I used to work in retail and have a few friends who still do...and when I worked at the local grocery store we were told NOT to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS" but "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead.
I have never unerstood this nor did I follow this "rule" regardless of the "consequences"
What is so wrond with saying "MERRY CHRISTMAS"???...
2007-12-08 02:04:30 · 23 answers · asked by C 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Infinity...Most people will tell you if they celebrate CHISTmas or not...If they tell me otherwise I correct my self and say "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Happy Kwanzaa"
queenthesbian-yep I did...My hours were cut ...but not one customer complained that I said "MERRY CHRISTMAS" just the manger...because he said "he didn't want to get any backlash from customers" If thats the case why do the stores decorate for "CHRISTMAS" why not decorate for HANUKKA or KWANZAA??
I respect all peoples beliefs and if you don't celebrate CHRISTMAS -or-HANUKKA-or-KWANZAA and you don't want me to wish you a HAPPY or MERRY anything tell me and I'll just say have a good day. I won't get offened. I've had a few customers tel me they don't celebrate the holidays....so to them I say "Have a great day"
If the stores are going to try to says its better to say "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" OR "SEASONS GREETINGS" than they sholuld decorate for all holidays not just CHRISTMAS! What kind of message is that: We can
2007-12-08 02:56:35 · update #1
decoarte for CHRISTMAS but not say it??
2007-12-08 02:57:32 · update #2
there are other people who are of different ethnical backgrounds, such as jewish, that dont celebrae christmas. so its not politically incorrect, happy holidays is better for everyone, not just us tha celebrate christmas
2007-12-08 02:15:21 · answer #1 · answered by Patrick 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that people have the right to say whatever they want to say. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, etc. It does make it easier to say happy holidays so that you don't have to correct yourself every time someone doesn't celebrate it. It can save time while still spreading holiday cheer. Managers should not make it a requirement. It should be a request. People should greet people during the holidays in their own way. As long as you correct yourself when someone mentions that they don't celebrate. I also believe that stores should celebrate for christmas, hanukkah, and kwanzaa. what is the point of decorating for only one holiday. Isn't that a little biased of the store. That manager was a hypocrite. You cant actually say merry christmas,but our decorations can imply merry christmas. Store decorations should say merry christmas, happy holidays, happy hannukah, etc.
Well Merry Christmas
Happy Hannukah
Happy kwanza
happy holidays
season's greetings and
happy new year!
2007-12-08 09:30:19 · answer #2 · answered by ;) 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many stores do NOT dictate this to employees, but people with an agenda have falsely reported that this is going on EVERYWHERE as part of a well orchestrated plot to persecute Christians.
I have no idea if the grocery store where you worked dictated this to employees or not.
If you want to wish a Jewish person "Merry Christmas" I guess that is your business, but why are so anxious to wish a total stranger a Merry Christmas, not even knowing if they celebrate Christmas or not ?
Do you go around wishing people a Happy Birthday on YOUR birthday ? Then why do you go around telling people to enjoy YOUR holiday ?
BTW, you way you ignored this "rule". Did you every pay any consequences ?
There has been much false witness perpetrated by the media over this. A network falsely reported that an entire town outlawed the wearing of the colors red and green. The TRUE story was ONE public school requested WHITE napkins for a Holiday party.
Christmas is supposed to be a time of spreading goodwill. Not a time to bear false witness for the purpose of advancing a "persecuted Christian" agenda.
I hope you are being truthful with your details, but I have seen so many blatant falsehoods spread in this respect that I am skeptical.
edit to add:
Thanks for your response. I don't think there is anything "wrong" with saying Merry Christmas, but I don't think there is anything "wrong" with saying "Happy Holidays" either. The biggest whiners are whining about "Happy Holidays" The phrase "Happy Holidays" was around when I was growing up, and that was before the perjorative "Polical Correctness" was invented. It was shorthand for all the Holidays that occur between Hallo'ean & New Year's eve, and was NOT invented as some sort of conspiracy against Christians, as Bill O'Reilly and all the other lying talking heads would have you believe. It also was a phrase that could apply to more people, instead of the exclusionary phrase of "Merry Christmas" Saying "Happy Holidays" is not much different from referring to "Saturday and Sunday" as "the weekend". It is just shorthand. Christmas is ONE DAY, now a handful of noisy troublemakers want to claim that they own every day that falls between Oct 31st & Jan 1st. Some even want to deny anyone who is not a Christain the right to celebrate their own holidays. One answerer on Yahoo actually said non-Christians have NO RIGHT to celebrate !
