Inspired by a class discussion

[polysisterchick]

yes, another christmas post buttt it's not what you think.

Today, we talked about the "war" on saying:
Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

and how some people refuse to say merry christmas because it is a "religious" holiday.

Now, i am religious, but i don't think that Christmas is entirely religious.
Some of it is based off paganism and not just christianity.

also, people act like Christmas is a cuss word.
and i don't get that. i mean, i understand why people want to say happy holidays vs. merry christmas because they don't want to offend or be politically incorrect.
(which leads to one more thing. Why does everything have to be "politically correct"?)

so... what are your views and which do you say?

 

[WORLDwarQUIFFLE]

I say Merry Christmas.
And I don't even celebrate it.
I don't see why it's such a big deal..
I'm sure we all know that if it wasn't Christmas, we wouldn't be getting off from school or work and everything would be just as it always is.​

 

[MuNkY]

Merry Christmas.

If your offended by that, then you must get offended by the stupidest stuff.

 

[Sparx]

I know many many many people of many many many different religions.

I've never met one person who was offended by well wishing, no matter what the holiday behind it is.

I don't celebrate valentines day, but I dont get all "grr" when someone says "happy valentines day"

 

[RrCoAsTeR]

I understand completely...

but I think that sometimes people take "politically correct" wwwaaaayyy too far. I mean, the new thing is that "HAppy Holidays" is not politically correct because not all people celebrate a holiday. "season's greetings" is supposedly politiclly incorrect because it is stating there is something special about this particular season, which brings us back to the holiday aspect...

usually I just stick with Merry Xmas, unless I know the person celebrates something else, and around here that's pretty rare, but you can find others... I know three Jewish people, and two of the families celebrate both holidays. And I don't know of anyone who mainly celebrates Kwanza... usually it's a smaller, background celebration to Christmas.

I honestly believe it is more "insulting" to dig this deeply into the term people use. People go way overboard.I mean, we have "freedom of speech," and if someone feel s the term we use is offensive to them, then I would hope they would tell you so so you can adjust.

 

[Babyjustrun]

Well.
I don't think people should be offended by Merry Christmas. If you are a polite and strong person you'd be able to say 'Thanks, I don't celebrate that holiday, but I hope you enjoy it yourself.' Not those words exactly, but you'd tell them politely and calmly that you don't celebrate that holiday, and wish them happy holidays.

 

[ktbutterfly2011]

I always have said Merry Christmas.
I recently have found a new friend. She's jewish. I realize that people celebrating other holidays will get skipped over... but i'll continue to say Merry Christmas.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

I mainly say Merry Christmas. Several of my friends don't celebrate Christmas. I'll still say it to them, if they don't care what I say.

I do occasionally say Happy Holidays. Hence, the signiture.

 

[daddys_disney_girl]

I say merry christmas. The majority of people celebrate christmas, and those who dont shouldnt get worked up over it. We are doing a door decorating contest at school. There is a specific rule that says it cant include any holiday, it has to be "seasonal". Ughhhhh..... you can't put anything on it! We put on deck the halls, cuz its a hallway.... and they said that was christmas... and we were disqualified! Then we printed out the lyrics... what do you know.. .the word christmas (or anything related) isnt in there once...

 

[Sparx]

I say merry christmas. The majority of people celebrate christmas, and those who dont shouldnt get worked up over it. We are doing a door decorating contest at school. There is a specific rule that says it cant include any holiday, it has to be "seasonal". Ughhhhh..... you can't put anything on it! We put on deck the halls, cuz its a hallway.... and they said that was christmas... and we were disqualified! Then we printed out the lyrics... what do you know.. .the word christmas (or anything related) isnt in there once...

snowmen. winter wonderland.


Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.


Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.


This song speaks of Yule. Yule means christmas.
The song is about christmas.

 

[tiff13]

I have absolutely no problem with it and lets just say I don't exactly believe in Christian beliefs . Seriously take a second to think about this: when you say it, do you really mean it, or do you say it out of instinct?The majority of the American culture say it because its tradition, and its what they grew up hearing. But no, I don't expect half the nation to bow down individuals just because its not what they believe.

 

[AllyGirlie]

Ah the war on Christmas, gotta love it ..

