I am a casualty of the infamous War on Christmas! I say Happy Holidays... feels most appropriate in NYC given all the diverse religions.
How about you?
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Merry Christmas. I've never offended anyone by saying it. Christ is the reason my family celebrates Christmas. If I knew someone was Jewish (or any other religion) I would definitey make an effort to say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever was appropriate). But in general I say Merry Christmas.
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On Christmas, I say "Merry Christmas." Otherwise, I tend to say Happy Holidays, because that also applies to New Year's. And I do say Happy Yuletide to my pagan friends. I also celebrate 12th Night.
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I say Merry CHRISTmas since Jesus is the reason my family celebrates the season.
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I say Merry Christmas, even though I don't practice any religion myself. We do celebrate a secular Christmas with family gathering, and presents and such. If I know someone doesn't celebrate Christmas, I just say Happy Holidays, or use the appropriate holiday greeting.
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I've gone all PC and say Happy Holidays just in case, too, since I live in New York.
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I appreciate you "Happy Holidays" people!
It's always so awkward when someone tells me Merry Christmas. Then I have to think, do I tell them thanks, but I don't celebrate Christmas, or just let it go because they don't really care... which is what I always end up doing.
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I say happy holidays most of the month of December, and wish people a merry Christmas on 12/24 and 12/25...
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I celebrate Christmas so I say Merry Christmas. Even if someone doesn't celebrate Christmas I would hope they wouldn't get offended. Surely they will be able to tell that my intentions were to wish them happiness, warm fuzzies, whatever and not to insult their religious believes (or lack thereof).
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@eeh: As a Jew, I'm not insulted when people tell me Merry Christmas. I do understand that people are just spreading their holiday cheer, and I do think that's nice. It's just kind of weird for me because I don't know how to react.
Put yourself in my shoes. What would you say if someone came up to you and said "Happy Chanukah!"
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i say merry christmas to people i know. or people from church. but if i met some random people, i'd probably say happy holidays.
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Happy holidays. Everyone can appreciate it and not be offended.
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Merry Christmas
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Merry Christmas. Everytime.
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@artbee: I would say thank you or you too and continue on the way. For me it's more of the intention (wishing happiness/merriness) than the actual words.
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@eeh: But you are saying words. People hear the words you are saying, not the intention that you have. If you want to wish happiness, than you should do so.
What bothers me is that everybody does assume that everybody celebrates Christmas. Wherever we go, everybody does wish you a Merry Christmas. Yes, I get that they're just trying to be nice. But I think it would be a little bit nicer to try to include us non Christmas people as well.
Plus, some Jews do get really offended by this. My hubby HATES it! While I just get slightly annoyed, he goes crazy.
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@artbee: I agree. I don't think it's polite to say Merry Christmas unless you know for sure that someone celebrates.
I know so many Jews and atheists who get upset about this as well.
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I only say, "Merry Christmas!" All I've ever gotten back is smiles.
I wish they would say, "No, thank you" back to me if they don't like it.
We also plaster Christ-centered sentiment all over our Christmas cards to our friends. We love Jesus-spreading on the HOLIdays. -
I will not fall prey to Happy Holidays. I always say Merry Christmas during December and Happy New Year on Jan 1. If I know someone is Jewish, I will tell them Happy Hanukkah during Hanukkah.
Hey @mrsartbee why are there so many spellings for Chanukah? The other spelling came up on my phone. Also, if someone said that to me, I'd say, thank you! I would figure that person celebrates Chanukah and I would be happy they are sharing that with me!
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@mediagirl: Because it's the English transliteration of a Hebrew word, and there's no standard way to spell Hebrew words in English.
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Merry Christmas!!
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@artbee: interesting. Thank you!
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I say Merry Christmas. It's what my family and I celebrate, and I don't mean to offend anyone but it's what I believe, so it's my way of sharing my beliefs.
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@mediagirl: Your welcome!
I think it's easy for everyone to say that they'd be happy to hear a Happy Chanukah and be glad to say "thanks, you too" (which is also my response to Merry Christmas).
