Further, AI Overview, noted, “According to a 2018 Facebook post by a user recalling the event, 85,000 people attended the 1958 Asheville Christmas parade, calling it a ‘Record crowd for Christmas Parade.’ News archives and special collections confirm other details about the event, including the presence of Miss America 1959, Mary Ann Mobley.”

The parade, which traditionally was held (for many decades) on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, itself now averages 90 minutes to two hours. 

Later, a small group of intolerant people hostile to Asheville’s traditions decided to be offended by the Asheville Christmas Parade name and successfully demanded that it be stopped or changed to something else. Why shouldn’t the Ashevillians feel that they’d been slighted?

Seemingly, the intolerant group seems intent in taking “Christ” out of everything around Asheville.

In our view, no one can — or should — make us take “Christ” out of “Christmas.” He is is the reason many of the natives wisely believe we are here. They believe they should thank and praise Him for that, including reverting to a re-renaming of the event... to the Asheville Christmas Parade.