Christmas season V Holiday Season?

Question

As a non Christian am I the only one that is annoyed this politically correct movement in society to change things such as merry Christmas to happy holidays? For crying out loud call it what it is! I for one sometimes enjoy seeing Christmas decorations on people’s houses and a Christmas tree in the malls.

To quote Ben stein

And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away

And that is exactly how I feel. Is their anyone else out their that feels the same way?

thank you Kjelstad I know the barbaric origins of Christmas. I know it was a time of of violence and great human suffering. Especialy considering that suffering in large part fell on my anccestors.

That was not the statment though. The fact is people DO celibrate is holliday today, abet in a much different way. What I am saying is why should we as a society be embarrased about it?

Answer 1

I am frustrated by this move. It is Christmas, has been and always will be! I won't buy from stores that say Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas. It takes away some of the magic of the season.

For those of you rooted in the PAGEN experience, I celebrate the birth of Christ as Christmas and don't really care what it used to be. Celebrate it for what you will. I don't bad mouth you.

Answer 2

I think you need to look into the Pagan origins of this holiday. I'm sure others are about to educate you.
OK I guess I have to.

The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life. In Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus (dubbed by some modern scholars as a life-death-rebirth deity), the god carries a tapering coniferous tree. Medieval legends, nevertheless, tended to concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at Christmas time. A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the United Kingdom.

See people like firelock down there have no idea. It hasn't "always been" in fact the winter solstice was taken over in about 375 CE because the church was tired of it's flock celebrating the old pagan holiday. They decided to take it over and it was rejected by some until the seventh century.

I'm not saying I have a problem with it, but people should understand that it has not "always been"
I think it is part of the war on faith. People (this would be me) are tired of christians trying to dictate thier morals to people. They are now fighting back. I just read Richard Dawkins and a few other over educated people are starting a "war against faith"? (I think the war 'on' faith is a web site). they are saying it is time for people to stop pretending to go along with all of this christianity and speak out on thier beliefs. Come out of the closet so to speak and let people know they will not have thier lives run by the bible.

Stay out of my personal life and I will gladly call it Christmas.

Answer 3

Jesus wasn't the actual rationalization for the season at the beginning. This has historically been a time while human beings have fun the wintry climate solstice. That later morphed into different countless non secular fairs that pre-dated Christianity. The Christians are in basic terms yet another in an prolonged line that have additionally capitalized on the solstice celebrations. human beings have fun the wintry climate solstice via fact it represents a a million/2-way factor for the period of the main harsh time of the year. it is a time to bear in mind acquaintances and relatives who assist you thru those cases and tutor your appreciation. it is likewise a time to bear in mind people who're having a harder time making it for the period of the wintry climate. eco-friendly vegetation like the pine tree and holly signify existence enduring wintry climate. Feasts are an indulgence of food for the period of a time while food is greater scarce. It represents being grateful for what you have, as is spending time with acquaintances and relatives and changing presents. And sharing food and outfits with people who've much less facilitates each physique bear the wintry climate. those are element of the authentic meaning of this season, no longer some displaced birthday of an previous zealot.

Answer 4

I'm glad to see a healthy attitude. I don't care what good wishes people extend at any time of year. But I will tend to use "Happy Holidays" if I don't know the persons religious persuasion. I certainly will return a greeting if its extended. If someone wishes me "Happy Hanukkah", then that's what I will respond. I also use "Happy Holidays" a lot when I may not see the person for an extended period of time with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Years, Kwanzaa, and Yule all being so close together.

So I'm with you on not putting a holiday chip on my shoulder when people are just trying to be friendly and express good will.

Answer 5

Thanks. I really appreciate your comments. I'm Catholic, so I do get offended when people try to change Christmas. It's insulting. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of my Lord Jesus Christ. Period. I don't hold any grudges or get nasty with people, I just spread the holiday cheer. I LOVE saying Merry Christmas. It's the best time of year next to Easter.

Thanks again, and God bless you.

Answer 6

I don't think you're the only one annoyed by it, but it certainly doesn't bother me.

I bet the pagans were sure annoyed though when the christians came along and changed Yuletide to Christmas.

Answer 7

Absolutely agree with you, and no, I don't feel hypocritical. Have you seen the loonies who want to call it "Winterval"? How sad.

Answer 8

I absolutely agree with you, and I thank you for pointing this out to people.

Answer 9

I think people should be allowed to call it whatever they want to.

Answer 10

THOUSANDS