Do you wish a merry Christmas to everybody?

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I don’t wish a merry Christmas to everybody but am now wondering whether that is right.
For example, when non-Christians wish me a merry Christmas I usually say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. I see their wish as being kind and curteous and I really appreciate it but don’t know if I should respond in the same way given that they don’t believe in Christ. I respond the same way to people who have left the Christian faith and are nasty about it: saying offensive things, ridiculing those who believe, etc. I don’t want to turn my ‘merry Christmas’ into a meaningless greeting.

Is this wrong? What do you do?

 

[Waiting]

I don’t wish a merry Christmas to everybody but am now wondering whether that is right.
For example, when non-Christians wish me a merry Christmas I usually say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. I see their wish as being kind and curteous and I really appreciate it but don’t know if I should respond in the same way given that they don’t believe in Christ. I respond the same way to people who have left the Christian faith and are nasty about it: saying offensive things, ridiculing those who believe, etc. I don’t want to turn my ‘merry Christmas’ into a meaningless greeting.

Is this wrong? What do you do?

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. If it is meaningless to them, so be it. On the otherhand, it may be very welcome, especially if said sincerely. What harm is there in wishing happiness to others?

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. If it is meaningless to them, so be it. On the otherhand, it may be very welcome, especially if said sincerely. What harm is there in wishing happiness to others?

No harm. It’s just that many people are really funny about it and take pride in being anti-Christian.

 

[Waiting]

No harm. It’s just that many people are really funny about it and take pride in being anti-Christian.

If some people are offended when wished a “Merry Christmas,” that is their problem. We can’t know everyone’s prejudices. If people know that you are sincerely wishing them the best, very few will resent it. The popular Ben Stein says that he enjoys hearing “Merry Christmas.” After all, someone is wishing him happiness. I’ll keep on wishing all a Merry Christmas.

 

[sojo]

I wish a Merry Christmas in general when out in public. However, I do have friends who are Jewish and Muslim and Wiccan. They tend to wish ME a Merry Christmas to which I reply, and a VERY Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! I don’t say Merry Christmas to anyone Iknow for a fact is not Christian.

Common courtesy.

I also wish a Good Shabat to my Jewish friends on Friday evening, and blessed Ramadan to anyone who I know is Muslim during that holiday.

But in general, yes when we are done at a checkstand or leaving a restaurant or after someone holds a door for us… my family says, “Merry Christmas” as the default greeting.

 

[roveau]

It doesn’t hurt to return the compliment of the Season. By not returning the compliment you very likely are causing needless offense. Everyone has something of Christ in them. Plus, you can’t know where these people are in relation to Christ and Christianity, they could be on the cusp of converting.

 

[Jenny_M]

If some people are offended when wished a “Merry Christmas,” that is their problem. We can’t know everyone’s prejudices. If people know that you are sincerely wishing them the best, very few will resent it. The popular Ben Stein says that he enjoys hearing “Merry Christmas.” After all, someone is wishing him happiness. I’ll keep on wishing all a Merry Christmas.

Amen! :christmastree1:

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

It doesn’t hurt to return the compliment of the Season. By not returning the compliment you very likely are causing needless offense. Everyone has something of Christ in them. Plus, you can’t know where these people are in relation to Christ and Christianity, they could be on the cusp of converting.

I’m talking of a situation where I know for a fact that the person is not a Christian and/or has a very negative attitude and is offensive towards Christianity.
Otherwise I wish people a merry Christmas.

 

[Prague]

Always to everyone.

 

[PatThompson]

No one has really answered your question, have they?

I don’t wish a merry Christmas to everybody but am now wondering whether that is right. For example, when non-Christians wish me a merry Christmas I usually say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that.

If you know someone isn’t Christian then of course don’t wish them a Happy Christmas. A simple “Happy Holidays” is probably what you MEAN anyway.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

No one has really answered your question, have they?

If you know someone isn’t Christian then of course don’t wish them a Happy Christmas. A simple “Happy Holidays” is probably what you MEAN anyway.

I actually don’t mean ‘happy holidays’ to be honest. I think that’s a meaningless greeting enforced by secularists to push Christmas out of the public sphere as much as possible. Because the fact is that all this ‘happy holidays’ greeting happens around Christmas. In my experience when someone is Jewish people wish them something specific rather than ‘happy holidays’, because that is a respectful thing to do. All this PC lingo is very much aimed at Christians and our holidays.

 

[onmywayagain]

Heres the thing. I get offended when people tell me Happy Holidays. My repy to them is always, “and what Holiday should I be happy about.” I always get the blank look on most of their faces.

As a child growing up it was always Merry Christmas and as a Christian it will always be Merry Christmas. If you offend someone like someone else posted, so be it. Who would you rather offend, Christ or the person???

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I don’t wish a merry Christmas to everybody but am now wondering whether that is right.
For example, when non-Christians wish me a merry Christmas I usually say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. I see their wish as being kind and curteous and I really appreciate it but don’t know if I should respond in the same way given that they don’t believe in Christ. I respond the same way to people who have left the Christian faith and are nasty about it: saying offensive things, ridiculing those who believe, etc. I don’t want to turn my ‘merry Christmas’ into a meaningless greeting.

Is this wrong? What do you do?

I personally have no Problem wishing a “Merry Christmas” to Most Folks.

You forget there are Non-Religious People (even Atheists) who celebrate Christmas as a sort of (Mostly) Secular Holiday. As a sort of “Season Of Good Will.” I like to call it the “Santa Claus Version.”

It’s like St. Patrick’s Day in some ways----one can celebrate it without being a Christian or even Irish.

