I got a say Merry Christmas, or else death stare, yesterday.

[Siwsan]

I was picking up a few necessities, before the stores became impossible to navigate, and was quickly packing up my groceries so could make one more stop. I could hear someone issuing the greeting multiple times, with big gaps between. Then I sensed someone right next to me. An elderly couple was standing there, staring at me until I looked up to receive a rather stern “Merry Christmas” So I smiled at them, warmly, as I recall, and went back to finishing my grocery bagging. I can’t remember if I said ‘thank you’, to be polite. I usually do. They continued to stand there, staring at me. It was a hard, cold, challenging stare, and with no jolly merriment in their eyes. They FINALLY moved on, grumbling but not loud enough for me to hear exactly what they were saying. Probably for the best.


I’d call that a war USING Christmas.

[unblock]

1. creepy

[pinboy3niner]

20. 'The Mistles of December'

[phylny]

2. "Lo siento, solo hablo espaol."

Last edited Sat Dec 24, 2016, 08:38 AM - Edit history (4)

Then with a big smile: ¡Feliz Navidad!

(This site seems to be allergic to tilde in "español" in the title).

[Siwsan]

7. I am going to remember that, if it happens again!

Or, I could say it in Welsh. Damn. Wish I had thought of that!

[Dave Starsky]

14. My wife and I do this.

It blows their tiny minds, since it's obvious that we are gabachos.

[handmade34]

3. yup

"war USING Christmas"


The "war on Christmas" is merely a fabricated meme created by whiny limited thinkers...


[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[Initech]

4. Just reply back "Happy Winter Solstice!"

[GoCubsGo]

5. Or, "And, a Happy Festivus to the rest of us."

[Initech]

6. I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!!

[Siwsan]

8. That is actually what I celebrate!

And when I say that, I do get some wonderfully confused stares!

[gratuitous]

9. It's just so peculiar

What better way to commemorate the birth of the Prince of Peace than by going around in public, randomly challenging people to verbal and maybe physical confrontations? Is that what they think Jesus would do?

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

52. The RW have invented their own Jesus. He is a

free-market capitalist who hates immigrants and the poor and only expects Democrats to follow the ten commandants.

[TeamPooka]

78. American Jesus carries automatic weapons.

[Oneironaut]

81. Remember: Give Supply Side Jesus your money, and all is well.

[madokie]

10. I simply say I'm not religious

and I'll get a I'll pray for you just the same shit and I'll say go for it. Won't matter to me. and then give them my famous smile At that point the conversation is over

[MountCleaners]

11. I tell people I'm Jewish

And I'm not. Make these Patriot a-holes feel like they're the incipient Nazis they are.

[Siwsan]

15. I like to tell people that I'm an Orthodox Druid

Got that from an episode of M*A*S*H*. It tends to end the conversation, quickly.

[ellie]

36. I remember that episode!

Doesn't it mean he worships shrubs, too?

[Siwsan]

39. Well, Oak Trees. Holly. Mistletoe, the occasional Yew Tree

Hmmm..... wonder who 'borrowed' a few of those.

Druidism was pretty nature based. I am not too sure about the practices and beliefs of these 'Reform Druids'.

[Docreed2003]

56. My dad used to say that every time Mormons and Jehovahs Witness came to our house

[yardwork]

57. My dad used to say that he worshipped Mithras.

[JI7]

65. but jewish and other non christians say merry christmas also

[Dawson Leery]

71. +1

[2naSalit]

12. I've found that

just saying, "...and to you too!" works for most. If not, I just tell them, "Thanks, but it's not my holiday so I don't celebrate it." It's none of their business as to whether I subscribe to a religion or belief system or not.

This anecdote does remind me of growing up in the northeast where religion seemed to be everybody's business, or so they would have you think. Seriously, people-complete strangers-felt justified in confronting strangers to them and insist on knowing whether someone was xtian or not so they could judge them accordingly. That was so f'd up... I recall demands made of me to that effect many times in my early years. I started rebelling way back then when it was almost a crime to not claim subscription to some form of xtianity. I don't let anyone do that to me as an adult. I either remind them, quite sternly, that I have a right to not divulge that information to anyone and if they don't like it, they can go suck an egg because that's a 1st Amendment protection and it's my right as it is for every citizen. And that usually takes care of all future inquisition.

[Dave Starsky]

13. Feliz Navidad, amigos!

Said sincerely with a warm, toothy holiday grin.

Even more effective if you're not actually Hispanic. You will actually see the rusty cogs straining to turn within their neglected heads as they try to process this.

