Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas

  • Thread starter Thread starter John_Paul_III
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

John_Paul_III

Guest
Latley there has been many attacks about Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas, or a Holiday tree vs a Christmas Tree.

To me no big deal at all, I have seen the protestants attack this as well as our own Catholics, I am a fan the Catholic League but I believe they are wrong on this issue.

The fact is that most Americans do not go to church every sunday but claim to be christians, many of these “christians” go to church on Christmas sunday, or Easter Sunday. But then again the protestant mega churches in Chicago will not hold services on Christmas Sunday this year because this time should be spent with families around the christmas tree.

So when someone at a Wallmart or another retail locations says Happy Holidays to me, or happy new year, no big deal, it does not take away my beliefs.

Being Catholic is not a membership, nobody can take this away from me, Being Catholic is a lifestyle.

If I know someone is Jewish I might say Happy Hanuka or happy holidays, if I know someone is Catholic I wll probably say Merry Christmas, if a protestant I might say either, but for a public retail place in the United States for being blasted on the Happy Holiday message give me a break, its not an issue.

We need to fight the battles that need to be fought, you know a just war arguement, I say a just debate arguements, or a just policy debate… Lets focus on cutting out all the abortions that occur daily I have seen numbers of 1 to 2000 a day to 4000 a day, now one is too many, yet the media is more concerend about casualities in the war of Iraq.

What do yall think?
 
I don’t know why we would expect secular businesses to promote Christ. Granted, it would be nice if they did (it would be nice if we all did far more than we probably do), but come on, they are not in business to praise God, but to make money for themselves. They do want to run the risk of offending anyone, that would cut into their profits!

I don’t blame the employees of these businesses though. I wish them a Merry Christmas. These employees are just doing their jobs and seem to appreciate the gesture. We just need to remember our job as Christians and spread the love of Christ regardless of corporate policies.

Peace,

George
 
The problem with Happy Holidays is that it is an attempt to be “sensitive” at best and an affront at worst.

Let’s face it Christmas is the name of THE December holiday. All others are a distant second. As far as I know there are no Hannukah parties, Kwanzaa gifts and neither have any festive decorations like Christmas does. I am not trying to belittle them but it is not a grab bag for holidays in December. One and one alone is a HUGE deal and all the others are nice but not at the same level.

There is a difference between the President of the US and the President of the PTA. Should we celebrate both on Presidents Day?

I agree that retailers should not be expected to evangelize but really what other holiday involves gift giving? Traditionally Hannukah DOES NOT have gifts just like St. Patrick’s Day, 4th of July. A holiday does not need gifts to be important but if the retailers want you to buy stuff as gifts are there REALLY any significant number of non-Christmas holiday gifts?

Happy Holidays as a synonym is fine with me but is has come to be a REPLACEMENT for Christmas and that is not okay. The High Holy Days of Judaism fall somewhat near Halloween but we never lump them together.

Christians, nominal or devout, should be allowed their holy day and not have to apologize for Christmas cards, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, Christmas break or Christmas programs.

Sensitivity and inclusion are nice but hyper-sensitivty is what we are getting and that is annoying. I do not have a RIGHT to have the above words used but none of them are unconctitutional and we need to stand up for ourselves and say enough is enough.
 
I always assumed when someone wished me “Happy Holidays” they were referring to Christmas and New Years. I guess either I was being naive or that has changed in our new PC world.

Peace,

George
 
40.png
genealogist:
As far as I know there are no Hannukah parties, Kwanzaa gifts and neither have any festive decorations like Christmas does.
Click to expand...
Actually, I think there are Kwanzaa gifts. They are either given all at once on the last day of Kwanzaa or they are spread out during the seven days. And there seemt to be Kwanzaa decorations too - although nothing as garish as Christmas lights. tike.com/celeb-kw.htm
Christians, nominal or devout, should be allowed their holy day and not have to apologize for Christmas cards, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, Christmas break or Christmas programs.
Click to expand...
I agree, except for the Christmas break. The traditional winter break is imposed on all students and school staff, regardless of religious affiliation But certainly I send Christmas cards and wish folks “Merry Christmas” (unless I know they are not Christian). And to refer to a “Holiday Tree” is just laughable - I have yet to hear it said by anyone with a straight face.
 
