I don't mind saying Happy Holidays

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whatevergirl

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I’m not sure what all the hub bub is about. I will say this, though. That I don’t believe there is a thing wrong with wishing folks merry Christmas. But, for retailers, etc…even in the workplace, suppose someone is Jewish, or atheist? I mean, wishing them a merry Christmas seems trite, if you are not 100% sure if the person celebrates the occasion. Plus, how about the new year’s celebration? Many celebrate that, and so that can be considered a ‘holiday,’ as well. I don’t have any qualms about telling people…‘happy holidays.’ If I know WITHOUT A DOUBT that someone is Christian, and celebrates Christmas, then I wish that person/family a Merry Christmas. Actually, a blessed Christmas. And if you know someone is jewish, do you wish them a happy hannukah? I have. I think it’s important to respect others’ traditions and holiday customs.

I think it’s INSANE that there is so much in-fighting within our society over two words–Merry Christmas. lol I think that if I were not Christian, I would not be offended if someone said those words to me. So, on the flip side, I think it’s insane that so many egg shells have been put in front of us all to walk on, when it comes to this subject.

Anyways–just my thoughts. I don’t really mind saying Happy Holidays…unless I know the person celebrates Christmas. How about you?
 
No problem with “Happy Holidays” Especially from retailers and such that want to include everyone. But then again I am pretty tolerant of other peoples views. At work I usually tell people to “Have a good Holiday” since I don’t know everyones views, its just easier and I don’t risk upsetting anyone.
 
I agree mia. I also wonder when did we become such an offended society? ha I wouldn’t be offended if someone wished me merry Christmas, and I didn’t celebrate it. But if someone wished me a happy hannukah…hmmm…I don’t think I’d be offended, but that would be different!:o
 
You know- I don’t mind either. Maybe it’s because I grew up in an area where at least a quarter of the population isn’t Christian. If I know what religion someone is, I specifically wish them a happy (insert holiday). If I don’t know, Happy Holidays covers it all and it’s meant to be polite and friendly, not offensive or dismissive. I hate the eggshell dance.
 
Happy Holidays is fine… as long as that’s the only option.

But I definitely get a little annoyed when going to retailers who will have signs up that say “Happy Holidays” AND “Happy Hanukkah” AND everything EXCEPT “Merry Christmas”… which I’ve definitely noticed a trend of LEAVING OUT Christmas. :o

And for the FIRST TIME this year, after looking through MULTIPLE stores (walmart, target, walgreens, cvs, hallmark, and 2 groceries) I haven’t found ONE kind of religious wrapping paper. It’s sad… it’s definitely a trend… it was there in years past! 🤷

Looking at the “Christmas” cards we’ve received this year - well over 40 at this point - we’ve gotten 2 (TWO!) that said ANY reference to “Christmas”… and one was from our parish. 😦 They all say “happy holidays” or “seasons greetings”… etc…

On ours we specifically wrote “Christ is born! Merry Christmas!”… and yes, I sent that card to Jewish friends & relatives and just hand-write “Happy Hanukkah!” on the front of the photo-card.

Yeah… I’m a little down about that this year. :o
 
I don’t mind it either! I also didn’t mind when the cashier at Target wished me a “Very Merry Christmas” last night. Heck, I wouldn’t mind if a someone wished me a “Happy Kwanza”. I really enjoy people enthusiastically wishing me a happy anything, normally the people I encounter when I’m out and about are anything but enthusiastic.

–
 
I work grocery retail, and I used to say Merry Christmas to our customers… Until I got my head bitten off by a Jehovah’s Witness. Now I just say Happy Holidays or I don’t say anything unless a customer says Merry Christmas first.
 
EmBee said:
II really enjoy people enthusiastically wishing me a happy anything, normally the people I encounter when I’m out and about are anything but enthusiastic.
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This! 👍

That being said, Christmas cards shouldn’t be holiday cards and Christmas trees shouldn’t be holiday trees. They are a Christmas tradition and getting rid of what they’ve been called for so long just to be politically correct is ridiculous! 🤷
 
kevinsgirl said:
This! 👍

That being said, Christmas cards shouldn’t be holiday cards and Christmas trees shouldn’t be holiday trees. They are a Christmas tradition and getting rid of what they’ve been called for so long just to be politically correct is ridiculous! 🤷
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One year I was feeling very annoyed by one of dh’s relatives, who kept yelling out “Jesus is the reason for the season” whenever we talked about gifts, parties, decorating, anything Christmas related. So I was at the store and I found a card with a big picture of the earth on it, and it said “The tilt of the earth’s axis is the reason for the seasons” I bought a whole box of them just to send him one. I know it was bad,😊 but it made me feel soooooo good!
 
mommamia said:
One year I was feeling very annoyed by one of dh’s relatives, who kept yelling out “Jesus is the reason for the season” whenever we talked about gifts, parties, decorating, anything Christmas related. So I was at the store and I found a card with a big picture of the earth on it, and it said “The tilt of the earth’s axis is the reason for the seasons” I bought a whole box of them just to send him one. I know it was bad,😊 but it made me feel soooooo good!
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:rotfl:

–
 
When someone says “Happy Holidays” to me, I reply back in agreement, “Happy Holy Days to you too!”

The reactions are so precious, I should bring a camera to record the moment.
 