[Siwsan]

17. Nadolig Llawen

Welsh for Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays is Gwyliau Dedwydd.

I have the Nadolig Llawen down pat, as far as pronunciation. Not so much the Gwyliau Dedwydd.

However, THAT might get a reaction!

[csziggy]

37. Here are sources for pronunciation of the two words

I couldn't find a single source that had the phrase or both words

https://forvo.com/word/gwyliau/

https://www.howtopronounce.com/dedwydd/

Or you could reply "Ac i tithau" or Ac i chithau" ("and to yourself&quot as suggested in this video:

Or how about cyfarchion y tymor (season's greetings)?
https://forvo.com/word/cyfarchion_y_tymor/

[Siwsan]

44. Thanks!

I saved a link to another site - or so I thought - and now I have to find the source, again. It's an interesting and VERY difficult language but I want to bring it back into the family. My Great Aunt told me that the family still spoke Welsh, when she was a child.

[csziggy]

63. I should learn to read Welsh at the very least to help with my family research

My great grandfather was from Llanfihangel y Creuddyn near Aberyswyth. He left Wales in 1872. I've gotten my research back to his parents. Apparently his father was English (William born in 1817 in London, son of George) but his mother was pure Welsh - Mary Morgan, born in Llanfihangel y Creuddyn in 1816, daughter of David.

But trying to sort out WHICH Mary Morgan daughter of WHICH David Morgan is next to impossible! There are several born in the right area about the right time period. I need to write the church where William and Mary were married and see if they have records but those will most likely be in Welsh since the marriage was in 1837.

On Google Maps Street view the church is surrounded by tombstones and I bet some of those would help me find my ancestors!

[Siwsan]

68. My family came from Swansea, right about 1850.

They settled in Frostburg, MD. There is still some family there, and I'm going to see them in the Spring. My brother and I want to go back to Wales, to see if we can find any 'shirt tail' relatives so I'm going to start some research, too.

My Grandfather's name was Ellsworth Llewelyn. They attended the Welsh Baptist Church in Frostburg, and the church has some extensive archives so when we are in town, we are going to do some digging, in advance of heading to Wales.

I've been to Wales a number of times. It is a beautiful country, and when you have Welsh connections, they treat you like family. At least that has been my experience, but then I'm always open to meeting and talking with people to learn from them.

[csziggy]

73. Mine ended up in Escanaba, Michigan in the timber and mining businesses

My sister visited the village in Wales where my great grandfather came from and met distant cousins. Unfortunately any information she found while there was not given to the rest of the family and we couldn't find it in the things her husband gave to my parents after she died. But he threw away tons of stuff that we were never given a chance to go through.

Since I wrote my message above I found that more of the parish records are online since the last time I checked! I think I've located Mary Morgan's baptism in 1813 and her parents' marriage the same year. And that she had a sister named Jane!

Check out http://www.freereg.org.uk/

[Siwsan]

75. Mine worked in the coal mines and rail roads - go figure

My Grandfather brought his family to Flint, to work in the auto plants because he didn't want his sons to have to work in the mines.

Thanks for the link!

[csziggy]

83. You can also find BMD and FreeCen from that link

FreeBMD is Birth, Marriage and Death records. FreeCen, which I just found, has UK census records.

All are part of http://www.genuki.org.uk/ for UK & Ireland Genealogy.

I ordered my great great grandparents' marriage certificate through BMD - it connects you directly to the UK records and doesn't add anything on top like Ancestry and many of the other genealogy sites do.

[NastyRiffraff]

61. Ooh, thanks for that Siwsan

My dad was Welsh. I used to understand a little, but it's been years since I've heard it, so I lost what little I had.

[Siwsan]

66. I'm working to learn a little.

My great grandparents and their children spoke Welsh. I want to learn enough to teach my grandniece a few words that can be our special, secret code.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

16. It is easier to say Happy Holidays.

At less here in Tucson.
There are like 28 + holidays being celebrated from late October to late January.

We have a good mix of people. So instead of keeping track, most will say Happy Holidays.

[Siwsan]

18. And had I not felt like this guy was trying to intimidate a response, I'd likely have said that

But there was no doubt, in my mind, that he was challenging me and if I had said ANYTHING but 'Merry Christmas' in return, things might have gotten testy. Since they were VERY elderly, I didn't want to worry about meeting up with them in the parking lot. He looked pretty unreasonably pissed off, to me.

[Maru Kitteh]

40. Old people can be assholes too and shouldn't be coddled any more than younger ones

unless of course they are obviously suffering from dementia.

Many have been assholes their whole lives and find in the later years they can use their status as "elderly" to get by with more - and they know it.

