"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"?

Question

In my opinion, respecting other religious celebrations is a good thing, but Christmas is an American tradition, and as such it deserves the respect and acknowledgement of American citizens, even if they choose not to celebrate it. "Happy Holidays" is okay, but when the ACLU starts demanding we call Christmas trees "holiday trees" or, worse yet, "community trees," and schools start punishing students for wearing red and green*, I think we have a major problem in our society, not to mention an infringement of our First Ammendment rights. What do you think?


*True stories, by the way.

"incubabe" is a moron. If you didn't notice, I SAID I had nothing against the more inclusive "Happy Holidays" in mixed social settings. For your information, it IS an infringement of our rights when we can not freely celebrate the holiday of our choice in the public square. The fact of the matter is, a Christmas tree is a CHRISTMAS SYMBOL. Calling it a "holiday tree" is like calling a menorah "holiday candles." If you would open your mind for one second, you would know that there HAS been judicial legislation on our right to celebrate freely, and that IS an infringment of our First Ammendment rights. Period. Why don't you wake up and quit being such an ignorant, presumptuous moron?

Answer 1

Christmas trees are Christmas trees. Christmas should be Merry. Every culture has the right to celebrate in their own way. Why can't we just enjoy together?Is it fair for you to call Incubabe a moron when you asked for peoples opinion. Clearly it is about commercializing. This is the time of year when they are going to kiss everyone's *** just to make some money. It's up to us, the individuals, to fall for it or not. You have made a very important point and a lot of people feel the same way. But you also need to hear what others are saying. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all.

Answer 2

Well, I am accustomed to saying Merry Christmas because I grew up in a Catholic home. Canada is a very Catholic nation, and the USA is a very Christian nation, so I don't see anything wrong with saying Merry Christmas. Having said that, I find my self saying Happy Holidays to those people of which I do not know their creed. Happy Holidays encompasses many religious observances this time a year.

However, I think it is RETARDED to disallow places (like Wal-Mart) to say Merry Christmas to their customers. Like you mentioned, the states was founded on Christianity. This whole, "Season's Greetings" thing is silly too. What the heck does that mean? People tell me, "Well because not all religions have a holiday this time of year, so that is why people say it." Makes sense, I'm sure, but why not say Season's Greetings ALL YEAR ROUND? After all, we say "Happy Easter" or "Happy Valentine's Day" and no one seems to care. Not every religion celebrates those days.

Getting back to the whole Merry Christmas thing, lemme give an example. I used to work at Zellers (a Canadian version of K-Mart) and without realizing it, I would tell Jews or Muslims "Merry Christmas!", I have only had ONE in a billion people correct me. So what my point is is that even Jews and Muslims, who do not celebrate Christmas, still participate in things like gift giving and what not and mose do not get offended if you say Merry Christmas instead of "Happy Chaunakuh" or "Happy Holidays". They're not dumb, they now we celebrate it here. After all, it's not like we can look at someone and KNOW what religion they are (in general).

So I guess what I am trying to say is, there is nothing wrong with Merry Christmas, but to be safe, I always say Merry Christmas unless I have an incling or if I KNOW someone is not Catholic or Christian. Or if I am at work.

I am against changing the name of Christmas Tree to Holiday tree. We do not changed the name of the Minorah to incorporate all faiths. The tree is a Jesus following religon symbol, there is a REASON why we put a star on the tree. It has to do with the three wisemen following the star to the manger that Christ was born.

Answer 3

"Happy Holidays" is a nice general greeting, maybe if you were to meet an acquaintance of which you did not know their religion, or if you were in the grocery store, or talking to a big group of people. Obviously, if you were talking to a family member or friend of which you knew their religion, then "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukkah", or "Happy Kwanzaa" is appropriate. As for the holiday trees, or banning red and green for school, I think that is bogus. I, myself, do not celebrate Christmas, but I dont have a problem with people wearing red and green, in fact it even makes the holiday season more interesting and exciting. I even have "Jingle Bell Rock" on my iPod. Many of my friends celebrate different holidays and I am fond of that. But, as far as I know, only people who celebrate Christmas use a Christmas tree (Jews use a Menorah and African-Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa would use a kenarah(sorry if i spelled that wrong) so there is nothing wrong with calling it a Christmas tree, because that is what it is for, Christmas. If people of other religions choose to display a tree in their homes maybe its to feel like they belong or just get into the holiday spirit, but no need to change the name.
Hope this helped, and happy holidays!
(See, I can say that because I dont know what religion you are, because if I said Merry Christmas and you weren't Christian, then you might feel insulted...get it?)

Answer 4

(1) The ACLU is concerned only with government sponsored religious displays, including nativity scenes in government buildings and explicit "endorsements" of Christianity. The Supreme Court has recognized that, oftentimes, mixed displays celebrating all winter holidays are generally acceptable. The ACLU doesn't care whether you, yourself, or Wal-Mart, says "Merry Christmas." That's your free exercise.
(2) Any kid who's punished for wearing red and green has had their Free Exercise rights violated. While a school should be careful about what the TEACHERS say and do related to holidays, what STUDENTS do is a whole different story. I would like to know where you got the "red and green" story -- and was that related to a dress code generally that forbade colors (like gang colors) or anything besides uniforms?

Answer 5

I agree 100% . And I have wrote many stores complaining about taking the word "Christmas " out of their advertising. My thinking if you don't believe in Christ why advertise,or celebrate the the holiday in the first place. Kinda hypocritical to me.
As far as school goes if you don't want to celebrate it nobody is forcing you to. Go to another room . By not letting Christians celebrate you are discriminating against us.We were doing it long before the ACLU/athiests whined till they are getting thier way.
Jesus said if you don't ackowledge me ,I won't know you.
We need to take a stand.

Merry CHRISTmas & Happy New Year

Answer 6

Very well put, Merry Christmas is the way to go. If everyone respects everyone else then no one will care if you say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. All these Anti-Christmas people need a hug and a nice hot cup of cocoa. "Tis the season" to be alot of things, and to be a thorn in every ones happiness is just absurd. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Answer 7

Wow i thought the dress code at my local school was bad (they get in trouble for wearinf a tank top with a sleeves thinner then 4 in) but getting in trouble for wearing red and green. At the local sschool they have a holliday celebration. It does focuz around christmas which isnt respectful for kids who celebrate other holidays but the kids have no problem with that. Also A christmas tree is like a manorah during hanukah. are they gonna make ppl call manorahs commuity candles? That is one thing i dont get! I mean if your gonna call a christmas tree a community tree personally i tihnk its like saying ppl who celebrate different holidays cantdecorate tthe way they do to. well that jsut my opinion.

And btw you shoudl say happy holidays because you dont always know wat holiday they celebrate so if u say merry christmas they could get offended

Answer 8

No offense to anyone but I grew up with the whole Merry Christmas thing in schools and then by the time I was in high school you couldn't have any holiday party in school because it could be offending someone else and I thought that sucked being a kid who was so used to having little holiday parties in school. Some schools don't allow kids to do Valentines Day or even Halloween because it could offend someone. So I think the whole Happy Holiday thing sucks.

Answer 9

Merry Christmas.

Answer 10

As if we don't have enough to worry about these days. There are those who see christmas as a religious holiday and those who no longer recognize it as such. why can't we let it be whatever it represents to each of us respectively, & enjoy it for what it's worth? Either way it is a holiday and we will all benefit from that time off to spend with family.