Happy Holidays Or Merry Christmas

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I don't dislike Christmas but in a multicultural society I think "Happy Holidays" is more respectful.

[lamp_shade]

1. Makes no difference to me.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. I honestly don't care.

The one thing that does annoy me are those who make a big hubbub about having stores say Merry Christmas when the fact is that stores cashing in on the holiday and turning it into a materialistic nightmare does infinite more damage than how the holiday greeting is phrased.

[Dorian Gray]

44. Exactly

people were complaining that Macy's in NYC had a "Happy Holidays" sign last year. Ummm... we're a very multi-cultural city! Who the hell cares?

[sharp_stick]

3. I usually say Merry Christmas

and I'm probably as atheistic as you'll find. I don't go nuts if I see/hear happy holidays or happy whatever, I don't see the point.

Although, I do love watching the fundie wannabes on Faux Noise pretending like this is a big deal every year, it's like clockwork

[meegbear]

4. I prefer to use Happy Holidays to cover all the celebrations ...

Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, etc.

But Merry Christmas is acceptable too.

[Oregone]

5. Compromise with Happy Christmas!

[abelenkpe]

8. Merry Holidaze! nt

[FarCenter]

6. Most Christians don't go to mass -- so Happy Holy Days is generally more appropriate

[brendan120678]

7. Depends where I am and who I am talking to.

I have plenty of Christian and Catholic friends (and I myself am Catholic), so when greeting them I wish them a Merry Christmas. I have a few Jewish coworkers and acquaintances, and I'll wish them a Happy Chanukah when it arrives.

If I have a need to cheerfully greet strangers out on the street, I'll use Happy Holidays.

[JuniperLea]

21. Most of my friends and family will hear me saying...

Happy Secular Winter Holidays with Pagan Inspired Ritual and Decor!

[MellowDem]

26. Just as long as their is tasty finger food...

I wouldn't complain.

[Dorian Gray]

45. I generally

say "Happy Holidays" during the season, but on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I will wish my family and friends a Merry Christmas. (If they celebrate.)

[spanone]

9. yes

[havocmom]

10. I gear it to the person I am addressing.

If I know they are Christian, it is "Merry Christmas". When in doubt: "Happy Holidays."

Living in a small population lacking diversity, it's an easy call. Living elsewhere, I generally use Happy Holidays, or 'Enjoy the Season!'

[chaplainM]

11. I say, "Enjoy your holidays."

It's more inclusive.

Plus, I enjoy giving orders to people.

[Fumesucker]

12. Joyous Winter Solstice..

Celebrate the rebirth of the Sun..

[liberal_at_heart]

13. I don't really give it much thought

Usually someone else greets me with either a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays and I usually just say "You too." I don't generally go around greeting people first. I don't know why. I guess my mind is just thinking ahead, thinking of dinner or kid's homework or whatever else I have to do on my to do list. Sometimes if someone says Merry Christmas and I know they are Christian I will say Merry Christmas back. I do think Happy Holidays is more respectful. I think the Solstice is really cool. I love to go outside on the Solstice and just enjoy nature for a little while. Sometimes I will sit and meditate outside on the Solstice. It is so calming and peaceful. Also, this weekend is the start of Hanukkah. So, to anyone on DU that may be Jewish, Happy Hanukkah.

[mikelgb]

14. well you might as well pee on a nativity scene with talk like that

I see the War on Christmas is alive and well

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Christmas is, quite frankly, a largely secular holiday

I'm sure that for some people, the clebration of the birth of Jesus has great spirtual meaning. I think for the vast majority Christmas is about shopping, decorating, gift giving, and eating a big dinner with family and friends.

Additionally, Chanukah is one of the Jewish holidays of lesser importance. The only reason it has become a big deal is because it is around Christmas time. Quite frankly I think as Jews we should just partake in the secular traditions of Christmas if we so choose and then make a big deal out of another holiday that doesn't co-inside with Christmas.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. I always say Happy Holidays, unless the other person indicates their

own preference by saying 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Hannukah' to me first, then I reply in kind. What they say to me makes no difference because there is no way they could come up with 'Happy nice family day for gift giving and board games' - which is all the holidays mean to me.

EDIT: Oh, and feasting. How could I forget the feasting?

[AllentownJake]

17. Saturnalia or Happy Birthday Sol Invectus would apply as well

It was a Pagan holiday adopted by the Christians, because the converts liked the Feast day.

[JuniperLea]

18. Jesus would be respectful...

I agree with you.

I wonder sometimes if people are talking about the same Jesus I learned about as a kid. The Jesus I knew told us we'd have the poor with us always, and said that whatever we did for these people, we did for him too.

I guess "today's Christian" (please note the irony quotes) doesn't want Jesus to have health care, asks the "Prince of Peace" to bless their wars and their war heroes, wants to check a birth certificate before offering up a free toy to a child to make sure that child is a citizen and therefore deserving of their "charity" (Baby Jesus would miss out too, I guess), and keeps parroting the constant "bearing of false witness" against anything that isn't from the right wing is particularly unnerving. I have several Fundamentalist Christian relatives who are constantly saying how "radical" the Obama White House is, but when I ask them what he's done that they consider to be "radical" they can only parrot RW talking points about "what he plans to do" and nothing more. I keep redirecting... no, what has he actually done? Well he wants to... no, what has he actually done. Well he plans on... no, what has he actually done? Crickets.