[Iggo]

19. "Merry Solstice" is working for me this year.

They think it's coming, but by the time they figure it out, I'm way ahead on dick points.

(Usually this is where I say something like "I'm a dick, but I'm not that kind of dick." But let's face it, this is exactly the kind of dick I am. )

[Siwsan]

22. Merry Solstice! I like that!

[LWolf]

21. I've got a ton of Merry Christmases this season.

Unlike so many, I don't consider it offensive, or an offensive move in a religious war. I smile and say, "you, too." And move on.

I'm not a Christian, but I love Christmas. Despite the christian name, I know that celebrating this season belongs to many faiths, to no faiths, and has been around since long before Jesus was born, if he ever was; and if he was, I doubt it was in December.

But that's okay. A season about love, joy, peace, and celebration is fine with me no matter who is celebrating, from whatever faith or no faith.

I also love the music. I love the traditional xtian music, the secular seasonal music, and pagan music. I love it all. I listen to it all, and I'm not offended by any of it. Here are some favorites:

[Siwsan]

23. The season has lost its glow, for me

I lost most of my family, last year. Now, all I can think about is how much I miss them - especially now.

For my family, Christmas wasn't about gifts - we'd get a few but nothing extravagant. It was about getting together with everyone to eat, drink and be merry. Now all of those people, save for one, are gone.

And as for Christmas music - it's like nails on a chalkboard, to my ears. Seriously - except for a few very old carols, I can't stand it.

[LWolf]

27. I'm so sorry.

I have a very small family, and I can't, won't, imagine what that loss would be like.

For us? We will get together on Christmas day at my son's house; he hosts the holiday. He had us over a couple of weeks ago to decorate the tree with the ornaments he and his brother and I made each year while he was growing up. Last week we baked and decorated holiday cookies and played board games.

We do a family drawing, and just provide gifts for one person. So we won't have a ton of gifts under the tree, but we will have a few. We all have a budget; nobody spends more than $50 on gifts for their person.

This year, we'll be one short in the morning. We'll all be there for breakfast but my mom; she's spending the morning at a local senior center, singing carols, passing out gifts, and helping to make sure they have a good christmas morning. She's 78 herself. She'll show up for the main meal.

We'll have pancakes and bacon, open gifts, and spend the day talking, watching movies, playing board games, and just enjoying being together. About 1 or 2, we'll have dinner, which is a potluck full of crockpot goodness, some salad, and some pies from a local bakery. No stress, little mess. My mom should be there in time for that.

We'll call the rest of the small family who are out of state and spend some time chatting on speakerphone. I understand that my little grand baby 900 miles away is beginning to turn babble into words, and has taken her first steps since we were there at Thanksgiving. It's time to skype or google chat or something so that she can see us when we're talking to her.

I love the music. The three I like best in what I posted are Tull's "Solstice Bells," the Charlie Brown music, and the Pentatonix song. It's part of my childhood, and no matter how cheesy, comes with positive memories.

I wish you peace this season, and people who love you to share it with.

[Siwsan]

30. Ok, now you are going to make me cry!

I'm having dinner with my brother and my late sister's husband. My big celebration is on January 1, which is my grandniece's first birthday. I'm flying to Asheville on the 31st, to be with her. She would have been my sister's first grandchild, so she is very important to me, and very worthy of a big celebration.

Thank you for sharing your family story with me.

[brer cat]

58. The holidays are very hard after a loss.

I can't imagine facing it after losing so many, Siwsan.

[Siwsan]

60. I don't think they will ever get better

We had some traditional foods we used to serve and my poor brother is going to try to replicate some of them. I'm only going to dinner because it means a lot to him. And it is probably better for me, anyway. He has promised me a pitcher of Manhattans.

On the up side, I will be with my niece, nephews and grandniece on New Year's Day, which is my grandniece's first birthday. I am so sad that my sister and mom aren't still here to enjoy our little Lila, but happy that her mom and dad want me to stand in, as the granny figure.

[brer cat]

64. I remember how bittersweet it was for you

when Lila was born. Being the stand in granny is very special, but it would have meant so much to share her with your sister and mom. Take care, Siwsan.

[Hekate]

31. I love genuine holiday cheer. I often return a cheery Merry Christmas with the same phrase.

It's the hostile aggression, using the phrase as some kind of a test, that throws me off balance. What's wrong with people like that? Just go! Enjoy!

[LWolf]

34. Yes.

I don't see that kind of hostility often, but when I do, I hope a warm, soft response will help soften them and allow them to enjoy their own holiday. It's a better gift than something money can buy.

