I just asked a question about people being offended by Merry Christmas, and some of the answers made me wonder about this subject as well! We are used to "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," but we rarely hear "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Kwanzaa." Would you be a bit surprised or startled if a store worker said this to you after completing a sale?
2007-11-29 11:01:59 · 12 answers · asked by Esma 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It has happened, and no, I wasn't so much starttled as pleasantly surprised.
2007-11-29 11:06:37 · answer #1 · answered by atheist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Surprised, yes. I don't hear it often. I wouldn't be offended, though. I wish them a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa right back -- the same way I respond to Merry Christmas.
2007-11-29 11:10:47 · answer #2 · answered by Pull My Finger 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Startled?" No. But I would respond with "and a glad Yule to you!" It is how I respond to anyond wishing me glad tidings for the season, whether they be christian, jewish, or misguided.
Here's something to think about:
The official stance on the spelling of the holiday is that an additional "a" was added to "Kwanza" so that the word would have seven letters. At the time there were seven children in Karenga's United Slaves Organization, each wanted to represent one of the letters in Kwanzaa[4] Also, the name was meant to have a letter for each of what Karenga called the "Seven Principles of Blackness". Another explanation is that Karenga added the extra "a" to distinguish the Afro-American from the African. Kwanzaa is also sometimes incorrectly spelled "kwaanza".
2007-11-29 11:22:52 · answer #3 · answered by tanagila0530 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't have a problem with "Happy Hanukkah". I would, however, have a problem with "Happy Kwanzaa".
The reason is simple. Hanukkah is a millenia-old celebration of an event in Jewish history. It is included in the Jewish and Christian texts.
Kwanzaa is a made up "event", meant to deliberately detract from the true meaning(s) of the season. All it does is try to water down the really importance of this season which is, for us Christians, the birth of the Lord & Savior of the world, Jesus Christ or, for the Jews, celebrates the re-kindling of the Temple menorah at the time of the Maccabee rebellion.
2007-11-29 11:12:31 · answer #4 · answered by †Lawrence R† 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If they wished me a happy kwanzaa, I would be shocked, because I'm not black.
I have jewish friends, and I wish them a happy hannukah.
Except the time I really stepped on my crank and made a christian reference to a mexican girl who attends a catholic high school. How was I to know that she had followed her father's Jewish footsteps? It was funny, though. She became her school's representative at this year's Rose festival. Little Jewish girl from the catholic school.
2007-11-29 11:15:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The clerks who have wished me a Merry Christmas this season have met with, "And a Happy Sol Invictus to you too."
2007-11-29 11:09:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
To be honest, I would be a little surprised just because such a thing happening is so uncommon. But it would certainly be a nice surprise.
2007-11-29 11:10:01 · answer #7 · answered by BlueManticore 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes because it is unexpected. Anything that isn't routine is startling.
2007-11-29 11:06:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Startled maybe, offended no.
2007-11-29 11:06:10 · answer #9 · answered by nikola333 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No because we worship the same God.
2007-11-29 11:05:45 · answer #10 · answered by Apostle Jeff 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