A couple of days ago, I was watching a report on German television that in many American stores, offices, supermarket or in other places people are unpleased with the term "Merry Christmas" - and that "Happy Holidays" should be used. Because "Merry Christmas" might offend some people, etc
I think that's really nonsense. Over here in Germany (or elsewhere in Europe), Christmas is Christmas -- and nobody has a problem when someone is wishing you a Merry Christmas.
Why this thing is a "taboo" in the U.S. today? I cannot understand this. Maybe someone of you might explain to me?
May I wish everyone A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year?? ;-)
Greetings from Germany...
2007-12-23 00:22:02 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
We also have many of Non-Christians over here, but they're not disturbed with that term at all.
2007-12-23 00:27:07 · update #1
Because Americans have become a bunch of thin skinned ninnys. Mainstream America gets offended at just about anything that is more than 1/4 inch outside of their comfort zone. You are right calling it nonsense. Thank God you Europeans have kept your head about your shoulders, it provides me with a glimmer of hope. Albeit a very small glimmer.
I think the appropriate response to a "Merry Christmas" greeting if you're Jewish would simply be "Happy Hannukah". There's no reason to make an issue out of my greeting, just respond with what you are comfortable with. It's a friendly greeting not an attack on your belief system. Good grief!
2007-12-23 00:44:23 · answer #1 · answered by oldbulldawg 2 · 8⤊ 2⤋
Well I hear Merry Christmas all the time but in public places, especially institutions like schools, work, hospital, etc., you would want to put up "Happy Holidays" instead because this encompasses many holidays around this time (Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, etc.).
There are a lot of people who do not celebrate Christmas and having a Merry Christmas sign up kind of excludes them and makes the assumption that everyone there is celebrating Christmas.
Anyway, it's not a taboo, really. It's just more politically correct to say Happy Holidays.
Source(s)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! â¥
2007-12-23 08:28:03 · answer #2 · answered by arsenic sauce 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Fröhliches Weihnachten!
Yes, this does happen. People in America are afraid of offending people. Mostly the Jews get upset about this, and complain about Christmas.
Where I live, everyone still says Merry Christmas, and I've never heard anyone complain. Soon, we probably won't even hear Christmas music on the radio.
I think this is nonsense, too.
Greetings from a German-American! ( I lived in Garmisch Partenkirchen until I was fourteen)
2007-12-23 08:30:38 · answer #3 · answered by hollie 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's taboo for the same reason a lot of people say Xmas, rather than Christmas.
They don't like the religious part of the holiday, and because they're oversensitive and idiotic, they become offended by someone being pleasant and wishing them a Merry Christmas. Even though they're shopping for Christmas lights to go on their Christmas tree, which will have Christmas presents piled underneath it, that they'll open while on their Christmas holidays.
It's just people being whiners because they have nothing else to complain about.
2007-12-23 08:27:52 · answer #4 · answered by CSE 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
MOST people really don't have a problem with the term Merry Christmas here in America. A few people don't like it because they don't celebrate Christmas so they think it's unfair. The media blows it way out of proportion, making it seem like there is a huge majority of people that think we should say Happy Holidays instead.
2007-12-23 08:27:11 · answer #5 · answered by Grey Man 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Merry Christmas to you too!
Because the squeaky wheel gets the grease.. We are a society of people who try to please a handful of people at the expense of the majority.
I personally think it is utter nonsense too.
Ignorant people don't realize that without the celebration of Christ there is no Christmas.
Hanuka is a separate celebration of it's own and has nothing to do with christmas .
Kwanzaa was created by Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967, timed to coincide with Christmas so that it would be remembered. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures
2007-12-23 08:32:08 · answer #6 · answered by That_ blue_ eyed_ Irish_ lass 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The answer Jen provided is brief and accurate, as well as popular, although it leaves much unanswered.
I often wonder if most North Americans understand the meaning behind their own words when they use the term :Politically Correct" or the abbreviated "PC."
Few like to look deeper into the depth of information behind the term, and fewer still are interested in seeing the meanings within it.
Americans today live in a government-generated and government + willing media-perpetuated state of fear.
The fear is that they might offend someone, somehow, and all must be done to avoid that, no matter how much their doing it forces them to hide from reality.
This obtains to what you might see as important issues or even trivial things that are entirely undeserving of being described as "issues". It serves to provide more control over Americans and their freedoms, many of which were sacrificed in order for the government to provide a purported improvement in national security. Little has actually been done towards true improvement, but a massive media campaign has most Americans believing otherwise.
Translated, the impression of additional security makes Americans feel better, and they are unwilling to mount a forceful challenge against anything that might alter that good feeling, no matter how small or large it may be.
Fear does work, and anyone who is afraid is much more willing to accept things, even readily accept things, that they would otherwise reject immediately.
The most unfortunate part of this is that how America acts with regard to security, no matter how weak or even false the claims may be, ultimately affects the world.
Curiously, you are writing from Germany, and one of the largest companies in the world, Siemens, originates there.
All of Siemens acquisitions are ultimately controlled by their German headquarters, and Siemens are V E R Y demanding of political correctness, often enforcing it to the point of termination of employment .
They are far from being alone, but here, again, you see the element of fear.
I like to remain hopeful that things will improve, and we will once again come to believe in ourselves, and believe that all government should be afraid of the people, because only then do you have a true democracy.
With that, may I wish you and all your family a Very Merry Christmas, followed by a Happy New Year!
2007-12-23 08:57:04 · answer #7 · answered by Ef Ervescence 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year??
2007-12-23 08:28:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is not a big deal here. The religious want to act like "Happy Holidays" is being forced down their throats. They are lying. No one kicks them out of a store saying "Merry Christmas". If they dont like that shop keepers and stores dont put up Merry Christmas on the wall - they should shop elsewhere...
2007-12-23 08:25:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Although the majority celebrates christmas some celebrate kwanza, diwali, hannukah, etc. and feel left out if people just say merry christmas and not happy holidays
USA is a melting pot
2007-12-23 08:26:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