I would prefer Folks celebrate Christmas for the way it SHOULD be celebrated----as Our Saviour’s Birthday----however, I’m personally OK with people celebrating it in a less “Religious” way. As long as it IS Celebrated, I’m basically Allright with it.

Just my two cents. And a Merry Christmas, everybody.

 

[John21652]

I’m talking of a situation where I know for a fact that the person is not a Christian and/or has a very negative attitude and is offensive towards Christianity.
Otherwise I wish people a merry Christmas.

If someone is offensive towards Christianity and Christmas, they are hardly going to say Merry Christmas, are they? However, no harm done if you wish them a Merry Christmas anyway - it’s called turning the other cheek. The bloke whose birthday we are celebrating taught us that.

Of course, anyone who wishes you a Merry Christmas deserves the same greeting in return.

 

[blue]

Merry Christmas to all. You can run but you can’t hide, he came for us all weather it offends or not, it’s an open greating with an open invitation, like it or not you are welcome to the party.

 

[Holly3278]

To be honest with you, I don’t. At least I haven’t done so this year. It’s nothing against anyone, its just that I am anxious in social situations and I am afraid that someone might get offended if I wish them a Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. But to be honest, lately I have not been feeling well and I just keep forgetting to tell people Merry Christmas or whatever.

 

[Teelynn]

I have a situation, I am not sure how to deal with. I have a brother in law (lost his wife several years back on Christmas morning) that I have always known to be sort of “non religious”. When he and his wife were young and had a young family, they practiced Catholicism until for whatever reason (something happened that really turned them off, what that was though, I have not a clue) For years they worshiped God in nature after that, and ever since she passed away, and particularly for the past 2 years, he sends us a card at Christmas that says “Happy Winter Solstice”. I always send him a religious Christmas Card, but I send everyone a religious Christmas Card…always have. Somehow I have the feeling that we are offending him by sending a religious card, and he’s kind of being passively aggressive by sending a “Happy Winter Solstice” card. From what I understand, the Winter Solstice is celebrated by a more pagan affiliation, although, I could be wrong.

I really don’t want to deny my own beliefs by sending him a “generic” card, but don’t want to offend him either. I feel like he might be saying “You’re shoving this religious thing down my throat, and I really don’t appreciate it”, but not sure what his real mindset is. Just thought I might get some ideas from you all.

 

[Waiting]

I have a situation, I am not sure how to deal with. I have a brother in law (lost his wife several years back on Christmas morning) that I have always known to be sort of “non religious”. When he and his wife were young and had a young family, they practiced Catholicism until for whatever reason (something happened that really turned them off, what that was though, I have not a clue) For years they worshiped God in nature after that, and ever since she passed away, and particularly for the past 2 years, he sends us a card at Christmas that says “Happy Winter Solstice”. I always send him a religious Christmas Card, but I send everyone a religious Christmas Card…always have. Somehow I have the feeling that we are offending him by sending a religious card, and he’s kind of being passively aggressive by sending a “Happy Winter Solstice” card. From what I understand, the Winter Solstice is celebrated by a more pagan affiliation, although, I could be wrong.

I really don’t want to deny my own beliefs by sending him a “generic” card, but don’t want to offend him either. I feel like he might be saying “You’re shoving this religious thing down my throat, and I really don’t appreciate it”, but not sure what his real mindset is. Just thought I might get some ideas from you all.

It might be time to ask him his feelings. If he lives close to you, invite him for a gettogether and tell him how you feel. In a friendly climate he might open up to you. If he lives too far for a one-on-one chat, write him. In any case, pray for him.

 

[bluerose]

On Christmas Eve, as I was leaving work for the day, the manager was having a meeting right by the time clock with a bunch of employees. As I left, I said “Merry Christmas!” to everyone and received the same greeting from everyone… except the manager who said, “Merry Christ… uh, Happy Holidays!”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head and left. I’ve worked with those people for eight years. EVERY ONE of them celebrates Christmas and the manager knows it, too. Who was he afraid of offending?

Here’s what I wish I had said: “About three weeks ago it was Hanukkah. It was written on the calendar, and you could have wished me Happy Hanukkah then, whether we celebrated it or not. Three days ago was the winter solstice, according to the calendar, and you could have wished me Happy Yule or ‘Have a Nice Day’ then. In a couple of days, the calendar says it will be Kwanzaa and you can wish me a ‘Happy Kwanzaa’ then if you want to. But today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is Christmas Day. It says so on the calendar and that’s what it is, whether you celebrate it or not. So, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

And then I could have ended up with a big Tiny Tim finish: “And God bless us, everyone!”:thankyou:

 

[Waiting]

On Christmas Eve, as I was leaving work for the day, the manager was having a meeting right by the time clock with a bunch of employees. As I left, I said “Merry Christmas!” to everyone and received the same greeting from everyone… except the manager who said, “Merry Christ… uh, Happy Holidays!”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head and left. I’ve worked with those people for eight years. EVERY ONE of them celebrates Christmas and the manager knows it, too. Who was he afraid of offending?

Here’s what I wish I had said: “About three weeks ago it was Hanukkah. It was written on the calendar, and you could have wished me Happy Hanukkah then, whether we celebrated it or not. Three days ago was the winter solstice, according to the calendar, and you could have wished me Happy Yule or ‘Have a Nice Day’ then. In a couple of days, the calendar says it will be Kwanzaa and you can wish me a ‘Happy Kwanzaa’ then if you want to. But today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is Christmas Day. It says so on the calendar and that’s what it is, whether you celebrate it or not. So, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

And then I could have ended up with a big Tiny Tim finish: “And God bless us, everyone!”:thankyou:

Good for you, but don’t be too hard on the manager. Everyone doesn’t have the same strength or courage as you. Some are much more fearful. Jesus accepts us as we are, if we are trying our best.