Hellobee Boards

@swurlygurl: I'm an atheist but celebrate (a secular version of) Christmas, and I wear Christmas stuff all the time so there's not really any chance anyone looking at me wouldn't be able to tell what I celebrate. And I definitely wouldn't be offended by someone saying "happy Hannukah" or whatever. That being said, it's an issue of privilege. As someone else pointed out, it actually all got started with (some, certainly not all) Christians getting offended when people told them Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. They were used to being in the majority, having their holiday as the only acknowledged one, in short having a lot of privilege. So now a lot of them make a point of refusing to say Happy Holidays and insisting on Merry Christmas and being rude to those who don't do the same. And THAT'S what's offensive. Though honestly, I do think it's at least a little thoughtless to always say Merry Christmas no matter who you're talking to. Not rude, just... if you don't know the person celebrates Christmas, and you are aware that choosing to say it anyway can be hurtful/non-inclusive/irritating, why not just say Happy Holidays?

@bluestriped bee: Ooooh yeah, people get very offended by it. Cause, ya know, this is a Christian country so everyone who isn't Christian just needs to sit down and shut up. It's just bizarre. Though at this point I make more of an effort to say Happy Holidays specifically because of people like that. I think that sort of privilege needs to be challenged, not kowtowed to.

@Torchwood: I agree, the whole 'War on Christmas' is ridiculous and privileged. I've heard criticism both ways from people! I told a grocery store clerk 'Happy Holidays', and the lady behind got all annoyed and snipped at me that I need to say 'Merry Christmas', and then the reverse happened the next week. Cranky old ladies need to keep their grump to themselves because now I don't even want to say anything

@Ree723: love this, and the fact that new year's snuck in there haha

Oh man. This whole war on christmas thing is ridiculous. I'm Jewish and get MORE offended by people saying it's a "holiday party" when it's all christmas trees and ornaments and fruitcake and christmas carols. Just call it what it is, A CHRISTMAS PARTY. If it's actually hannukah and you want to say happy hannukah, fine, great, but otherwise, I don't find "Happy Holidays" to be particularly inclusive of anything, it's just sort of "I want to say Merry Christmas but I'm scared to piss you off".

And no i don't get offended when people say anything because how are they supposed to know what I celebrate?

@mrbee: Did you not celebrate Christmas as a child? I know you do now.

I say Merry Christmas because in our community 99% of folks celebrate that.

I might be wrong, but I believe it actually started because a store/company told their employees that they could only tell customers "Happy Holidays" and people got upset about that. I can understand being upset about that, but I don't understand why it has gone so far that people want to crap on Happy Holidays altogether.

@fairy: I always heard this was the reason it started as well, and not a war on Christmas by Christians. I say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays depending on what comes out my mouth at the time. I choose my holiday cards based on the design I like at the store. These days they mostly say Happy Holidays, because companies are being politically correct. I'm Christian, and don't care which one you say to me, I'm just happy to get the well wishes. life is too short, and I'm little too busy to get offended if you tell me Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas just because I'm Christian. My Christmas/Holiday season won't be ruined. As long as you're not telling me **** you, we're good!

@Ree723: @swurlygurl: if someone wished me a Joyous Kwanzaa and wasn't holding a kinara* I would be offended.

* thank you, Google: kinara is the menorah-like candle holder used for the 7 days of Kwanzaa