I keep trying to tell them that Jesus charged us with taking care of each other, and especially those less fortunate, and if you feel you don't have enough so that all can have health care, then you just keep reaching into that basket and pulling out those loaves and fishes, because that's what faith is all about.

But what do I know? I'm just their "back-slidden, heathen" cousin. From my point of view, I was the only one really paying attention... and that's what put the final nail in my cross and has made me swear off churches of all kinds... I abhor hypocrisy... much like that guy I learned about... not the one today.

I heard about a bumper sticker today... it says: My Jesus Forgives Your Jesus For Being Bigoted, Proud, Greedy, a Warmonger...

[zaj]

19. Pretty simple: Happy Holidays = Christmas + New Years

[liberal_at_heart]

23. for some Happy Holidays mean Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

For others it means Happy Hanakkuh, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and Happy New Year. Personally I enjoy celebrating Winter Solstice and Christmas but there are other holidays and many people who celebrate those holidays.

[mike_c]

20. bah humbug....

:evilgrin:

[RedRubberBall]

22. Merry Christmas

If someone doesnt like it they should learn to be more tolerant

[kctim]

24. I only say Merry Christmas

and don't give a crap which one people say to me. ALOT more important things out there than this trivial BS.

[MellowDem]

25. I think if you know a person...

and know the religion (or no religion) that they follow, you might as well just say the appropriate holiday. If Christian, say Merry Christmas, if Muslim, Happy Ramadan, if Jewish, Happy Hannukah, if atheist, Happy Holidays, etc. etc. If you don't know a person, just say Happy Holidays or Merry Chrstimas. I don't think it's less respectful, given that many non-Christians celebrate Christmas in their own way and for their own reasons. If someone gets offended, then they're an idiot anyways. If somebody walked up to me and told me Happy Hannukah, I wouldn't go apeshit. I actually appreciate good wishes.

We are a "multicultural" society, but Christmas has become rather multicultural itself because of that.

[taught_me_patience]

27. Happy Holidays

I don't want to offend anyone. I'll say Merry Christmas to friends and family, though.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

28. Merry Festivus!

Festivus is the only one that counts.

I like to piss off people around here who assume everyone is Christian. When someone tells me Merry Christmas, I say Happy Hanukkah to you!

Otherwise, when I try to avoid confrontation, I'll just say Happy Holidays.

[walldude]

29. The war on Christmas is nothing but another ploy by the right wing

to divide the populace. To make sure that their minions believe that when you say Happy Holidays, it is not an inclusive statement but a specific and targeted insult. And the really fucked up thing is their minions bought it and now you can't say Happy Holidays without some Faux News inspired moron thinking it's an insult.

[JuniperLea]

35. Just wait until they rewrite the Bible...

All hell will break out:)

Yes, this happens every secular winter holiday season. Just like during election season when they trot out the bull about taking away guns, abortions, and immigrants of many colors.

[Nye Bevan]

30. Merry Christmas

Whatever your religion, or lack thereof, why wouldn't you be merry about getting a day off work on Dec 25th? And Christmas is the official name of that Federal holiday.

[immoderate]

31. Happy Holidays includes New Year

So, if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, I can say, "What? Don't you want me to have a happy New Year too?" </kidding>

--imm

[Raine]

42. Yup, when I was a kid most everyone said "Happy Holidays"

because they wanted to include New Year's, none of this crap about it being a "war on Chritmas" just because you included New Year's. :eyes:

[Tailormyst]

32. If I know someone is Christian I say Merry Christmas

If I know they are Jewish I say Happy Hanuka (sp?). If I know they are Wiccan, I say Happy Yule. If I don't know them or what they celebrate, I say Happy Holidays. It all seems pretty simple to me.

[kpeddi]

33. I say...

[Ozymanithrax]

34. The greeting for the #1 Capitalist Holiday should be Chi-Ching!!!!!

Christmas for a majority of Americans is about conspicuous consumption, and it was created that way by big department store chains like Macy's. I have some good friends who are Buddhists from Vietnam. They celebrate Christmas because when they came here as poverty stricken refugees, that was what America was all about. They have created successful middle-class lives, and Christmas is a celebration of their wealth.

[CTyankee]

36. I'm gonna see if I can stir up trouble with "Season's Greetings."

Or perhaps something more archaic, "And greetings of the season to you!"

[niyad]

37. blessed solstice--makes the little fundy heads explode

[niyad]

38. happy christicechanuzaa

[fascisthunter]

39. sounds respectable to me

nothing wrong with respecting other's holidays, unless of course you were a fanatic who believes their own religion is the only religion that should be recognized by Americans.

[classysassy]

40. WHO'S BIRTHDAY DO WE CELEBRATE?

nuf sed.

[Raine]

41. Either one is fine with me

though I personally like Happy Holidays because it includes all the holidays that fall during this time including New Years, Twelfth Night etc.

[Norrin Radd]

43. I say Peace on Earth.

[jerryjacson]

46. wish 4 xmas

marry Christmas to all of you my friend