:christmastree1: There have been times when I said Happy Holidays to clients at work…especially to those I know are Jewish and they all responded…Merry Christmas! 😛
 
mommamia said:
One year I was feeling very annoyed by one of dh’s relatives, who kept yelling out “Jesus is the reason for the season” whenever we talked about gifts, parties, decorating, anything Christmas related. So I was at the store and I found a card with a big picture of the earth on it, and it said “The tilt of the earth’s axis is the reason for the seasons” I bought a whole box of them just to send him one. I know it was bad,😊 but it made me feel soooooo good!
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HAHAHAHA! 😃
 
I totally agree. Even on here I read threads about people refusing to shop at stores where the clerks say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

Give me a break.

Yes, it is the Christmas season. Yes, we are a country founded on Christian principles. That does not mean everyone who lives here is Christian. And its a little presumptuous to act like everyone is.

If I am in public and don’t know who’s who, than Happy Holidays covers everyone.

HOWEVER…
It is a CHRISTMAS tree. You don’t celebrate Christmas, then don’t buy a CHRISTMAS tree. Don’t buy CHRISTMAS cards, don’t sing CHRISTMAS carols. Don’t put up CHRISTMAS trees.

I have a Jewish friend. I plan on sending her a Hanukuh ecard. And she will wish me Merry Christmas.

Its about respecting everyone. And that means, I won’t shove a “Merry Christmas” down your throat, and you leave me in peace about the “Jesus is the reason” magnet on my car.
 
Em_in_FL said:
Happy Holidays is fine… as long as that’s the only option.

But I definitely get a little annoyed when going to retailers who will have signs up that say “Happy Holidays” AND “Happy Hanukkah” AND everything EXCEPT “Merry Christmas”… which I’ve definitely noticed a trend of LEAVING OUT Christmas. :o

And for the FIRST TIME this year, after looking through MULTIPLE stores (walmart, target, walgreens, cvs, hallmark, and 2 groceries) I haven’t found ONE kind of religious wrapping paper. It’s sad… it’s definitely a trend… it was there in years past! 🤷

Looking at the “Christmas” cards we’ve received this year - well over 40 at this point - we’ve gotten 2 (TWO!) that said ANY reference to “Christmas”… and one was from our parish. 😦 They all say “happy holidays” or “seasons greetings”… etc…

On ours we specifically wrote “Christ is born! Merry Christmas!”… and yes, I sent that card to Jewish friends & relatives and just hand-write “Happy Hanukkah!” on the front of the photo-card.

Yeah… I’m a little down about that this year. :o
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That’s a good point–why is merry Christmas being left out, and nothing else is? I agree, that it should be all or nothing said.
 
I work retail and to stay out of the bruh-haha I say have a good afternoon or evening (depending) when I finish up a sale. This year I have had many customers enthusiastically wish me a Merry Christmas (which is a new thing) and then I wish them an enthusiastic Merry Christmas in return. We do have quite a few Jewish and Muslim customers so I really wouldn’t feel right wishing someone a Merry Christmas unless I knew for sure that is what they celebrate.

This year we actually have Merry Christmas gift cards (as well as ones with the Jewish star on it). We also have signage with Merry Christmas on them instead of Happy Holidays. Infact I’ve seen a lot more of the word Christmas in stores in general this year.
 
🤷

Does this thread not come up this time every year or what?

I never understood the controversy over this thing. There’s nothing wrong with happy holidays because most Catholics/Christians celebrate both Christmas and New Years anyways. Whatever people are comfortable with is fine.

I wish people a Merry Christmas and/or say have a happy new year. If I know the person’s Jewish then I’ll say happy holidays.

If somebody takes offence to Merry Christmas or happy holidays, that’s their problem. The idea, whether you say happy holidays or Merry Christmas, is that you are wishing said person joy, happiness, and well being during this season. It’s not necessarily the words, more so the message behind them. For goodness sakes it just an act of kindness.
 
I’ve wished non-Christians Merry Christmas before – I have to say it was “accidental” in that on one occasion they were working Christmas Eve and another was a neighbor of my sister’s whom we ran into at the mall the day after Christmas – both these instances the people were Muslim, I believe. With my sister’s friend, almost immediately, I realized that they weren’t Christian; and I admit I felt bad that I had not realized that but the lady was extremely gracious and wished me a Merry Christmas right back. The other case with the gentleman who was working, he also wished me a Merry Christmas – he was Middle Eastern so I’m making an assumption that he was not Christian which I probably shouldn’t do 😃

I think that most non-Christians would recognize it for what it is – someone being friendly and polite and wishing them well on the holiday that they celebrate and accept it with grace and dignity, but there are those who will cause a ruccus about it in which case I say “Bah humbug.”
 
mommamia said:
One year I was feeling very annoyed by one of dh’s relatives, who kept yelling out “Jesus is the reason for the season” whenever we talked about gifts, parties, decorating, anything Christmas related. So I was at the store and I found a card with a big picture of the earth on it, and it said “The tilt of the earth’s axis is the reason for the seasons” I bought a whole box of them just to send him one. I know it was bad,😊 but it made me feel soooooo good!
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::Falls off chair laughing:: Good way to jab the fellow! I’m all for putting Christ back into Christ Mass, but I canNOT stand the rigorists who go into conniptions when someone mentions Santa Claus or Christmas trees. Best way to handle someone like this is a dose of humor!
 
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