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Monday, December 07, 2009
A Holiday Research Question
Has anyone ever actually objected to you saying "Merry Christmas?" Have you ever actually seen anyone object?
Nope. In company that I know celebrates a particular holiday I'll try to set my greeting accordingly. When I wasn't sure in the past I used to default to 'Merry Christmas' and never had any problems, even from people I came to find out later were not Christian. Now my default is 'have a good holiday,' which occasionally is met with a curt, 'And a MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!" with some grumbling about Jesus or something. I'm not a practicing Christian currently, but my family is devoutly Catholic and I've always enjoyed this holiday season, religious or not. But thanks to these "Just say Merry Christmas!" jackoffs and their wholly invented 'war on christmas' they've pretty much ruined it as far as I'm concerned.
I tend to fall on the 'Happy Holidays' side of the equation, but I can think of only one circumstance in which I'd *object* to being wished a merry Christmas.
I'm a federal employee, and a supervisor of people of varying religions. I'd feel it necessary to object if someone further up in the hierarchy used 'Merry Christmas' as a greeting during an official (mandatory) work function. I take the separation of church and state pretty seriously, and I think that would cross the line.
Howdy--I tend to say "Happy Holidays" because I have a lot of friends who do Hanukkah and a few who do Kwanzaa and some others who do solstice, but I have said "Merry Christmas" in response to people who say it to me. I personally don't really get into any of the holidays around this time of year except New Year's, a bit, but I don't get bent about someone saying "Merry Christmas" to me. I think it's a nice sentiment, and for the most part, I think people appreciate that about it.
I say "Happy Holidays" as there are more than one, but there have been some people who make pointed comments about 'that damn PC crap' including the person who said "I celebrate the birth of Christ!" To which I said, "That's great, but it's November 17th, so I was referring to everything between now and the Epiphany!" And I kid you not, they said, as nasty as you could believe, "What holiday is that?" I just luuv them kinda Christians.
As I said when you posed the question on FaceBook, being in retail I tend to hedge my bets with "Happy Holidays", although if people wish me "Merry Christmas", I'm just fine with "Merry Christmas" right back.
I'm more peeved by the constantly forwarded emails, honestly.
Never had any problems, with Merry Christmas and never been jumped for saying "Happy Holidays" either.
ReplyDeleteI actually am on the "Happy Holidays" side of the equation. I have been Educated About The Reason For The Season by people who were offended.
ReplyDeleteI have never snarled at anyone for saying Merry Christmas; depending on the circumstances, I say either "Happy Holidays" or "you too".
I'm not a Christian but I certainly appreciate the good wishes implicit in a Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAnybody who doesn't is just looking for a fight.
Nope. In company that I know celebrates a particular holiday I'll try to set my greeting accordingly. When I wasn't sure in the past I used to default to 'Merry Christmas' and never had any problems, even from people I came to find out later were not Christian. Now my default is 'have a good holiday,' which occasionally is met with a curt, 'And a MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!" with some grumbling about Jesus or something. I'm not a practicing Christian currently, but my family is devoutly Catholic and I've always enjoyed this holiday season, religious or not. But thanks to these "Just say Merry Christmas!" jackoffs and their wholly invented 'war on christmas' they've pretty much ruined it as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nathansinger.net/holla/?m=200812
Well that was some screwy syntax. I meant to say ". . .it's been pretty much ruined, as far as I'm concerned."
ReplyDeleteNope.
ReplyDeleteI'm a church musician with a polymorphous pack of friends, so if someone was going to hear about it, I'd expect it to be me.
Unrelated, but up your alley:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lisnews.org/apparently_sign_was_necessary
No one has ever objected to "Merry Christmas" but some certainly object to "Happy Holidays."
ReplyDeleteI tend to fall on the 'Happy Holidays' side of the equation, but I can think of only one circumstance in which I'd *object* to being wished a merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI'm a federal employee, and a supervisor of people of varying religions. I'd feel it necessary to object if someone further up in the hierarchy used 'Merry Christmas' as a greeting during an official (mandatory) work function. I take the separation of church and state pretty seriously, and I think that would cross the line.
I've gotten grumpy about Xmas, but haven't run into that one. Tend more toward "Happy Holidays" myself, due to the Jewish contingent . . .
ReplyDeleteHowdy--I tend to say "Happy Holidays" because I have a lot of friends who do Hanukkah and a few who do Kwanzaa and some others who do solstice, but I have said "Merry Christmas" in response to people who say it to me. I personally don't really get into any of the holidays around this time of year except New Year's, a bit, but I don't get bent about someone saying "Merry Christmas" to me. I think it's a nice sentiment, and for the most part, I think people appreciate that about it.
ReplyDeleteI say "Happy Holidays" as there are more than one, but there have been some people who make pointed comments about 'that damn PC crap' including the person who said "I celebrate the birth of Christ!" To which I said, "That's great, but it's November 17th, so I was referring to everything between now and the Epiphany!" And I kid you not, they said, as nasty as you could believe, "What holiday is that?" I just luuv them kinda Christians.
ReplyDeleteAs I said when you posed the question on FaceBook, being in retail I tend to hedge my bets with "Happy Holidays", although if people wish me "Merry Christmas", I'm just fine with "Merry Christmas" right back.
ReplyDeleteI'm more peeved by the constantly forwarded emails, honestly.
Working at Krogers, a small but extremely vocal group of customers demand "Merry Christmas."
ReplyDeleteWhich makes sense, Christ threw his weight around and forced people to bend to his will all the time.
Not even one time.
ReplyDelete