2006-12-23 13:26:48 · 31 answers · asked by flyingpig2012 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I think that it is less about excluding Christ and more about including the beliefs and celebrations of others.
2006-12-23 13:30:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Personally I say Happy Holidays to people that I don't know very well, just so I don't wish them a nice holiday that they don't even celebrate. If I am speaking to someone i know, i always say Merry Christmas. There are several different holidays that are celebrated this time of year, and all of them have different rituals. The term Happy Holidays is inclusive rather then exclusive.
Then again, these days it seems to be a huge deal that anyone who says Happy Holidays is an anti-Christian and is just trying to keep Christ out of it. I just smile because if they are celebrating Christmas, they are the ignorant ones who are taking part in something they "don't believe in". To each it's own is what it basically boils down to I guess.
2006-12-23 21:48:43 · answer #2 · answered by Mellissa Mojo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
somewhat. Not really to EXCLUDE christ, but to include everyone in the festivities of winter that dont necisarily believe in christ...
christmas is actually only a symbol for a holiday. Pretty much everything in "christmas" traditions originated from paganism, besides the nativity scene.
its just being fair to those who believe different, seeing as mose people do celebrate something in this time, not necisarily "christmas"
I have a few friends who dont celebrate christmas (ones hindu, ones jehova's witness, and ones just an individual family who doesnt celebrate) and they dont mind,
but it bothers me when people say paganism has nothing to do with christmas, when its customs began the whole thing.
its called yule, which is on the winter solstice.
During the catholic reformation, when people were pagan, and others were leaving the church, becoming protestants, this was the developmental idea to bring in the pagans, making their holidays look identical, so they wouldnt miss home too bad. Its stuck ever since, adding more every few hundred years.
just think of others when u get mad that its happy holidays instead of merry christmas.
2006-12-23 21:35:17 · answer #3 · answered by jo_elizabeth2009 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, I imagine it's their way of saying have a lovely holiday season. The season includes Advent, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule, and New Years. (if I left some out, sorry) People have been saying Happy Holidays for years. In fact Bing Crosby recorded a song with that very name in the late 40s. Also, you could be wishing a person a good vacation as well since holiday is another word for vacation.
2006-12-23 21:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by Purdey EP 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When people say "Happy Holidays" it's to 1) be politically correct and 2) to include those who celebrate Kwanzaa and Hanukkah and other religions. I myself say Merry Christmas to everyone, unless I can tell she/he is Jewish or otherwise. I have not got yelled at or anything else. I am at work when I wish people a Merry Christmas so I suppose I'm not in trouble. I do see your point of view becuase it's almost like we are supposed to be tolerant of other religions but if we, as Christians tell them they need to do the same we get yelled at. It is sad. But I will forever be telling everyone ' Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" God Bless!
2006-12-23 21:38:55 · answer #5 · answered by Alicia 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say Happy Holidays because of Chanukah and Yule and because of others who do not celebrate Christmas. If someone says, "Merry Christmas" to me, I respond in kind because it honors their religion. It has nothing to do with Christ, and you need to understand that most people are not Christian and many people in the world have never even heard of the holiday, the Bible, or any of it.
Christmas, today, is not about the Mass of the Nativity. It's about gifting and regifting and going into debt and not appreciating the effort people go to when they make presents.
2006-12-23 21:39:49 · answer #6 · answered by Jess B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are trying to be Politicaly Correct, which is just more Liberal, anti "In God We Trust," American Civil Liberty destructive actions. But, this time it is correct. I had a Happy Holiday last 4th of July, and Labor Day. God Bless the United States of America, our President and all of our Military Personell stationed around the World. Oh, and I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2007.
2006-12-23 21:36:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not. I'm including wishes for everyone, such as the bus driver, the mail man, the girls at Dunkin Donuts, and the cashier at Target for a good holiday season- some of them I KNOW don't celebrate Christmas because of their cultural differences ( such as the two Hindu girls at DD), but some I have no clue what religion they are, or if they celebrate Christmas at all. I will say "Merry Christmas" to everyone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, however.
2006-12-23 22:11:13 · answer #8 · answered by Flea© 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is an unfortunate tendency to make Christmas a Santa Claus Holiday, to introduce new characters, such as (??????) Mother Santa (????) and many other stupid things.
A Christian should say to other Christians and non Christians (on the Dec 25th): The Christ is born.
By saying: happy holidays, one is just polite. No more - no less. It is a kind of ecumenical greeting (is there one?).
2006-12-23 21:39:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they're not. They are actually trying to be nice. Not everyone is a Christian, and they may not celebrate Christmas. Because people have different holidays during the same time of year, it's better to say Happy Holidays to be more inclusive.
2006-12-23 21:30:34 · answer #10 · answered by Jerrysberries 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