[Mariana]

53. The warm, soft response only works

as long as you say exactly what they want you to say. No matter how nicely you say anything other than Merry Christmas to such people, they will be angry.

[ellie]

38. Me too!

Yesterday I was wished three genuine Merry Christmases after I had been talking to each person for a bit and I reciprocated.

[Iggo]

45. The fun of it is when people get mad at you for saying anything BUT merry Christmas.

I couldn't give two fucks if people tell me merry Xmas or hail satan. I just like fucking with them if THEY care...lol.

[Hekate]

24. I got that from my dentist's new receptionist. I was on my way out the door when it came at me ....

....aggressively. I was startled and think I said Happy Holidays that changed to Merry Christmas halfway thru, but it felt weird.

I was referred to that dental practice by my Jewish neighbor. In college I worked in retail in a multicultural city where you could not tell someone's religion by looking at them, but a fair percentage were Buddhist.

The question I have for unpleasant people like you encountered is: when did being December Jovial to everybody become a bad thing in places of business? Happy Holidays comes naturally to me. All the Christians in New York City throughout the 20th century never seemed to have a problem with HH from all those major retailers who were incidentally Jewish.

Now, thanks to decades-long propaganda telling nominal Christians in America that they are oppressed if someone doesn't holler Christmas at them, and oh yes thanks to Trump/Pence empowering them, we've got some people behaving like jerks.

Think I'll do as some here suggest and try different languages and phrases. Feliz Navidad is always good. A very dry Mazel Tov might get under their skin, appropriately. A cheery Happy Hannukkah. A bubbly Axial Tilt is the Reason for the Season! will give them something to ponder if it doesn't make them go off like a rocket.

[Siwsan]

25. For next year, I'm going to brush up on my Welsh: Gwyliau Dedwydd (Happy Holidays)

Admittedly, Merry Christmas is much easier to pronounce, if you can manage that tricky Welsh double L: Nadolig Llawen.

Anyway, it might leave them at a loss for words.

[Revanchist]

26. I just say Merry Christmas, it won't kill me

I work retail in southeastern Missouri, not a super large city but not the smallest either. The population here is over 90% Christian so it's easier to just say Merry Christmas and move on. We have a semi regular that wears a pentacle and I tell her blessed be. Keeping good community relations rates higher to me than a moral high ground over a couple of words

[Siwsan]

28. I think this man's obvious attitude and agenda would never allow those words to leave my mouth

He wasn't wishing me a merry anything and I hate being challenged, like that. I don't enable bullies, no matter what their age.

Back in the day when I had to deal with the public, I would bite the bullet and spew out what ever greeting was appropriate, whether I meant it, or not. Now, as someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, hearing those words from complete strangers, who are likely just saying them out of reflex, mean nothing more than if they had just informed me that their dog has fleas.

[Mike__M]

29. Would it be too much

To cheerfully reply: "Thank you! And a joyous season governed by the angle of the planet's rotational axis relative to the plane of its orbit to you!"

[Siwsan]

32. I'm pretty sure I did thank them. That wasn't what they wanted

I've never experienced anything quite like the energy that couple was giving off. It was anything but merry.

[Hekate]

33. That's what I'm sayin'!

[aidbo]

80. Axial tilt, it's the reason for the season!

[mnhtnbb]

35. To the people I suspect are Republicans--who insist on Merry Christmas--and hate Obama

I usually respond the way President Obama did when he finished his presser before leaving for Hawaii.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Screws with their heads every time!

[Bayard]

41. Were you wearing a Democratic Underground t-shirt?

[Siwsan]

47. No - but I do sport a big safety pin on my jacket

[tandem5]

42. Is it just me or does it seem like Jesus is getting phased out...

of "Merry Christmas"? In their insistence to emphasize Christmas it seems that some focus more on the over-the-top pagan-based rites than they do on the birth of Christ. It seems like in a few years some will start saying "Santa Claus died for our sins." You would have thought that Christianity is red-state sacrosanct, but, you know I had a similar faith in their eternal hatred of Russian power.

[Siwsan]

48. If people want to put emphasis on the religious aspect, why not say 'Have a Blessed Christmas'?

That always kind of confused me.

[Dem2]

43. "I f****** hate xmas"

is my basic attitude at this point - if you don't like it, you can kiss my ass.