When someone says Happy Hannukah, or Happy Kwanzaa to me (which has happened), I don't take offense to it. I think of it as them wishing me a wonderful holiday season. So when that happens I simply look at them and say Merry Christmas because that is what I celebrate. I don't say it to offend anyone or to put down someone's religion, but instead to wish them happiness, prosperity and good health: everything a holiday season should bring. I'm sorry if that offends someone, but that is how I view it..

 

[TheGirlin14G]

This song speaks of Yule. Yule means christmas.
The song is about christmas.

Actually Yule is the celebration of the Winter solstice(originally Pagan)... it's around Christmas, but it is celebrated as a separate holiday by some - which deals with a season - not spiritual beliefs.

Just thought I'd let you all know - according to the Daily Show Wednesday night Christmas won! hehe

Back to reality - I'm Catholic, but it really does not matter to me what other people say to me as long as it's not along the lines of 'I curse you and your family this holiday season'.. I'm not going to get angry at somebody telling me to have a merry or happy anything.. Happy Holidays does cover everything - but words like Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa shouldn't be taboo...

I have it easy - I work with Santa so it's always "Merry Christmas!"

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I just don't say anything. And if on an off chance I do say something, it's 'merry Christmas'. If someone were to say 'happy Kwanza' to me, my response would be 'you, too' because I would assume that said person celebrates Kwanza. You can't please everyone. Even saying 'happy holidays' isn't technically politically correct for those who don't celebrate anything. I REFUSE to go out of my way to please everyone. If everyone speaks in a politically correct tounge, we wouldn't be able to speak. You can't please everybody.

 

[Sparx]

Actually Yule is the celebration of the Winter solstice(originally Pagan)... it's around Christmas, but it is celebrated as a separate holiday by some - which deals with a season - not spiritual beliefs.

Just thought I'd let you all know - according to the Daily Show Wednesday night Christmas won! hehe

Back to reality - I'm Catholic, but it really does not matter to me what other people say to me as long as it's not along the lines of 'I curse you and your family this holiday season'.. I'm not going to get angry at somebody telling me to have a merry or happy anything.. Happy Holidays does cover everything - but words like Christmas, Hannukah, and Kwanzaa shouldn't be taboo...

I have it easy - I work with Santa so it's always "Merry Christmas!"

The celebration of yule, and a yule log is a wiccan tradition (wiccan/pagan if you want to split hairs) But if you go back far enough, the word yule was around before the word christmas. or even christ. The roman catholic church when at its height would go find pagan groups and convince them to follow the catholic/christian religion. For a very very long time yule and christmas were the same thing.

Now they're not. Yule is a separate holiday. Once again, its a holiday. The rule was, no holidays. It had to be seasonal. So the rules WERE broken.

 

[IrishTink]

this shall be interesting...

 

[PatriotsRule]

I always said Happy Holidays to people, but that's because I was including Christmas AND New Year's. I've started saying Merry Christmas recently for some reason.

 

[minniesBFF]

I always say merry christmas. I dont know anybody who doesn't celebrate christmas in my town, so that is not a problem. I dont really see why people should be offended by someone saying merry christmas to you when you dont celebrate it. how are they supposed to know that you dont celebrate christmas???? I would just say "you too" if I didn't celebrate it(which I do) I have happy holidays in my sig because I was referring to christmas and new year.

 

[TheGirlin14G]

The celebration of yule, and a yule log is a wiccan tradition (wiccan/pagan if you want to split hairs) But if you go back far enough, the word yule was around before the word christmas. or even christ. The roman catholic church when at its height would go find pagan groups and convince them to follow the catholic/christian religion. For a very very long time yule and christmas were the same thing.

Now they're not. Yule is a separate holiday. Once again, its a holiday. The rule was, no holidays. It had to be seasonal. So the rules WERE broken.

I agree that rules were broken.. Deck The Halls does use the word Yule in reference to Christmas, as well as other references(like "boughs of holly")...

I was just pointing out that the word Yule doesn't mean Christmas -they are two separate holidays.. one celebrating the birth of Christ and the other celebrating the beginning of Winter.. the two have very tight historical connections as you said - but they aren't the same thing.

 

[daddys_disney_girl]

Thanks for everyone who helped me! I guess im not that up-to-date on my holidays....