So, tell me your thoughts.
"Happy Holidays."
Do you care that it isn't "Merry Christmas" or not?
What do you say? And what have the responses been?
Upfront Note: This is not intended to cause tempers to flare, for 1 religion (or no religion at all) to put down anybody else's choice, I'm expecting no negativism, no name calling back and forth, and the like. We have such a varied membership, that I was just curious. And remember -- we are family here. Please respond appropriately. Thanks.
I think it's much better to acknowledge ALL of the holidays for everyone rather than pretend that they're not there in the first place. I don't think anyone should be taken to task for saying "Merry Christmas," or "Happy Holidays..." or "Happy Hanukkah." After all, it's meant to be a pleasant exchange not a confrontation! I think that if it really bothers anyone to that degree, they ought to go and volunteer at something worth spending their time and energy on.
After years of working 911, however, I sometimes cynically refer to this time of year as "suicide season!" The commercialization of it and the ways that people who may not have friends or family or loved ones end up feeling left out and saddened (not to mention the generally bleak weather this time of year) can be just too much to take sometimes. Just remember that for some people, the holidays aren't as happy as they're cracked up to be and be kind to everyone. That's what the holiday spirit is about, not which words you choose to use about them.
I tend to say nothing at all (in answer to your query)...And this is working retail (although I'm off for a few weeks right now). I just respond in kind with whatever someone says to me with a "Thank you, I wish the same to you!" With people that I know personally, I use whatever I know they are comfortable with, as I'm comfortable with all of it (we do both Christmas and Hanukkah at my house and primarily give to charities each year rather than individual gifts).
It's "Merry Christmas", for me. And doesn't "holiday" mean "holy day"? :)
It depends. At church or among my Christian friends I'll say "Merry Christmas." But I'll often say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" in other situations. It's not that I'm very PC, but that "Happy Holidays" covers all Yule-time celebrations, including New Years. So why not offer a greeting that can include everybody?
I am only offended by those who are offended by any polite expression of ANY faith. I am thoroughly disgusted by PC.
Bless me in any language or faith and I'll thank you for the sentiment.
Happy M'Crackmas......I just get a lot of wierd looks for those that don't know of the Clan or go to Renn faires.
I think my happy ones are behind me.
The MNRF people staging the Fezziwig Feast, friends and family. So much to do and look forward to.
Now I seem to dread them more every year.
Ferret
Noble Dreg, you found the words I was searching for. I too am totally offended/disgusted with all this political correctness.
I wish people a Merry Christmas or for them to have a Wonderful Holiday.
I find that a hearty "Happy ChrismaChanuKwanzamas" usually fits the bill. Or draws confused looks. Both are good with me.
I generally say "I hope your holidays are wonderful". It's more personal than just Happy Holidays and acknowledges that the other person may not celebrate the same holiday as I, but I wish them happiness all the same.
I like to save Merry Christmas for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It makes the greeting more special for me as I feel it is kind of like an announcement of it's arrival. Silly I guess, but it makes me happy.
Sometimes I say Merry Christmas and sometimes I say Happy Holidays. I don't really give it much thought unless I'm already aware of the recipient's preferences.
The important part is the attempt to spread some cheer.
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It's "Merry Christmas" for me. I see a lot of time that people of other faiths say their tiddings. And I greatly appreciate it. Although I dont follow them, it shows that they are strong in their beliefs and ways.
Most of the PC stuff gets under my nerves. Sometimes it seems that it is just pointed to certain groups and religions and I cant stand it.
I save Merry Christmas for those I know well & Happy Holidays for store clerks, etc. If that person responds w/Merry Christmas I'll say and the same to you. Earlier this year at the DPS there was a Pakistani family in line behind me dressed to the nines. I got to talking w/them regarding the special occasion, the mother told me it was a holy day & they were pleasantly surprised when I wished them a happy eid. In any event I don't feel Happy Holidays is anything more than an all-inclusive wish.
It varies depending on where I am, who I'm talking to, and my mood. If you tell me Merry Christmas, I'll most likely respond the same. Personally, I celebrate Yule, but I'm not at all offended by Merry Christmas, my family has always blended it together. All the celebrations are the same to me - joy, kindness, & family.
I usually say "Merry Solstice, Happy Yule!" but have gotten quite alot of chuckles with "Merry Chrismahannakwanzika" from most if someone in a group tries to push one side over the other.... ;)
I prefer "Happy Christmas." =D But that's just the way we've always done it in my family.
In all seriousness, though, I say whatever comes out of my mouth at the time. Sometimes it's Happy/Merry Christmas, sometimes it's Happy Holidays, going on and on, and when I'm feeling particularly retailed out, it's Happy Commercialmas!
I celebrate Christmas because that's what my family always did. However, my belief system isn't necessarily the same as theirs anymore (I think all faith is valid, but that's a long and different topic), so the plan is have an all-inclusive celebration when we're back in a place of our own. ^.^
Renee, I'm curious. How do *you* greet others during the holiday season? How do you prefer to be greeted?
I'll respond usually with "I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday."
But to me, it's really the sentiment that is more important. Whether you say Happy or Merry Christmas or whatever.
Quote from: Anna Iram on December 17, 2008, 06:11:04 PM
Renee, I'm curious. How do *you* greet others during the holiday season? How do you prefer to be greeted?
Gosh, Anna, I didn't even realize I didn't answer my own question! Sorry about that!