I happen to know when the high holydays of Judaism are because I was a public grammar school student in NJ and NY and we always got Rosh Hasshanah(sp?) and Yom Kippur off EVERY year. If I was asked why I wasn’t in school, I said we were off for the HIGH HOLYDAYS, the Jewish New Year or something like that. I was neither offended nor did I think that not being Jewish made me left out or that Judaism had been declared the state religion.

Christmas Break is not as high on my list as the others but if we ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have the time off that coincides with Christmas let’s be honest that it is Christmas Break whether you celebrate Christmas or not. It is not a coincidence that we get those two weeks off. Look at the calendar and that messes things up pretty much as far as days in a quarter.
 
When I was a little boy, the phrase “Happy Holidays” was simply understood as the shortened version of “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” … so … when someone wishes you “happy holidays” why not respond by saying “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too.” 😃
 
I had thought of that myself today. I think you have a great idea.
 
“…there are no Hanukkah parties…” (from a poster above).

Er, uh, Hanukkah parties are regularly held by Jews, and I, though Catholic, have been to Hanukkah parties held by my Jewish friends. They read the story of the miracle of the oil,
light the menorah, play with “dreidels”, give out gifts, and
sing songs, and serve rather delicious potato pancakes with fresh applesauce and a touch of sour cream (yum).

Yes, Virginia, there ARE Hanukkah parties !! 🙂
 
Not only are there Hannukah parties, there are Hannukah gifts (usually for the kids and usually not as big as many American Christmas presents, but still) and Hannukah decorations (usually blue and white or with menorahs) and this year, Hannukah begins on December 25th. If someone wishes me a Happy Holidays, I assume they mean Christmas/New Years or Hannukah/New Years or simply just New Years because they can’t tell if I’m Christian or Jewish or neither. I don’t expect people at a store to specifically say one or the other. I don’t go around with a banner slung over my shoulders that reads “I’m a Christian,” so why should I expect some stranger to know? Sometimes I may wear a cross, but I don’t all the time, and that would be about the only way to know for sure.

If I’m in church, I expect a Merry Christmas greeting. If I’m buying a Christmas tree, I’d not be surprised at all about a Merry Christmas greeting. But from a secular store when I give no clues about if I’m Christian or not? That’s asking people to be mind readers and heart readers and that’s just not possible. I think people are getting way too worked up over nothing.
 
We are living in the end times. Tribulation and the removal of Christ from the world will get much worse than this. You could either look at this as a bad thing, or look at it as prophetic events that must happen in order for Christ to return. I perfer to be optimistic and see it as bible prophecy happening in my lifetime, and the eventual return of Christ.
 
Robert in SD:
When I was a little boy, the phrase “Happy Holidays” was simply understood as the shortened version of “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” … so … when someone wishes you “happy holidays” why not respond by saying “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too.” 😃
Click to expand...
Not only are there Hannukah parties, there are Hannukah gifts (usually for the kids and usually not as big as many American Christmas presents, but still) and Hannukah decorations (usually blue and white or with menorahs) and this year, Hannukah begins on December 25th. If someone wishes me a Happy Holidays, I assume they mean Christmas/New Years or Hannukah/New Years or simply just New Years because they can’t tell if I’m Christian or Jewish or neither. I don’t expect people at a store to specifically say one or the other. I don’t go around with a banner slung over my shoulders that reads “I’m a Christian,” so why should I expect some stranger to know? Sometimes I may wear a cross, but I don’t all the time, and that would be about the only way to know for sure.
Click to expand...
If I’m in church, I expect a Merry Christmas greeting. If I’m buying a Christmas tree, I’d not be surprised at all about a Merry Christmas greeting. But from a secular store when I give no clues about if I’m Christian or not? That’s asking people to be mind readers and heart readers and that’s just not possible. I think people are getting way too worked up over nothing.
Click to expand...
I have to say that I agree with the above. I live in a huge city with people of all origins (Christian, Buddist, Muslim, Jewish, and who knows what else). With all the division in the world today I’m just glad that people are wishing each other a “happy” something. And I respect their traditions enough to not insist that they adopt mine. To assume that you are being singled out and persecuted seems to be a bit of a stretch for me.
 
I think that the whole “Christmas Wars” thing is important if only that it shows that America IS still a Christian nation and that we won’t be quieted and put into a corner by the liberal minority of “tolerant” media persons who insist on “diversifying” our language. It is Christmas season that all the hype is about - we should be acknowledging that.