But I don't think that you can actually understand what us non Christmas people go through unless you live it. Christmas is everywhere. People are constantly saying Merry Christmas. We're not represented at all, and people seem to forget that we exist with all of the Christmas spirit going around.
I'm not trying to be a grinch, or be mean about this. I just think that people should try to understand. Or maybe it would be good for others to know what Jewish (or non Christmas celebrating people) think about this stuff.
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I kind of think the intent is obvious though. If someone says Merry Christmas with a smile it's pretty easy for me to gather that they aren't telling me to take a hike. I understand not everyone celebrates Christmas but I do and therefore I choose to use that as my greeting. It's not meant to offend or ignore a certain population. It's meant as a nice greeting. To me it's a little like saying good morning and running the risk of encountering a non-morning person. Doesn't mean I won't say it just because someone doesn't celebrate the same way I do.
*yes, I understand there us a big difference between someone's religious preference and a time of day. It's just an example.
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@artbee: you make good points. I don't think it's ever been a big deal for me because my Jewish friends just rolled with whatever at Christmas time. I can't put myself in your shoes and I'm not going to go any further for a. fear of hijacking this topic or b. getting into a big controversial discussion.
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@mrbee: thank you! I'm sure the Jews of Brooklyn appreciate you!
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i say "happy holidays," unless i know for certain which winter holiday someone celebrates, and then i specify
or, since around mid-november i stick with "have a nice holiday" or something like that
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I say Merry Christmas because it's the holiday I celebrate and nobody ever seems offended by it. If I know somebody is Jewish or of another religion, I would try to be respective of them.
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I don't have to say either often, but usually Happy Holidays so I don't offend anyone. If someone says Merry Christmas to me, I do reply with Merry Christmas to you, too, in return.
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I tend to say Merry Christmas but I always buy Happy Holidays or Season's Greeting cards!
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I say Merry Christmas unless someone says Happy Holidays to me.
I'm Buddhist and I actually know the real history of Christmas so I don't feel like saying Christmas if offensive.Obviously Christmas is a huge holiday and people shouldn't waste their energy being offended by the word.
I mean, do we make up something for Halloween for all the people who don't celebrate it? Like uh...Happy Eat Candy until you pass out day! Woot!
Don't give words power. -
I say Happy Holidays. I too am in NYC so maybe we are surrounded by such diversity that you assimilate? haha I was out with my friend shopping and in NYC you wouldn't typically hear a salesperson say Merry Christmas. My friend is Jewish and when we left Starbucks the girl behind the counter said merry christmas!. My friend said "thank you. Happy Hanukah!" and I think that was a nice way to handle it. That way you appreciate the sentiment and wish your holiday back. Perhaps it also would ring a bell to the counter girl that happy holidays is a much more polite and inclusive way of including everyone when you don't know what they celebrate. It doesn't take much more time to say happy holidays and at least you know it will be taken as nicely as your intentions
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I say both. But Merry Christmas is what I use most.
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@eco girl your friend has it just right! I think you should say whatever you want and just respond with what you celebrate. No one is wishing you happy holidays or merry christmas to offend!
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Merry Christmas... but the only places I've really had to say it are all with people who I know celebrate Christmas (Church, work team, family, friends). I do say Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends, but I don't think I've ever said "Happy holidays."
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Personally I say Merry Christmas, but when I'm on work time, I say Happy holidays, unless I know from the rest of a transaction that the purchase is for Christmas. In that case, I WILL say Merry Christmas. I don't want to have a customer complain about my choice of words!
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I say "Merry Christmas," although if someone said "Happy Holidays" to me, that's probably what I would say back to them.
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@Nskillet Yes she finds it a chance to enlighten but in a pleasant way. I don't think you can say the sentiment of the greeting is rude because it is meant in a positive way. I do think assuming everyone is of one religion or celebrates one holiday is presumptuous but not rude per se. It would be akin to wishing everyone a Happy Kwanzaa. No I don't think people would get mad about it but it would probably be a bit annoying.
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@ecogirl: That's exactly how I feel. It's not offensive to me, just annoying.
Although I do know many Jews who are offended by it... and I don't feel like people have the right to tell them what they should and should not be offended by.
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58 comments