I might get in trouble

[Jay_Bunny]

for posting about this, but I find it an interesting topic. I was just reading some stuff about the easter bunny ban and other holiday stuff. Then I remembered that back at Christmas time, my friend and I had a discussion (or rather she just flat out refused to hear my side of the issue) about what to say to customers when it was time for the holidays. The question was, "Do you say Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays." My friend flat out refuses to say Happy Holidays since she is a christian (and I am in no way bashing christians, I assure you. Many of my good friends are christian.).

For me, I don't really celebrate Christmas. My family does and I get into the spirit only as far as dinner and presents. At work I don't even think twice about saying "Happy Holidays". It just comes naturally to me since I realize that there are people out there that don't celebrate Christmas. There are people that celebrate holidays that belong to other religions and cultural backgrounds. And so that I cover all the bases, I naturally just say Happy Holidays.

I actually had one woman who was so bitter about the whole thing that when I told her "Have a happy Holiday." she gave me the most disgusted look and spat "Merry Christmas!" back at me with the most hateful tone. At another point in time, a co-worker and myself were discussing how another worker in the store had been playing only Christian music during the holiday season and how we would have liked to hear a wider variety of holiday music so that everyone can enjoy the music at the store. A woman who overheard us actually told us that society was going downhill when we want to play non-christian music in our store during the holidays. And she said "Who care's about that? This is Christmas, and nothing else." I told her I was not Christian and that I did not celebrate Christmas and I was dissappointed when there was no other music played. She went into a rant about how people are taking Christ out of Christmas. She went on and on. And now so am I. lol

I just felt it was an interesting topic. If an admin or moderator finds this offensive, then please feel free to take it down. I just thought it would spark interesting conversation. And I want to state that I am in no way against Christians in any way. I just feel that all peoples should be recognized.

[rabernet]

If it becomes a very heated discussion, we can move it to Quarantine, where the discussion can continue.


I prefer Merry Christmas myself, and feel I shouldn't have to apologize for saying it. If someone wants to tell me Happy Hanakuh, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanza - I'm not going to be offended by it. I celebrate Christmas, so I'd like to feel free to say Merry Christmas. Sometimes political correctness seems to go a bit far, IMHO and people seem to get offended just on the principle of being politically correct, and less than on religious offense.

My point is, why should people be offended by the individuality of all of us? If I celebrate Christmas, why should someone be offended by that? Just as I'm not offended by others celebrating their religion and freedom to express the holiday greetings of their religion.

[minotaur]

First let me start out by saying that I am a practicing catholic. I also have no problem with people who use Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I think that as the world has grown more interconnected, language should adapt to become more accepting of different cultures/lifestyles/etc. To me, Happy Holidays can still mean Merry Christmas (if I want it to), but it also means Happy Kwanza and a host of other things (even happy new years). The opposite is not true, saying Merry Christmas not only broadcasts your own personal faith, it also makes the assumption that the person your are talking to believes in Christmas. In my experience, the people who have the most trouble with the switch to Happy Holidays are people who are devout enough in their beliefs to the point of being self-centered. I guess if you believe so strongly in your own religion that you are blind to the faith of others, then it makes sense that Merry Christmas is the only suitable phrase. Then again, in many cases it is these same people who are afraid of a whole set of other societal issues like homosexuality. I dont think these people will ever change, my saying Happy Holidays you can only hope to change their children and their children's children. Just my two cents.

[Jay_Bunny]

I wouldn't get offended if someone told me Merry Christmas, because if someone does, I recognize that it is thier holiday and they are just used to saying it to fellow celebrators. For me, because I have no official holiday (other than Halloween) that I truely celebrate, I feel more comfortable saying Happy Holiday. What offends me is when other people get offended when I say Happy Holiday. Its like they think I did something wrong when in fact I'm just trying to be polite.

[rabernet]

Its like they think I did something wrong when in fact I'm just trying to be polite.

I see your point, I am not offended if someone says Happy Holidays to me. My point is, I think people get TOO sensitive and insist that people say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I shouldn't be made to feel I might - *gasp* offend someone if I utter the words Merry Christmas.

[Sausage]

Yeah, I'm kind of tired about hearing about this stuff in the news.

What bugs me is how everyone has to walk on eggshells in the effort to be politically correct. I mean, December 25th is Christmas. Why not say "Merry Christmas?" Then when Hanaukka starts, why don't we just say "Happy Hanaukka?" But if "Happy Holidays" is said to you, big deal. Just aknowledge the fact that the person even opened their mouth and said something to you. America was founded by Christians, so those who are of other religious upbringing should remember that and tolerate it. And sort of vice versa: no matter how dovout and bible-thumping you are, there's no reason to be rude.

[minotaur]

Moral of the story, people just need to lighten up. Its not the end of the world if someone uses Happy Holidays and someone else says Merry Christmas.

[Jay_Bunny]

And like I said, I don't think saying Merry Christmas is wrong. And I also don't think that we should all walk on eggshells in order to be polite. I have no official religion as of yet and more than likey, its going to stay that way. I do think, however, that people should tolerate all religions, no matter who was here first. Technically there were already people here in America with thier own religion, and then the Christians arrived. I don't think America is a Christian nation. It is a nation of all people, most of which happen to be Christian.

[minotaur]

I don't think America is a Christian nation. It is a nation of all people, most of which happen to be Christian.

Imagine what would happen if we didnt have a separation of church and state!

[Reptile_Man]

i always say happy christmas,im not into it myself,just more for my neices and nephews.but some people just dont appreciate somebody trying to be nice to them.