Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays???
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays???
This past season, there has been a lot of controversy about this issue, at least here on the liberal East coast. I guess that even employees of some stores were instructed NOT to say Merry Christmas, but Happy Holidays.
I don't know HOW I feel about this. Yes, at the same time that we celebrate Christmas, Hannukuh and Kwanza are taking place. Being a Christian, it is hard for me to imagine how I would feel if I were wished a Merry Christmas, IF Christmas meant nothing to me. However, America is STILL predominantly Christian. I wouldn't presume to live in Israel and tell people not to wish me a Happy Hannukuh.
My pastor and his wife hosted an exchange student from Turkey all last school year. She is a Suni Moslem. While she did attend a baptism service at our church (only out of curiosity) she had no intention of converting. Yet, she told us that she is not offended when some wished her a Merry Christmas, because the sentiment came from the heart of the person; something that they hold dear, so she was touched and flattered.
I think that I would feel the same if someone wished me a Happy Kwanza or Happy Hannukuh. It means that they want good things for me.
Any thoughts?
I agree with you! I personally don't care whether someone wished me Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays...they wished me something and that's nice. I know in my heart what I'm celebrating and that's what matters. I think your exchange student has the right idea.
Unless I knew someone personally and knew they were Jewish, I just wish Merry Christmas to everyone. It's not surprising that people in this country are offended if *they* don't celebrate Christmas. Isn't that the way it is in the US? Gotta have a reason to call the ACLU about SOMETHING!! It's ridiculous. It's like every word has to pass the "politically correct" meter and if doesn't you're headed for Hades.
I couldn't agree more! I don't care if someone wishes me a Happy Holidays or a Merry Christmas or what ever they want to say. I also think that if that is the biggest reason people have to get offended, they should consider themselves lucky!! People LOOK for reason to stir things up anymore.
I agree. I tend to say Merry Christmas unless I know the other person is not Christian, because I am Christian and that's my background and habit. If I know a person isn't Christian (especially because I work with several people whom I know are Jewish), I will either use the greeting appropriate to them or a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year greeting.
I do seriously resent the people who have declared war on those who choose not to use the "Merry Christmas" greeting. The last thing we need in this country is more divisiveness, especially over religion.
I personally would like to see, in effect, two Chrismasses(sp?) - the one I celebrate in my church and with my family, with creches, worship, lessons and carols, listening to Handel's Messiah all through the week before Christmas, and the wonderful joyous hymns, the personal, faith-based Christmas - and the other the commercial, gaudy, gift buying and giving, shiny Christmas tree (which actually took over the pagan Germanic traditions based on a form of Druidism), Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph Christmas, the social celebration - and I'd like very much to keep them separate. I have always resented the gross commercialization of what has always been a particularly important period on the religious calendar for me, Advent ending in the celebration of Christ-mass - the Christmas Eve service full of hushed candle-lit anticipation and Christmas morning worship services full of joy and promise.
I would add that I feel the same way about Easter - although I have always had Easter baskets for my kids and my oldest son still comes over a few days before to color eggs, for me the high point of Easter is the Easter morning worship, not the Easter egg hunt in the afternoon. And we always make a point of taking a few of the eggs to church with us and putting them in the collection plate - my son and I are ushers and always sign up to usher for December the month when Easter happens, and make sure the eggs get into the baskets as they go up to the altar.
Oh, and Hol, I don't think anyone except the few pc grinches actually says "don't wish me a Merry Christmas", though apparently there are a lot of people out there who have taken offense at being wished Happy Holidays. Which is sort of silly since, if you stop to think (which is not something I would accuse Bill O'Reilly of doing very often), is a wish for Happy Holy-Days - what could be more appropriate?
Most of it is pretty mindless, anyhow - a seasonal greeting that people murmur without a thought to what it means. I suspect that not one person in a thousand stops to think that when they say Merry Christmas, they are referring to Christ-mass.
Interesting that our Puritan forefathers (mostly the fathers, I'm sure) actually forbid any observation of Christmas, calling such observations and celebrations heathen and unChristian. And our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters observe Christmas around what we call Epiphany (the visit of the wise men.)
I opened up this can of worms on my blog with one of my readers. I will say "Merry Christmas" to someone I know celebrates Christmas, but Happy Holidays to a group, or to someone I don't know. People aren't guaranteed to never get offended in this country, so if they get upset by either term, oh well. I just think the Christians who are upset by "Happy Holidays" feel like they have exclusive rights in this country, because they are the "majority" and "America was founded on Christianity". Why can't we be more accepting of ALL beliefs, and live and let live?
