The old saying is "Tis the season" yet several people seem to be more worried about the word "Christ"mas than spreading jolliness. So my question is do you consider it an insult when someone says Merry Christmas, or are we just hearing about a small majority in the world. This would be a great question for Christmas, Hannukkah and Kwanza celebrators alike.
2007-12-11 03:20:46 · 24 answers · asked by Curious Celebrator 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
If you take it back in history let's say a few 100 years you can see why people started calling it Christmas to begin with. All your really saying when you say Merry Christmas is "good will and fortune to you this year"- is that so wrong? I think too many Americans have destroyed Christmas by criticizing the name and not the meaning...
Having Christ in the name, now let's think about that.. Christ was all about showing LOVE and being kind to the needy. Has our society really come to this- that modeling the morals Christ showed on a daily basis is considered a BAD THING?? He healed the sick, feed the hungry and in my humble opinion was the BEST humanitarian this world has EVER had!!!
It's ONE DAY, People!!! ONE DAY!!!
Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday?
The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city's first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.
In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving's mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving's fictitious celebrants enjoyed "ancient customs," including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving's book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended – in fact, many historians say that Irving's account actually "invented" tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.
2007-12-11 03:53:09 · answer #1 · answered by forgiven 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not religious at all but I would never consider "Merry Christmas" an insult. I also wouldn't consider "Happy Holidays" insulting. I think it is a small minority on both sides making a lot of noise about Christmas greetings. I kind of like "Happy Holidays" better because it does cover all the holidays of the season but that really sets some people off like we are short changing Jesus by not specifically acknowledging Christ in Christmas.
2007-12-11 03:31:54 · answer #2 · answered by Pam H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't bother me. What I find amusing is people who get all bent out of shape at Christmas when someone tries to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" or threatens to boycott a store because they sell "holiday trees" instead of Christmas trees. It makes me laugh because our whole notion of Christmas comes from the Victorian era and Christmas trees are pagan in origin. Most historians also agree that Christ was probably not born in December. People should be allowed to celebrate how they want as long as they're not persecuting others for not believing what they believe.
2007-12-11 03:35:34 · answer #3 · answered by luckythirteen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not offended by people wishing me a Merry Christmas. What bothers me more is when people say Happy Holidays. That takes the reason for Christmas out of it. It's not just a holiday like Thanksgiving or Valentines Day or Sweetest Day. It's Christ's birthday and I think that needs to be remembered.
2007-12-11 03:26:32 · answer #4 · answered by mynxr 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not offended by holiday greetings at all - in any verbiage.
For my family, Christmas is not a religious event and has no holy connotation at all. It is a wonderful holiday when families come together to celebrate just being together.
I am not offended by anyone's belief or holiday or words they use. It all is strictly a personal matter.
The only time I am offended by religion is when efforts are made to bring it into the public arena. The religion nutcases who insist on referring to my country as a "Christian" nation drives me up a wall. Statements like that defy history, defy the intent, wording and law of the Constitution.
But the holidays? Just a nice respite from the rest of the year filled with good times, good food, more charity and family.
2007-12-11 03:28:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't bother me...I'm not a Christian, but the holiday's name seems more "culturally" denotative to me than "religious," and people mean it as a general seasonal well-wishing, not a sectarian statement/argument...Do you have to ascertain that someone is a Christian/know their religious beliefs for sure before you wish them a "nice Christmas holiday"...? Seems a bit touchy to be offended by this...
If so, what about people without any religious beliefs - shouldn't they be offended that you wish them even a "happy holiday season", since the reasons for the season in the first place are overwhelmingly religious, no matter which religion's celebration you choose to observe?
2007-12-11 03:33:24 · answer #6 · answered by dude in the bend 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one should tell me wether I can say Merry Christmas or not. If you're not a believer it's fine with me, so when I wish a Merry Christmas to someone that doesn't believe in it, just answer: and happy holidays to you.
These days someone is always offended by something, it's sad.
2007-12-11 03:27:00 · answer #7 · answered by Muschi 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's habit for me to say Merry Christmas. If people are offended by that, I usually reply, "Well, Happy Hannakah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Yule, Happy Winter, or whatever else you celebrate." More often than not, people take the sentiment in the spirit it was intended rather than as an insult.
2007-12-11 03:30:22 · answer #8 · answered by Erin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I will not stop saying Merry Christmas...Christ is the reason and I am not going to shy away from that.
I even had a jewish friend of mine wish me a Merry Christmas in Lowe's last night. Yes, I did wish him Happy Hannuka in return.
I will not apologize to anyone for Christ in my holiday.
2007-12-11 03:33:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not really because the majority of people celebrate Christmas. I think if someone tells you merry christmas and you dont like it tell them "Happy Hanukah" or whatever it is that goes with your holiday.
2007-12-11 03:26:56 · answer #10 · answered by alto clarinet player 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