CMs saying Merry Christmas?

[THEDISFANS]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

 

[Horizons16]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

another well written post....

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

[WDWNicole]

I just got off the phone with WDW Merchandise and the CM wished me a Merry Christmas before hanging up.

 

[Kimberly815]

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[Disneygirl_33]

This is my first post - but I must admit that I am a frequent visitor to the site

This happened about 10 years ago. My parents use to take my brother and I to Disneyworld in exchange for us taking them to a nice restaurant somewhere in the park (nice deal if you can get it). This has to do with the Italian restaurant in Epcot.

I am a cancer survivor. The year that this happened was the year that I had a bone marrow transplant. I had the typical "cancer kid look" - bald, pudgy, vaguely disfigured. We went to the Italian restaurant as my treat. The server at the restaurant treated us terribly - I have not had such bad service at Disney, before or since. The food was cold, the waiter was rude, the service, for lack of a better word, sucked.

After being treated like garbage for the 2 hours that it took to get our cold dinner, we asked for the bill. The server replied, "Well since you are part of Candlelighters - there is no charge for the dinner". We never gave him any indication that we were part of any organization. He just assumed, because of my appearance, that we weren't paying. And because we were there for the "free meal", he assumed he wasn't getting a tip - so there was no reason to be nice to us.

Being the polite Canadians that we were, we explained his mistake, recieved our bill - and paid it. I am also pretty sure that I left an appropriate tip for the bill amount. Of course, we have never been back to that restaurant.

 

[Disneygirl_33]

I do believe I posted this in the wrong place. Wee bit embarrassed. Must learn how to post things properly

 

[curiouser]

No, Disneygirl_33, you might've posted that in the perfect place. Maybe hopefully some people will read your story and realize there's much more important things than if someone wishes you a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

For lack of a better word, congratulations on beating cancer. You and all cancer surviors are truly inspirational.

 

[Markstudy]

"Merry Christmas"... its about the toys, gifts, Santa, Christmas cookies, the tree, and the lights. Being out of School, snow, sleds, snowmen and cartoons like the Grinch on TV.

Like many families in my town...we didn't go to church. So "Merry Christmas" was about all the fun stuff kids do at Christmas time, and has no religious meaning to me or all the little kids I grew up with.

Its just a part of my life that meant "fun" until someone invented "PC" and people started thinking too much.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

"Merry Christmas"... its about the toys, gifts, Santa, Christmas cookies, the tree, and the lights. Being out of School, snow, sleds, snowmen and cartoons like the Grinch on TV.

Like many families in my town...we didn't go to church. So "Merry Christmas" was about all the fun stuff kids do at Christmas time, and has no religious meaning to me or all the little kids I grew up with.

I'm right there with you, Markstudy. Merry Christmas!

 

[miss missy]

If your at MICKEY'S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY.... well, isn't Merry Christmas the thing to say?

 

[CleveRocks]

Well people relate christmas with Santa Claus. Doesn't he say "Merry Christmas every one and to all a good night". And as far as I know, Santa doesn't have anything to do with Christians
It sounds stupid to say "Happy Holidays" because holidays for every religion happen every month. Why don't we say happy holidays every day of the year? What makes December so special?

Santa Claus may have nothing to do with Christianity, per se, but he has everything to do with MANY, MANY CHRISTIANS. Again, I realize Santa Claus has nothing to do with Christian religious practice, but he is entirely based in Christianity. He is the very embodiment of the CELEBRATION of Christmas (DON"T BELIEVE ME? ASK ANY CHRISTIAN 6 YEAR OLD!!!). For better or worse, Santa Claus is at very least an ambassador of Christmas. He is not pan-religious. Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist kids don't write letters to Santa asking for presents. They see him as someone who brings presents to their Christian friends.

-- Eric

 

[CleveRocks]

I see a lot of God being taken out of schools and state/federal facilities and it makes me angry.

This statement deserves its own thread.


I agree that there is a lot of PC silliness out there that seems to target Christmas while sparing Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and anything else I'm missing. IMHO, helping children learn about ALL holidays of all the major religions is helpful, and purposely excluding Christmas from that is just plain discriminatory.

Teaching kids about various holidays that various religions and ethnic groups observe is educational. Have kindergarteners make nativity scenes with little animals to help teach them science (as well as about the story of Christmas), have kids make Hanukkah menorahs and count the candles to teach them math (as well as about the story of Hanukkah), etc. But putting "God into schools and state/federal facilities" flies in the face of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was crafted almost exclusively by God-fearing Christians. Paraphrasing, the First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law establishing a state religion, but also cannot stop people from observing their own religion. In a PUBLIC school, if you teach that God is the unarguable Almighty and you make kids pray to Him, you are establishing a state religion. The state is telling kids that that particular religion is "correct" and indisputable, that it is as much fact as is 1+1=2. The government clearly is not permitted to do that. Likewise, the government is also not permitted to go into your home or your house of worship, or any non-government-owned place and tell you you aren't allowed to express and practice your religion as you see fit.

MEERY CHRISTMAS!

-- Eric

 

[outtonight]

i actually get offended when they say Happy Holidays since im Catholic but oh well whatcha gonna do? Anyway just had to share lol

This is what I don't understand. You were offended because they didn't greet you with the holiday you celebrate -- but perhaps they don't celebrate Christmas. In that case, maybe YOU offended THEM by wishing them "Merry Christmas" to begin with. It's a two-way street.