I was listening to Ave Maria Radio (www.avemariaradio.com) and they had some great stats about how our population identifies itself:
80% Christian
15% None
1.4% Jewish
0.6% Muslim
0.4% Hindu
(I also saw these stats in NCR from a 2001 U.S. Census)
Why, of WHY are we allowing the 15% “NONE” to tell us 80% Christians not to use the more specific description of CHRISTMAS Tree, Merry CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS Shopping, etc. and move to the more generic “Holiday Greetings” language? It’s simply statistically absurd.
Also, I have been very encouraged from reports that I’ve heard on Catholic Radio that various major stores are responding to the negative Christian response to these types of PC uses of language - it is making a difference.
Most importantly it is sending the message that the Christians in America are a huge force to be reckoned with culturally and politically - it’s just good press and that is a powerful weapon that we don’t often have on our side.
 
I get a kick out of the Happy Holidays switch from Merry Christmas. Holiday is derived from “Holy Day”. Since This “Holy Day” is historically Christ’s birthday passed down by the Roman Catholic Church, I think they are just acknowledging that everyone should see this day as a holy day. (Tongue in cheek) Thank you Rome for giving the world our Holiday of Christmas.
 
I don’t get offended by the Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukah or Merry Christmas. Everyone is too easily offended these days… on both sides of the issue.

The one thing I think is rediculous is the Holiday Tree… what other holiday is the tree supposed to be for? They still want to have a decorated tree (which is clearly christian - and has been adopted by christians for centuries now) But they don’t want to call it a christmas tree? Who would be offended by the name christmas but not the tree itself?? If you are offended by the name christmas, wouldn’t a symbol of that holiday be offensive as well, whatever it is called?

It’s like having a cross set up for easter but calling it the holiday T instead. Like people don’t know what the cross is for!!
 
40.png
mellysue:
I don’t get offended by the Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukah or Merry Christmas. Everyone is too easily offended these days… on both sides of the issue.

The one thing I think is rediculous is the Holiday Tree… what other holiday is the tree supposed to be for? They still want to have a decorated tree (which is clearly christian - and has been adopted by christians for centuries now) But they don’t want to call it a christmas tree? Who would be offended by the name christmas but not the tree itself?? If you are offended by the name christmas, wouldn’t a symbol of that holiday be offensive as well, whatever it is called?

It’s like having a cross set up for easter but calling it the holiday T instead. Like people don’t know what the cross is for!!
Click to expand...
Great point mellysue. 👍

and Merry Christmas to you. 🙂
 
I recently wished a Muslim acquaintance Merry Christmas and she was not offended! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

Peace,

George
 
Like that cell phone commercial last year…

Merry ChrismaHannuKwanzika

:rolleyes:

😃
 
Merry Christmas from Pope Benedict the XVI. Looks like Christmas is something he feels important enough to get all decked out for: 🙂 :cool: 👍

http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/common/imageViewer/0,1445,217335,00.jpg
Benedict, who changed into his more familiar white skull cap when he arrived at the podium, told a packed St. Peter’s Square Christmas was a time to remember the true roots of the faith.
Click to expand...
Looking out over the square with its 30-metre (100-foot) Christmas tree, the German pope said that Christmas lights adorning cities and houses around the world should “remind us of another light, invisible to the eyes but not to the heart”.
Click to expand...
stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3519549a12,00.html
Click to expand...
~~ the phoenix
 
40.png
mellysue:
I don’t get offended by the Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukah or Merry Christmas. Everyone is too easily offended these days… on both sides of the issue.

The one thing I think is rediculous is the Holiday Tree… what other holiday is the tree supposed to be for? They still want to have a decorated tree (which is clearly christian - and has been adopted by christians for centuries now) But they don’t want to call it a christmas tree? Who would be offended by the name christmas but not the tree itself?? If you are offended by the name christmas, wouldn’t a symbol of that holiday be offensive as well, whatever it is called?

It’s like having a cross set up for easter but calling it the holiday T instead. Like people don’t know what the cross is for!!
Click to expand...
It’s all about protecting the rights of the peolpe who don’t believe in anything. Like it offends them to see religion decorations. Well I would like to say to them “get over it.” It should be called christmas tree,in schools we have to call it a holiday party call it Christmas,Hanuka ,Kwanzaa or any other religion that have their religionous days. Seeing others having their holidays wouldn;t bother me at all. Alot of Chistian,Jewish,Muslims and others died to keep this a free country. So we should be able to call our holidays by their names and not holiday what ever. If you don’t believe in anything thats ok to , just don’t make us change our ways.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top