The Great Debate: "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays."

[Lou]

It doesn't seem to be much of an issue of what some one PERSONALLY decides to say, but what STORES say.
Which is where the problem comes in.
Because stores have to be welcoming to EVERYONE.
As soon as one only says, "Merry Christmas" then they're cutting out large chunks of the population.
But, for some reason, these people have gotten personally offended by the term "Happy Holidays" as if the stores are targeting them PERSONALLY by not assuming that what....Christmas isn't a holiday? Or maybe that because Christmas isn't mentioned that the people are anti-Christian?

It's just weird.
Especially in a country that is SUPPOSED to be based on diversity and freedom.
The idea that stores SHOULD single out one religion's holiday and ignore the others is utterly insane.
Almost as crazy as the idea that Christmas doesn't COUNT as a holiday.
I was always under the impression that the term "Happy Holidays" covered Thanksgiving to New Years....not to mention other people's holidays.
But, then again, I think people these days HUNT for things to be offended by!

 

[Airam]

I was always under the impression that the term "Happy Holidays" covered Thanksgiving to New Years....not to mention other people's holidays.
But, then again, I think people these days HUNT for things to be offended by!

Lou, your post is so right on, I woulda just said so in karma but I can't give anymore out 🙁 Especially this part i quoted... I'm pretty sure that is EXACTLY the purpose of the term "Happy Holidays" it encompasses this whole time of year and ALL the holidays that fall around this time... so how anyone could be offended by that is beyond me... but like you said people are always itching for something to complain about, shame.

 

[PurplePoof]

In my opinion, Christmas is becoming less and less of a religious holiday and isn't really even regarded as such by most people...and if someone would seriously get upset because someone told them to have a merry Christmas, I'd advise them to quickly and kindly remove the stick from their buns.

 

[Relic]

In the end I believe it to be capitalism not christmas. look at the nearest sales brochure....does it say holiday hours or christmas hours? Sales run from maybe the 6th to the 24th? Thats a season not a holiday. This whole dang deal is a season

How many 'Christians' celebrate X-mas compared to the masses who could give a toss? It has become a jugaurnaut for getting what you want and spending your tax return early. I'd whine about the private sector pushing a certain public holidays if coffers for chairity are overflowing and the YMCA has a new flat screen; I'm not going to complain when we are buying ourselves wide screens tV's that you can get for hannuka, Christamas, or the 'infedil's/dumb butts sell it to us cheap shopping season'.

If people actually bothered to wrap gifts anymore instead of shoving it in a bag or putting a bow on it...and every bit of wrapping paper had a santa or a nativety scene on it...well, I'd be opening a speciality shop to cater to the still applying minority.

The jewish folks i know are happy with golden paper or candle themed paper. Maybe they aren't that picky and don't need Dora in a santa hat.

The muslium guy I knows pretty closely as a friend doesn't buy anything, (cept for me) just spends time reconnecting and renewing himself with his kin and getting a good buy on his daughters laptop...she's going to college this year after all.

Truth be told it's dollars not divinity driving the 'holidays', last time i checked, and that not any religion establishments fault, just us greedy SOB's who i am one of. (what can i say, i like to give.)

In short, well said Purps.

 

[Lou]

^^ VERY true!

Although, I do like to try and find Jewish paper for my Jewish friends and family or at least something that isn't covered in Christmas trees and Santa.....if and when I can. Usually, the best I can do is blue and snowmen.

Personally, I don't mind the "capitalism" of Christmas. Maybe it's just my family and the people around me. But, although there IS shopping, Christmas is usually reserved for 1.) things you wouldn't buy for yourself and 2.) remembering what my loved ones won't buy for themselves.
So in a sense, all the spending money is done in love and the general spirit of caring. I listen hard ALL YEAR to find the things I buy at Christmas. It's tough, but fun!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I do like to try and find Jewish paper for my Jewish friends

How do you know if it's kosher?

 

[MichelleBFT]

I wouldn't say I'm offended by people telling me Merry Christmas, but I do prefer Happy Holidays for the fact that it doesn't designate a religion. I hear "Merry Christmas" and it just sort of grates on me. So if I don't celebrate Christmas, then what? I don't get any kind of well wishing? Only people who celebrate the same holiday as you get well wishing? Bah. Seems awfully exclusive to me.

If you're going to wish someone a Merry Christmas, it doesn't seem unreasonable to actually know the person you're talking to is Christian, rather than assuming. I loathe it when people assume that I'm Christian. Just because I'm blonde and white and American doesn't mean I'm into Jesus. I grew up in a an area with a large population of Jewish people, and the assumption was always that since I don't look Jewish, I must be Christian. There are, oddly enough, other options.

Yeah, I get frustrated. It's possible I have a chip on my shoulder about it. But I don't fly off the handle at anyone. I DO respond to Merry Christmas with either Happy Holidays or Happy Hanukkah, depending on how annoyed I am at the person who instigates.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Well, I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Michelle

 

[PurplePoof]

But Michelle, it's not even an issue of "celebrating" Christmas so much as Christmas is just a part of culture at large. Only the truly devout still REALLY view it as being about Jesus and not about lights, presents, baking, and Santa Claus. I am very anti-Christian, and I still "celebrate" Christmas...because I celebrate consumerism and getting things for free. 😀

 

[Fake Shemp]

*cries* i hate when things like this come up. im not religious and i celebrate christmas as its in the culture...( and fine with whatever other celebrate and what ever time of year. hope you have a great all round year generally to eveyone. but i wish a merry christmas and all that jazz. I LIKE TO BUY AND GET STUFF!!!! *big grin*

im totally with the purple poofy one oh yes indeed im so against all religions (storys) lets believe in Gandalf and be done with it... (theres no diffrence 🙂 )

 

[cryptwarmer]

First...you can buy Hannuka stuff at Party City (in case you're wondering), second, I don't mind if people wish me a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuka, etc, even though I'm pagan and observe the Solstice...it's all good.