I think this country has become more accepting to all religions except Christianity, simply because it is the majority, and this country is afraid to be to accepting to the majority of anything because we are supposed to be such a "melting pot". It's just like the whole "reverse racism" thing. I don't have a problem with being wished Happy Holidays or saying Merry Christmas. I don't agree with radicals, no matter what they may be. I think these radical Christians give Christianity a bad name, just like the Radical Muslims do to their people.
But I also feel that those who get offended by someone wishing them a Merry Christmas needs to volunteer to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day if a possibility because why get the perks of the Holiday if you are so adamently against it?
Adena,
I think we are very tolerant of Christians, we just refuse to give Christians exclusive control. I'm not offended by anyone saying "Merry Christmas", honestly I wouldn't be offended if they said "Happy Hannukah" or "Feliz Navidad" either. Still, I don't think it's fair to ask retailers to exclude the non-Christians by demanding they say "Merry Christmas" to all of their customers. We can either be generic and say "Happy Holidays", or not say anything at all. I celebrate Christmas, but I've also volunteered to work it many times, and my dad works it every year (for the OT). I guess that helps me now, because as a military family you never know what day you'll be able to observe your holidays.
Adena, I doubt very many people (including those who do not define themselves as Christian) are "adamantly" against Christmas, or the Christmas holiday. And, in fact, I know and know of a lot of Jews and other non-Christians who specifically volunteer to work on Christmas and Easter Sunday in hospitals, nursing homes, and other places that need 24/7 staffing, so as to give as many as possible of their Christian co-workers the day off. But think about it a minute - how would you feel if most of the service personnel you had contact with in December wished you a Happy Hannukah? It's one thing in a country that has a recognized "official" religion, but that is not this country.
I still don't understand why Christians want more and more commercial recognition of what is or should be a religious celebration. To my mind, all the commercialization simply dilutes the religious aspect of Christmas, which is most definitely not what I want. I prefer my relgious observances "straight up", not diluted by efforts to sneak them under the First Amendment.
If you notice, I stated in my post that I don't agree with these Christians who make a big deal out of everything. I personally don't mind being told Happy Holidays. I've been known to say it myself. Christmas is what it is. To me, that is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. I don't feel the need to get all commercial about it either.
I simply stated I do feel that the country is very tolerant of other religions. And I distinctly mentioned only those who are truly offended by being wished a "Merry Christmas". I know a lot of non-Christians celebrate the commercial Christmas, and I don't feel those people would be offended by this, because they celebrate it.
Ginny, I share your love of the religious observances of Christ-mas. THAT, to me, is the REAL holiday. I don't know when the crass commercialism came creeping in, however, I remember as a child,in the 1950's, seeing a sign on the local Knights of Columbus hall that said "Keep Christ in Christmas", so apparently it has been an issue for at least fifty years.
The media tell us that the merchants, and therefore the economy, is very dependent on the revenue from holiday sales. I guess it makes jobs for people, and therefore, income. I do enjoy the decorations that the merchants display, (the secular Christmas), but I couldn't agree more, that they are separate for me also.
People DO seem to be a little kinder and more cheerful during the holiday season, regardless of one's belief system, and charities depend heavily on the generous mood of people at that time. (Of course, it helps that income tax time follows the holiday season, and many individuals and companies need the tax deductions).
As far as working the holidays, my DD is a nurse and her husband is a police officer, so having every Christmas or Thanksgiving off is not a reality. We live in a demographic region where there aren't many non-Christians. However, both the hospital where DD works, and the police department where SIL works have had co-workers offer to work so that a colleague can be home with small children, a terminally ill relative, etc. There was a fellow nurse (male) that worked with DD. His son had leukemia, and the prognosis was bleak. All of the employees donated some of their personal days to him, so that he could spend as much time with his child as he could. (the child did die).
On the flip side, I once worked for a small company that made computers for the visually disabled. There were only six of us, including the owner and his wife. Because we were so small, the only benefit we got was a 401K; no health insurance or holiday pay. One of my co-workers was Jewish, and he made a fuss every year that he had to lose a day's pay by us being closed on Christmas.
