All the greetings I've had from my American friends seem to say "Happy Holidays" whereas all the British ones say "Merry Christmas". What has happened to Christmas in America? You're supposed to be a Christian country - who are you trying not to offend? Why are you leaving Christ out of Christmas? (Apparently Bahrain airport is covered with Christmas decorations, and it's a Muslim country!)
2007-12-08 09:53:55 · 30 answers · asked by sunnyannie 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I say Merry Christmas all the time. :)
A few people have taken political correctness a bit to far.
I think that as Christians...we should say Merry Christmas unless you know for a fact that someone is of another faith and we wish to show some respect...then say..."Merry Christmas and Happy..."Fill in the holiday. We wish them the best of what we have (Christmas) and show them respect for what they have (different holiday). this is all personal opinion of course.
If the person has no faith...then just give them what you have...a Merry Christmas.
So MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
2007-12-08 10:01:48 · answer #1 · answered by LDS~Tenshi~ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Greetings! I am a person that wishes another person who I do not know to have a "happy holiday". The reason is that there are many other spiritual holidays that fall in December and I choose to acknowledge the families that celebrate the holidays in their own cultural style...Christian, Jewish, Pagan, Islamic or otherwise.
Why? Well, in the month of December, you also have Hanukkah, which is celebrated by many, many millions if not billions of people on this earth.
There is also the Winter Solstice, which is December 21. Also, you have the pagan holiday on December 25 that the Christians unashamedly ripped away from the pagans once Christianity became a world power. If you read your history, you will find that the odds are remote that Jesus was born in December.
Periodically, Ramadan, the holiest of Islamic Holidays is celebrated in December.
Why one religion must hold court over all others has become a mystery to me years ago.
I hope this helps you. Take care.
2007-12-08 10:15:26 · answer #2 · answered by TeacherGrant 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well Christmas is ONE DAY, and we have a concentration of holidays at year end.
Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, plus non-Christians celebrate their own holidays.
I don't know who told you that Christians own America, in our country we have freedom of religion, and you don't have to be a Christian to be a citizen here.
Happy Holidays is shorthand for Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Hannukuh, etc. Not much different from telling someone to have a nice week end, instead of telling them to have a nice Saturday and a nice Sunday.
Why do some Christians have their knickers all up in a twist over this ? The phrase "Happy Holidays" INCLUDES Christmas, the phrase "Merry Christmas" does not include anyone else.
2007-12-08 10:05:19 · answer #3 · answered by queenthesbian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people think of Christmas as a time when Jesus was born. However there is no scripture in the Bible which tells me that Christ was born on Christmas day. I prefer to say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas, but it doesn't bother me when others say Merry Christmas. I grew up with that phrase but it is more appropriate to say Happy Holidays.
2007-12-08 10:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We haven't forgot about Christmas since a lot business are decked out in Christmas decorations and a lot of people say 'Merry Christmas!' along with 'Happy Holidays!'. We just don't want to offend the easily offended or seem like we don't care about other religions and celebrations.
BTW, Just because most of the people that live in our country are Christians doesn't mean there aren't other religions that are practiced here in America. ;)
2007-12-08 10:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by HCL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there are many other Holidays that are celebrated at this time of years. Christmas and Christians are NOT the only ones that count. When we say Happy Holidays we are including Christians. Unlike Merry Christmas which EXCLUDES everyone else.
2007-12-08 09:59:36 · answer #6 · answered by punch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because people who don't celebrate Christmas in the U.S. get offended very easily and I guess a few sued Walmart last year because they didn't say Happy Holidays? They're very particular about their phrases, it's annoying.
Basically, since America is a big melting pot country, they've got a billion different religions -- different holidays go with that. They don't want to offend the Jewish people and the...whatever else people. I personally say Merry Christmas.
2007-12-08 10:25:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak for one conservative. It's political correctness run amok. It used to be that you said "Merry Christmas" to Christians, "Happy Chanukkah" to Jews, and so on. If you didn't know the affiliation of the listener, you said "Happy Holidays". Now, the politically correct use "Happy Holidays" for everyone. As a Jew, I'd rather hear "Happy Chanukkah" than "Happy Holidays", but hearing "Happy Holidays" is not going to upset me. As a matter of fact, I don't mind "Merry Christmas". Just because I don't believe in a Christ doesn't mean I can't have a merry December 25th.
2016-05-22 05:23:55 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
I am a regular visitor to the States and I can assure you that they have many Christmas Cards on sale in their card shops, far more that Happy Holiday cards. This type of card may be for the non Christian who also wishes to celebrate Christmas but with out the religious connection.
So far I have had four cards from friends in the States and the are all Happy Christmas cards.
2007-12-08 10:04:26 · answer #9 · answered by cliveyboyuk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happy Holidays? Because there are more holidays than Christmas this time of year.
This is not a Christian Country in spite of what some claim.
So I hope you have a Merry Christmas, I assume you celebrate it, oh and from my holiday....Merry Yule!
2007-12-08 10:00:35 · answer #10 · answered by murigenii 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