That in mind, I highly doubt the cm was offended to begin with, but just chose to send you well-wishes that stuck closer to their own beliefs. I see nothing wrong with this, and certainly no reason to take offense! You greeted them from a Christian background -- and they greeted you from a possibly non-Christian background. Diversity is beautiful.

I'll never understand this particular PC war. Sure, Merry Christmas is fine, but if someone chooses to encompass more than one religion in their greeting, then I think that's awfully considerate of them.

 

[Machta]

. . . But putting "God into schools and state/federal facilities" flies in the face of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was crafted almost exclusively by God-fearing Christians. Paraphrasing, the First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law establishing a state religion, but also cannot stop people from observing their own religion. . . .

-- Eric

Well said--and as a Christian who has a firm belief in the need for the separation of church and state--Amen!

 

[Puffy2]

Faux News and Bill O'Liely are still at it tonight...trying their best to fuel the "us Christians are being persecuted against" lie.

When will the masses realize that they are being manipulated?

 

[WillCAD]

And as far as I know, Santa doesn't have anything to do with Christians

Ever hear of Saint Nicholas? He was a Christian bishop from Turkey, who became the prototype for Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas' feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 6.

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

 

[Schmeck]

Actually, the whole Christmas thing is based on the pagan celebration of yule, the longest night of the year, and how the holy ones of the time liked to wait a few days after calling on the sun to 'come back' (to make sure it worked, LOL!) to have the big celebration of the birth of the 'new sun'. I love how the pagan stuff and the more 'modern' religions are so similar. Actually, almost all of our religions are based on a common theme. It's just how we interpret things over time that messes it all up...

Puffy2, I think you've hit the nail right dead-center on its head. Especially after 9/11 and those "evil-doers of a non-Christian faith", we've seen the PC whining of some uber-Christians, seeing an opportunity to push a certain agenda onto the US. I hope we are smarter than to fall for it.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah (sp?), Peaceful Yule, and Happy New Year. Blessed Be.

 

[WillCAD]

I guess I mean that when they say Happy Holidays I feel like they are saying it because they have to....because it's the PC thing to say. I certainly acknowledge Kwanza and Hannukah and whatever other holiday is celebrated but I feel like Christmas is being pushed to the side. I see a lot of God being taken out of schools and state/federal facilities and it makes me angry.

I don't see Christmas being pushed aside. Could you give an example? All I see is other things being celebrated at the same time, but I don't see anything being taken away from the celebration of Christmas.

I do see a lot of God being taken out of schools and state/federal facilities and I am not angered by it, I'm heartened.

The separation of church and state is one of the most important cornerstones of American government; without it, freedom of religion would not be possible. And if freedom of religion were not possible, you would not be able to worship God as you choose - you would be forced to worship God as the government told you to.

Be grateful that God is not in the schools; after all, if you were Protestant and the school teacher was Catholic or Jewish, then your kids might get taught religious things that you don't agree with. But since God is not in the schools, the schools cannot then teach your kids any religious doctrines that you don't agree with, leaving you free to teach your kids as you decide, which is as it should be.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

1.) As a former CM, I was told that "the Disney expression is Happy Holidays!" however "if someone said it first, and you felt they would appreciate it to be returned, you could say "Merry Christmas" (per my manager).

2.) Santa Claus, much like Christmas itself is a patchwork of several decades of changes- various religions and cultures. Just look at all the Holiday Storytellers in Epcot. They all look different and have different representations, save that most are older men with long white beards.

The name of the Norse Sun god was Kris Kringle and winter solstice celebrations included dedications to Kris Kringle because the longest night was over and shorter nights and more sunlight were coming again.

There was also an Aryan god of Wind named Odin and he was a nocturnal god and he rode an eight legged reindeer who could fly through even the darkest storms. He could materialize and vanish at will and always knew who had been doing what (good or bad).

There was a Norse goddess named Freya. She spent the twelve nights after Winter Solstice riding through the sky in a Chariot giving gifts to the nice and giving misery to the bad.

Russia has "Grandfather Frost" which was a personification of winter.

In ancient Scandanavia, there was a half human half goat that distributed gifts.

Saint Nicholas apparently was a venerable bishop of Bari and he saw some poor women who left their washed stockings to dry by the fireplace overnight and dropped some coins into them as a holiday present.

Non Christian children may have alternate figure that they celebrate- many cultures have a gift giving supernatural figure to keep children's behavior in line!

All of these stories are beautiful and I think the idea of Santa Claus is pretty much the same as Disney- kindness and happiness and compassion- the details don't really matter.

All types of Christmas celebrations were once outlawed in America. Overreacting's not good. I like to hear Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, or anything of the sort. I think we should all be respectful of everyone's religions and holidays, but I don't need to disclose my personal Holiday celebrations (yes, I celebrate more than one religious holiday) to every single person in WDW! They can't be expected to be psychic about who celebrates which holiday and wish everyone a specific happy whatever! Happy Holidays in the safest route. Everything is an imperfect science- even the holidays themselves. So take the kind wishes in the spirit in which they are given. Wish people a great time of the year in whatever way you like best or feel most comfortable. In addition, whatever way they choose to share their holiday greetings with you, be grateful, no matter what your holiday/s.

 

[Amphigorey]

Well said, WillCAD.