At work (I'm in Customer Service on the phone), I must say "Happy Holidays." Then if someone says "Merry Christmas to you, too," then I say back to them "Merry Christmas." Which is what I would have liked to say in the first place, but can't.
When I'm not at work, I say something on the order of "Merry Christmas, and if you celebrate a different holiday, best wishes of the season to you and yours."
I usually say "Enjoy your holidays!" to people I don't know well, but I use specific greetings depending on the person I'm addressing, and the particular holiday I know they celebrate.
Although I have had fun with the "Chrismachanukwanzika" line. :D
I always use Merry Christmas and if someone is of a different persuasion I add the appropriate greeting for that as well.
I HATE PC stuff!
My theory on wishing everyone a Merry Christmas is... regardless of your religious belief, I am basically wishing for you to have a good day. I am just stating which day I want to be good lol. I could as easily said Merry Thursday or Happy Friday and had the same thing is mind.
As for the ones who get all offended by it... seriously... Why? Why is it offensive to someone that I have a religion? Why is it bad for me to wish good tiding upon you?
I have had this arguement many times... And I will always stand up for my right to wish someone a Merry Christmas whether they want it or not lol.
FYI... Funny story. The Lovely Lady Trinn and I were checking out of Target last year when the young lass at the counter wished us a Merry Christmas. I Looked her dead in the eye and with as straight a face as possible told her I was Jewish. I thought she would have a melt down trying to apologize before I let her off the hook.
Evil? Perhaps... but evil is kinda fun
*That could be why Santa didn't bring my rum that year...*
Quote from: x0x_teach_x0x on December 18, 2008, 11:17:09 AM
FYI... Funny story. The Lovely Lady Trinn and I were checking out of Target last year when the young lass at the counter wished us a Merry Christmas. I Looked her dead in the eye and with as straight a face as possible told her I was Jewish. I thought she would have a melt down trying to apologize before I let her off the hook.
Evil? Perhaps... but evil is kinda fun
*That could be why Santa didn't bring my rum that year...*
ROFL thats good. It's fun to add humor to things of this nature as well as others.
I would agree about that not being the reason Santa brought you rum though. You might wanna be better this year :)
I normally say Happy Yuletide till the 22nd then say Merry Christmas.
How about have a cool yule?
I am not feeling very jolly right now- but I try.
How about have a Bah Humbug? LOL! Just joking. Going on a quest to find my holiday spirits.
My family was Jehovah's Witnesses, so I really didn't get any chance to really get attached to the holiday season. At holiday parties at school, and when they'd do holiday activities or plays, I'd have to sit it out in the office, or in another classroom. I wasn't even allowed to be near the stuff. Later in life, my mother "strayed" and we started celebrating Christmas. We never really got that sense of holiday spirit or family, or seasons fuzzies or whatever.
Then we adopted Festivus.....
To answer the question, I mostly say "Happy Christmahanukwanzafestivus", and laugh at them as I walk away, knowing that they have no CLUE what I just said.
??? Starting to wonder if anyone has ever tried to say "Happy Christmahanukwanzafestivus", 5 times fast. ;D
i myself am jewish, but do not profess to make others believe my beliefs. most jews dont.
but merry christmas does not bother me. as a matter of fact, i rather enjoy christmas, the time of the year, the decorations, the foods, the smells, sights, sounds, the attitudes. one of the best times of the whole year, no doubt. i dont enjoy looking at things associated with the nativity.
not sure if most of you have noticed, but the all out attacks on public displays during december have pretty much went away. i think those that were attacking that, were attacking the manner the decor was done in. you want decor up in december, fine. a tree. lights, shiny things. greenery. but not a manger scene.
shalom chanukah, is my preferred greeting. however, i say merry christmas just as easily, and accept it just as easily.
happy holidays!!!
I'm a lifelong-atheist-slowly-turning-pagan (figure that one out) and I have no problems saying or being greeted with Merry Christmas. A lot of times I'll say Happy Holidays just as an inclusion of Christmas and New Year's together. It makes not a smidgen of difference to me! :)
Well buying a home, new appliances, that's plenty of Christmas gifts.
But for the most part, we are forgoing the holiday this year due to my physical situation.
Sometime in January (as soon as I get approved) I will be having major back surgery. Part of my vertebrae has grown to the point of almost severing my spinal cord. Makes walking and standing difficult and the pain is horrendous and I'm on pain meds most of the time now.
Trying to be happy is something that's just not really happening right now.... :-\
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:D!
Quote from: groomporter on December 20, 2008, 02:05:30 PM
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Hey- that's the second one- the
first was on another thread...
Great minds think alike ;D
My tongue planted firmly in cheek seasonal message...
Please accept, with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wisher. By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms.
This greeting is not subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for himself, herself, or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period not to exceed one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, which ever comes first, and the warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Oh yes, Merry Christmas Too............. Felix
Quote from: DonaCatalina on December 17, 2008, 06:41:08 AM
Sometimes I say Merry Christmas and sometimes I say Happy Holidays. I don't really give it much thought unless I'm already aware of the recipient's preferences.
The important part is the attempt to spread some cheer.
Pretty much where I'm at. I usually repeat the greeting I'm given - If they say "Happy Hollidays" then that's what I return. More often than not, I simply say "Merry Christmas" if left to my own devices. To my Jewish friends I do wish them a "Happy Hannukah".
As for me - some years I'm more into it than others. Oddly, this year I am more into Christmas. I'm greatly looking forward to sharing the warmth and joy of the season with friends and loved ones.