2007-12-08 02:15:22 · answer #3 · answered by queenthesbian 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So what are the physical affects of someone who is not Christian and hears the word Merry Christmas? Do they suffer intense pain? Do they get angry at the person who is wishing them well? It seems to be more of a temper tantrum by the Godless. For centuries "Merry Christmas" has been a term that was celebrated and accepted by everyone, now all of a sudden when the US has been infultrated by Muslims and a President who supports them, we now have to be "sensitive" as to not offend someone who doesn't like the greeting. I'm repulsed by Obama and everything he stands for. He's more focused on not offending the non-Christians then he is with constantly offending the Christian. Obama has done a very good job at dividing this country.
2013-12-06 08:09:10 · answer #4 · answered by sshep_99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Infinity and GQ. The only people who get offended are those whose religion is not Christian, and out of respect for them, just as you would wish that they have respect for you and your decision to celebrate Christmas, you should simply state "Happy Holidays." Also, when you're working at the grocery store, you're a reflection of the company that you're working for, and as such, you cannot reflect YOUR views on people by saying Merry Christmas (in addition to that being rude to those who don't celebrate, it's clearly against company policy). I have a bunch of Jewish friends who get really upset with all the Christmas "spirit" during the holidays, and the lack of Jewish "spirit." However, this doesn't mean that I have to turn my back on my own celebration of Christmas, it just means that I have to acknowledge theirs...by saying Happy Holidays! In this way, you're still spreading the spirit of Christmas, just in a way that reaches more people.
Also, it's not about infringing on your rights as a person to wish people Merry Christmas. If you're shopping or doing anything outside of work, feel free to wish EVERYONE you want a Merry Christmas (though it may be slightly inconsiderate, you retain this right outside of your working hours). Have a Merry Christmas!!!
2007-12-08 02:21:02 · answer #5 · answered by jillybean 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Really this is just a sad commentary on society. Society has adopted the feminist values that do nothing but promote sensitivity and feelings!... it's becoming so stifling that people are unable to do anything for fear of insulting someone else.
The only reason people get offended with Merry Christmas is because THEY ARE TOLD TO GET OFFENDED by Merry Christmas. The obvious correlation between offence and direction is obvious.
Most people are simple minded and would never be bothered by the greeting 'Merry Christmas but all of a sudden they become outraged because someone has interpreted FOR THEM that this is somehow insulting and derogatory, and the poor guy who said it with well meaning is standing slack jawed as he has NO F@&#$@$ IDEA why this person is screaming at him for insulting his religious beliefs!
2007-12-11 01:49:40 · answer #6 · answered by CubeScience 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It became politically incorrect to say Merry Christmas about 15 years ago. The reason being there are a lot of people who do not celebrate Christmas.
2007-12-08 02:25:41 · answer #7 · answered by blackcrowes26 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It isn't a question of correctness. It's a question of retailers recognizing that not all of their customers celebrate Christmas. Some blowhard decided this meant that Christmas was therefore under siege due to this not-incredibly-sudden outbreak of consideration (people have been saying "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" for as long as I can remember, and I ain't exactly young), and lo and behold, the "War on Christmas" was created.
2007-12-08 02:17:10 · answer #8 · answered by John R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The most appropriate thing would be to greet everyone with a phrase matching their beliefs. Telling a Jewish person to have a happy Hanukkah would not be inappropriate, but telling him to go have a happy Christmas would. Since you don't know every customer in your store, a simple "Season's Greetings" seems a safer bet.
2007-12-08 02:11:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is wrong with it. Stores were just trying to be more courteous to other types of winter celebrations (kwanzaa, Chanukah). Catholics and Christian got all up in arms about "them taking away their Christmas." Hate to break it to them, it was NEVER theirs to lose. Not to mention a little thing called Freedom of Speech. I will say whatever I like, thank you and screw the religious fanatics. The point it, someone is wishing you well...no matter how they say it. If you are going to be that ridiculous...I won't wish you well, I'll ignore you.
2007-12-12 04:52:40 · answer #10 · answered by Gibulet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At my school we're not allowed to say that either! I think it's because there are a lot of Jewish and Buddhist people at my school and the school system feels they need to respect those people. This vacation coming up used to be called "Christmas Vacation" now it's called "Winter Break #1". I think that is really stupid Hanukkah is over by the time that the vacation comes anyway so why can't we call it Christmas vacation??? I totally agree with u...i still call it Christmas Vacation and I still say Merry Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ☻
2007-12-08 02:15:08 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