Dear Ms. Carey,
I’ve been following the news about your request to trademark the phrase, “Queen of Christmas.” It’s especially intriguing to see that others are protesting your request. Darlene Love and Elizabeth Chan have some compelling arguments that they feel they’ve earned the right to the phrase too.
I get it. We all do. Your song, “All I Want for Christmas is You,” has become a standard, festive part of the Christmas season. There are few other contemporary songs that have embedded themselves into the Christmas experience as yours has. It’s quite a song.
But Queen of Christmas? I’m no judge. But I feel there’s something I should let you in on—and maybe I should tell Darlene and Elizabeth too, come to think of it.
There’s already a Queen of Christmas. She’s your mother and mine—and Jesus’. She’s the queen of heaven and earth. In fact, every year on Aug. 22, we celebrate her in the feast of the Queenship of Mary.
You don’t have to worry that the Blessed Mother will stand in the way of your trademark battle. She’s not going to reach out to Entertainment Tonight or the New York Times to give her side of the story. She doesn’t need to. But I think it’s worth noting—and celebrating—that she’s the real Queen of Christmas.
She’s the Mother of God, and Christmas wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t said yes to God and become the mother of Jesus. She held her son for the first time as the cows lowed and angels sang in a dimly lit stable in Bethlehem.
Mother of God.
Queen of Heaven and Earth.
She’s got it all—and all without a trademark.
Good luck in your career, and thanks for all the music—and for adding so much of your own joy to Christmas.
Sincerely,
A Fan
Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media
