I work in a grocery store and, to me, it just seems like the polite thing to say. I'm not a Christian, I have no idea if the person I'm checking out is a Christian, I don't want to wish them a happy holiday that they don't celebrate. If I'm around friends and I know the person celebrates Christmas I'll say "Merry Christmas," or "Happy Hanukka" if that's what the celebrate, but to a stranger? I'd rather be safe and wish them a "happy any-holiday." Yet I still get people who get offended and say "No, it's Merry CHRISTmas." I always feel like responding "Actually, Christmas was a holiday stolen from the Pagans, so really is Merry MITHRASmas, thanks." But I'd probably get fired.
What do you think? Is "Happy Holidays" the right way to go? Why do people get offended? What should I do the next time it happens?
2006-12-07 04:10:12 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes I do, TAOIST. It's happened to me three or four times since the holiday season began.
2006-12-07 04:13:40 · update #1
I work in an office and I've been saying Happy Holidays. People just smile and say it back. And yes, "Happy Holidays" is absolutely the right way to go.
Like you said, if you say Merry Christmas, you assume that the other person celebrates Christmas — often a fair bet, but not as guaranteed as it once was. As the religious pluralism of America increases, so must the sensitivity of its citizens. The fewer traditional Christians there are around, the less people can assume that everyone is celebrating the usual Christian holidays & doing the usual Christian things. It’s impolite to make assumptions about people you don’t know.
Unfortunately, some people are turning the phrase Merry Christmas into a fetish, something done for its own sake instead of using it as a sincere greeting. It’s an aggressive statement about one’s own identity that is thrown in the face of others as a challenge or even an insult. It’s not about defending religious meaning in Christmas, but defending a religious identity & a set of traditional privileges.
2006-12-07 04:14:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with saying happy holidays as long as the store isn't forcing you to say happy holidays.
There have been instances where people are getting sued for saying Merry Christmas or fired.
I know it sounds absurd but it happens.
As far as I know no ones actually been prosecuted on saying it.
You are forgetting one thing:
Atheists celebrate Christmas
Pagans celebrate Christmas
In fact almost everybody in America buys presents for each other.
Christmas has a dual function if you will:
At a societal level its a secular holiday.
At a christian level its a religious holiday.
Do you know as a christian I celebrate Hanukkah.
Why not?
When you think about it Christmas is about the only holiday when all Americans get together and celebrate.
Come on now,don't tell me your gonna sit home and stare at the wall on Christmas?
Do you really think Pagans are gonna sit home and sulk because its (not) their holiday?
Everybody celebrates Christmas.
I really don't care what you want to call it, as long as I'm free to say Merry Christmas.
In fact I noticed that many Atheists on here support it being called Christmas because they see the silliness in calling it other names.
I read the answers that atheists give about Christmas.
I also have friends on here that are Atheist that agree with me.
The thing about christmas that hurts me the most though,is not the saying, but the carols.
Did you know many schools ban carols at school, only secular music is allowed.
Even towns now have no christmas carols only secular xmas songs.
God Bless
2006-12-08 13:45:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just say Have a good day and don't worry about holidays.
And I have seen people get rude about it. Some think their holiday is the only one.
One of the local businesses made a big deal about how they were preserving the holidays and keeping Christ in Christmas and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. In a week or so they were back on eating crow and hoping wishing everyone well no matter what holiday they celebrated. Even in this little backwater town you cant be exclusive.
2006-12-07 04:17:10 · answer #3 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When will America finally learn that you can't please everybody all the time.
happy holidays should be fine. If they get offended then tough. If an Atheist gets offended by merry X-mas then tough. Its the thought that counts right? Why do the words HAVE to be the perfect words? This is ridiculous!
No offense wonder girl. (er Girl Wonder)
Does calling you wonder girl during an apology offend you?
The question is rhetoric off course. Protect your job and say happy holidays. I'll take a happy holiday from you ANY day : )
2006-12-07 04:20:32 · answer #4 · answered by elliott 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sure seems like some folks get offended very easily these days.
I don't get bent out of shape from people wishing me a good anything, but prefer to hear 'happy holidays' for 2 reasons:
1) it is, as you say, more respectful towards people whose tradition is unknown to you
2) there is more than one holiday, many people who celebrate Christmas also celebrate New Years
One other thing - some folks I know who get offended by 'happy holidays' also get offended when I wish them a Merry Christmas in the first week of January, but that is when us Orthodox Christians celebrate it. Maybe the existance of people different from them offends them. That is their problem, I say ignore them.
2006-12-07 04:18:47 · answer #5 · answered by sudonym x 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I may not say Merry Christmas because some may not celebrate it. I think saying happy holidays is the more general verbage to wish someone just that, a happy holiday which can be Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or New Years. I dont think it is offensive. Besides, what is wrong with just wishing someone to be happy?
2006-12-07 05:12:03 · answer #6 · answered by ♣DreamDancer♣ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Like you, when I know what someone is celebrating (if anything) I give happy wishes for their specific holiday. If I don't know, I use "Happy Holidays". I wonder if the people who publicly make such a fuss about it realize how bad it makes them look to others. Then again, since you work with the public I am sure that you are familiar with folks who are contrary just for the sake of being contrary. I remember when I worked with the public---people can be very rude any time of the year.
2006-12-07 05:26:08 · answer #7 · answered by Witchy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Happy Holidays" is fine. I've lived in several parts of the US and large metropolitan areas go with the more neutral sayings. But in the South, I often hear "Merry Christmas." Yet even when I was in NYC and work for a Jewish run art gallery, many spoke of "Christmas cards" and "Christmas presents" sent from artists we represented. Really, it isn't that big of a deal.
2006-12-07 04:16:41 · answer #8 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard of anyone getting offended, but if they do, that's their problem. You can't really win. Somebody might decide to get offended because you say "Merry Christmas". Some people are just looking for reasons to get offended - seems they haven't been offended enough in their lives! lol
2006-12-07 04:15:52 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was shopping during Xmas one year and the clerk told the woman in front of me Happy Holidays. The woman began screaming at the clerk for not saying Merry Christmans, b/c (and I quote) "that's what we're really celebrating, isn't it?!" I found this disgusting and I will never forget it.
2006-12-07 04:16:59 · answer #10 · answered by mutterhalls 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