And I don't really come across others who get upset when someone wishes them a happy whatever...except for a FEW Christians who have decided that their particular HE is the reason for everyone's season, and that if you don't agree, you're a hater.

I don't see why they are upset over "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings", why they feel everyone should have to recognize their particular ideology and put our own on hold. Different people are celebrating different things...it varies from celebrating having overtime, to looking forward to gathering with family, to enjoying the brisk weather (or sun if you're a S hemi), or loving all the lights, or having a very special spiritual celebration. It is a season of diversity.

Winter solstice is a very important religious day for me, but I don't get ugly if some stranger doesn't know that.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

NO matter what your christmas beliefs it is appalling what is happening here - I urge you ALL to click to this website and do what you can

http://savexmas.co.uk/

 

[Airam]

I just got back home from work and I wanted to share my little exchange I had with one of my tables with you guys:

Me: Well thanks for coming out today, happy holidays! 🙂
Man: Oh we're not having a holiday...
Me: Aww, you're not, how come?
Man: We're having Christmas! *chuckles*
[Ladies with him all chuckle too]
Me: Oh right, well Merry Christmas... I just can't, you know, just assume...
Man: We're Christians, we celebrate Christmas!
Me: Yeah... well okay... now I know... I celebrate Christmas too so Merry Christmas Sir.
Man: Oh good! *pats me on the back*
Me: *convincing but very fake smile* Alright well drive safe. *walks away*

I mean okay... was all that REALLY neccessary? Could he not have just said, "thank you, you too!" ? Seriously.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

I just got back home from work and I wanted to share my little exchange I had with one of my tables with you guys:

Me: Well thanks for coming out today, happy holidays! 🙂
Man: Oh we're not having a holiday...
Me: Aww, you're not, how come?
Man: We're having Christmas! *chuckles*
[Ladies with him all chuckle too]
Me: Oh right, well Merry Christmas... I just can't, you know, just assume...
Man: We're Christians, we celebrate Christmas!
Me: Yeah... well okay... now I know... I celebrate Christmas too so Merry Christmas Sir.
Man: Oh good! *pats me on the back*
Me: *convincing but very fake smile* Alright well drive safe. *walks away*

I mean okay... was all that REALLY neccessary? Could he not have just said, "thank you, you too!" ? Seriously.

To me that just sounds like a chap having a bit of fun, but thats because he chuckled.

I see nothing wrong with it.

Airam, you're always whining, you really need to get in the Holiday Spirit and join the board - you're bringing us ALL down.


Love You😛

 

[Airam]

To me that just sounds like a chap having a bit of fun, but thats because he chuckled.

I see nothing wrong with it.

Airam, you're always whining, you really need to get in the Holiday Spirit and join the board - you're bringing us ALL down.


Love You😛

*Gasps* WTF?! Me? Whiny?! HA! Anyway, think maybe I relayed it badly... it wasn't an "oh I'm just teasing you" chuckle, it was more of a "I'm going to make SURE you know I'm all about Jesus and I just amused myself with that little baiting joke I just made," kind of chuckle. I don't know, I do celebrate christmas so whatever, I don't care, I'll take all the lame jokes people want to throw at me... but I try to put myself into the position of someone who is, say, Jewish and I can fully imagine how unbeliavably awkward that exchange would then become... I mean JUST like i had no clue as to that man's religion, when he was going on about Christmas he had no clue if thats what I celebrated too, till I told him. Had I been Jewish that exchange would have come across alot to me like he was saying his holiday was better than mine, and thats just not very polite. Just sayin'....

And yeah, yeah... guess I kinda like you too :silly:

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

*Gasps* WTF?! Me? Whiny?! HA! Anyway, think maybe I relayed it badly... it wasn't an "oh I'm just teasing you" chuckle, it was more of a "I'm going to make SURE you know I'm all about Jesus and I just amused myself with that little baiting joke I just made," kind of chuckle. I don't know, I do celebrate christmas so whatever, I don't care, I'll take all the lme jokes people want to throw at me... but I try to put myself into the position of someone who is, say, Jewish and I can fully imagine how unbeliavably awkward that exchange would then become... I mean JUST like i had no clue as to that man's religion, when he was going on about Christmas he had no clue if thats what I celebrated too, till I told him. Had I been Jewish that exchange would have alot to me like he was saying his holiday was better than mine, and thats just not very polite. Just sayin'....

Ohh well then, if he was buying goods from you, you should have taken them back, put them on the floor, unzipped your pants, crouched and planted a 'Cleaveland Steamer' in there.
Thrust it back in the hand and then said with a smile

"There, I've given you a Chocolate Yule Log you schmuck now get the fraggle out of this shop...tard. Ohh and Merry Christmas".

 

[JenniferAlice]

Anyway, think maybe I relayed it badly... it wasn't an "oh I'm just teasing you" chuckle, it was more of a "I'm going to make SURE you know I'm all about Jesus and I just amused myself with that little baiting joke I just made," kind of chuckle.

I know exactly the kind off assclown attitude you're talking about here. Are you a waitress, Airam? I used to do it, I think people instantly think they can treat you like their prisoner.

 

[The Ferg]

I say Merry Christmas, and I'm Atheist. I'm aware that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, but it's really not anymore... Now, it's more like celebrating being good people, and family. Giving thanks, and getting in return. I don't really know what to think about Christmas right now because I'm still in High School and I enjoy presents 🙂, but in the future my mind might change as to if I celebrate it or not.