I don't understand the animosity against saying Happy Holidays. Are all Holidays except Christmas that are celebrated this time of year somehow offensive to Christians? These Holidays include CHRISTMAS, Kwanza, and Chanukah. I'm simply wishing that the person I greet have a joyous time celebrating the Holiday of their religion or culture. Are Christians against the right of others to celebrate the Holidays of their culture? Are you against me wishing that they enjoy that celebration? Why then is the phrase "Happy Holidays" so horrible. It is simply a cheerful way to wish the best to anyone during this season that has many holidays. I say Merry Christmas to those I KNOW celebrate Christmas, Happy Chanukah to my Jewish friends and Happy Holidays to all others. I haven't removed Christ from Christmas. I have simply acknowledged that others may not share my religious beliefs and have that right.
Happy Holidays does not bother me nor does Merry Christmas. What bothers me is the advertisment. "Holiday Tree" or "Holiday Stocking" What is that all about? What other "HOLIDAY" would a "Christmas Tree" and "Chrismas Stocking" be used? Its like calling a "Dradel" sp? a "Holiday Spinniner" or something of the like. And I haven't seen those advertised like that. Why can't people just call it its given name that its been all these years?
We live in a very a half jewish / irish / italian neighborhood. I say happy holidays or happy hannukah or merry christmas if I am sure of the person religion.
I love it when someone says Merry Christmas to me though. It makes me so happy.
My son will go over to another child at a toy store and say, "Santa can get you that for christmas. He will come down the chimney." Then the mother will rush over and say we don't celebrate that holiday to her child.
Santa certainly is over the top. With his reindeers and trees and decorations and stockings and garland and flying reindeer. LOL.
Kristie, the tree, stocking and window candles, etc. have nothing to do with CHRISTMAS. They are trappings of the December Holiday Season. I'm more in favor of them being labeled Holiday stocking, Holiday tree etc. than Christmas. Let Christmas be the title for the things pertaining to the birth of Jesus. IE: The Christmas Advent Wreath, The Christmas Nativity Scene, The Christmas Carol.
Well if thats the case then the commercial aspect of "Christmas" ie santa, reindeer, and the tree should have been called something else long long ago. Do you know anyone that celebrates Chanukka and puts up a tree for it? I don't! It was explained to me when I was a child (in Sunday School) that Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ & Santa Clause brings gifts as a fun way to celebrate Jesus birthday. Similar for Easter Bunny and Easter. While I will admit that the commercial aspect has gotten way out of hand, its no reason to change the name of things. If you are offended by the way things have been for years, quit spending your money. The people that are throwing a fit to change it now have just ran out of things to witch about. Whats next??? taking the Easter Bunny out of Easter??????? I guess we better start calling Easter Eggs, Holiday Eggs and Easter Baskets, Holiday Baskets.
Actually, I know a few people who put up a Chanukah Bush ... not particularly religious people.
I have no problem with happy holidays, and I really don't see the decorated tree or Santa & Reindeer as religious symbols. A nativity scene is a religious symbol. I think the tree and lights and all the rest have been absorbed by general holiday merriment.
The problem is a political one. We live in a country that, like it or not, was founded on Christian principals by Christians. The way Christians in our country have celebrated Christmas has changed over time. Puritans barely celebrated, the Dutch in NY had Santa Clause. Eventually we did the tree.
Our issue now, as a nation, is that we have many different races, religions, ideas that are in our American Salad (no longer a melting pot). Everyone truly has the freedom to celebrate as they choose - or not to celebrate at all. But why go out of your way to offend someone? If you know that the person celebrates a certain holiday, then wish them happy for their holiday. If you don't know, then play it safe. After all, the spirit of Christmas is not to offend but to bring good will.
Ame
Ame-
I'm not going out of my way to offend anyone. Infact, throught out the whole holiday season I did not once come out and say to any customers Merry Christmas for fear it would have caused chaos, if it was said to me then I returned the reply other wise it was have a great day or enjoy your shopping. I'm just simply very fustrated at the PCP's of the world that think they have to fix everything until its broke.
I wasn't directing my post to you, Kristie. I'm sorry it came out that way.
I agree with you that so many religious traditions have been coopted by the secular world to the point that they have really lost any religious significance and that we are so PC that the we have become too generic in many ways.
I noticed a lot of cashiers and others didn't wish anything during the holiday season other than, as you say, a good day, etc.
I did not mean to imply that you specifically went out of your way to offend.
I did mean that many people who have adopted the "Merry Christmas" crusade do mean to offend and have just as much to abuse the spirit of Christmas than those who have commercialized it.
Ame
Hey Ame-
Don't worry about me apparently I've been taking things too literally in general.
I've been guilty of that many times, myself.
Ame
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