[Maeve]

46. My husband like saying 'Happy Christmas'

It confuses people, for some reason (he likes it because it's more Irish than 'Merry' but he can't remember the actual Irish phrase--Nollaig Shona--NAH-lig HO-nuh)

[LaydeeBug]

49. Print out the following text and hand it to evey "War on Christmas" Stupid Motherfucker u encounter

Hi There! If you are receiving this message, it is because I am deaf to enforced conformity. Rather than embarrass us both with a very unnecessary exchange, I'd rather just think that you had the best of intentions when you HISSED "Merry Christmas" to me, and respond:

Счастливых Праздников, теперь перейдите сосать Путина Дик

[Siwsan]

50. I might just do that, next year!

I'm not leaving the house, tomorrow. I live right smack dab in the middle of a big retail area. Going to today was rough enough. Tomorrow I shall put a fire in the fireplace, eat some good food, drink some good wine, and just let the world pass me by.

There's just me and my brother, now, and he's making dinner on Sunday. We will eat, drink, toast those who are no longer with us, and just be thankful that, at least we still have each other.

[LaydeeBug]

51. Your plans are absolutely beautiful.

I hope you have a lovely time. I have to trek out to my shed tomorrow and get the wrapping paper stored in the dormers. That is as far as I plan on going. Today was indeed bad enough.

[Jake Stern]

54. I say "Happy Hanukkah!" back to them

Last edited Fri Dec 23, 2016, 08:35 PM - Edit history (1)

The look of surprise is worth it.

[MrScorpio]

55. I've been telling everyone "Happy Holidays."

Everyone's been happy with that and have wished me the same in return.

No one I've met has been stupid enough be be offended by it.

[nadine_mn]

59. There are people who are genuinely happy "Merry Christmas" wishers

they mean it and don't care what you say back. Those are normal people.

Then there are those, like who you encountered, see it as some type of litmus test by which to judge someone. These are assholes.

I think I say Merry Christmas out of habit - just today we had a carpenter repairing stuff in our house and as he left I wished him Merry Christmas.

I am not a Christmas fan - I like maybe 3 Christmas songs and I do enjoy holiday lights (just lights - not the damn army of Christmas figures on people's lawns). I fricking love WINTER. I love being cozy indoors, I like the rosy cheeks from the cold air, I like warm food, hot cocoa and toasty pj's. I love how sometimes you feel like you are in a snow globe after a fresh show - everything is coated and muffled. But sweet mother, I hate the over commercialization (you must buy your wife a gift from a jewelry store or else you suck as a man, or get your husband this ridiculous tool set or he will leave you), and aggressive forced Christianity.

I like wishing people glad tidings, and for many that means saying Merry Christmas. So I do- but give me a death stare and I will give you mine right back.

[Raine]

62. I return back what someone has said to me, if they say Merry Christmas, I say it to them,

if they say Happy Holidays, I say it to them, if they say have a nice day. Hard to tell what anyone wants now days

[JI7]

67. I'm an atheist and have no problem saying merry christmas

If people say that i will say it back.

[Siwsan]

69. Well, it's like I said. I don't think he was offering a greeting. He was issuing a challenge

Admittedly, one would have to have been in my shoes to have seen what I saw and felt what I felt, before they can really understand the situation. A clerk at another store, I go to quite often, wished me a Merry Christmas, with a big, sincere smile on her face. I wished her one, right back because I sincerely hope she does have a Merry Christmas. I don't celebrate it so it really means nothing, to me.

[Dawson Leery]

70. Happy Kwanza!

[Siwsan]

72. I completely blanked out on this gem: Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!!

[HughBeaumont]

74. "BUON NATALE, VAFFANCULO!"

Stupid shits.

That'll be a smart day on Fox when I appease someone who thinks "President Donald Trump" is a great idea.

[Siwsan]

76. And I understand JUST ENOUGH Italian to translate that!

I try to be somewhat proficient at cursing in various languages.

[malaise]

77. I wish that would happen to me

[Siwsan]

79. It was a surreal experience, that's for sure

If you have ever seen the movie 'A Hard Day's Night', the man looked a lot like Wilfred Brambell, who played Paul McCartney's grandfather. I almost felt like I should be looking around for a camera!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

82. My heathen friends and I use "Merry fucking Christmas!"

[Warren DeMontague]

84. "Cthulhu F'tagn"

"Now step the fuck back before I eat your soul, grandpa"

[True_Blue]

85. Say Happy Holidays if you really want to annoy them

I've had a few people snap at me because I say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.

[Emilybemily]

86. I would have said

Fuck you and drop dead

[JNelson6563]

87. Yeah, I once saw a bell ringer

shouting in a rather confrontational way "Merry Christmas!" at people. It really appeared he sooooo wanted someone to DARE to say Happy Holidays or something. Weird.

I don't think many approached his little bucket much less donated.