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Scar
Lifeless Person
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 6141
Location: Chuck Norris's nightmares.
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 Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: Do you say merry christmas or happy holidays? or? |
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What do you say during the holiday season? Do you say "Merry Christmas" ? or "happy holidays" or what?
I say Merry Christmas. I don't really care if i offend anyone. I celebrate Christmas, then entire time right now is really about Christmas, and if people don't like it, they can hide in their houses or something. I work at a huge retail store and i think all the people who work there are supposed to say the "Happy Holidays" crap, but no one does. We all say Merry Christmas.
I've heard some employees and such of another company are suing the management because they weren't allowed to say "merry christmas". it was some type of policy against it to not offend customers or something, which is lame.
I'm just wondering what you say and what you think is the proper thing to say this time of year?
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coralvalley
Lifeless Person
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 918
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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I used to always say Merry Christmas to people, but then everyone around here seemed to get so up in arms about it. I really do not understand why considering that I have friends who are of a different religion for example one of my best friends is Jewish and she sends her friends Christmas presents and celebrates that as well even though it isn't her faith by any means. To her it isn't an issue, so I really do not understand why people get upset about others who say it.
On forums and in stores and stuff where I might not know a person very well I will simply say Happy Holidays because I realize that the policies of that are changing to the point where it is almost too much. Last year at my sister's high school they suspended a girl because she said Merry Christmas to one of her friends because now for some strange reason it is against school policy for anyone to say that because it can be deemed offensive. If they catch a student wishing another Merry Christmas it is a five day suspension for being a violation of the student code of conduct. If teachers wish the students a Merry Christmas they will wind up in trouble as well as they feel they are protecting those of different faiths from having to have the whole Christmas holiday pushed upon them. I personally think that it a bit much and cannot for the life of me believe that they would sink to that kind of low and punish someone for wishing another well. I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't be offended is someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or anything else. Rather than making an issue about it, I would simply smile and say thank you, but now because the schools are so afraid of upsetting someone else, they seem to be punishing those who are simply doing what they would normally do. It makes one cautious about what it is they can and cannot say about the holiday season, so because of all that I would probably just say Happy Holidays since clearly the alternative seems to be shunned upon at this point in time where I live. |
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Celvaeti
Portuguese Hypnotist
Joined: 19 Aug 2004
Posts: 1279
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not a Christian, but I still don't understand why a simple well-wishing like "Merry Christmas" can be so consumed by silly arguments about being offensive. Sure, I don't really celebrate Christmas. Does that mean that I should be offended that somebody is telling me to have a good day on "their holiday"?
I personally say "Happy Holidays" out of habit. As for places where there are policies about what you can or cannot say in your holiday greetings...
| Thomas Jefferson wrote: | | The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. |
We may not be talking about government, but I think the message of this quote is what is important here. In the general sense, a greeting like "Merry Christmas" can't hurt me; in fact, it makes me pretty happy to receive kind words from random people. The only people I've met personally who take offense at "Merry Christmas" are the people who could take offense at anything and everything.
| Thomas Jefferson wrote: | | There is no act, however virtuous, for which ingenuity may not find some bad motive. |
If I claim that I find "Hello" offensive because it bears that naughty H-E-double-hockeysticks word in it, will policies be made to force everybody to say "Greetings" instead?
Sorry for the overuse of TJ quotes, but the man has a better brain and a better tongue than me.
Feel free to point out something I might be overlooking, but as it stands, I can see no remotely valid point or reason for restricting friendly greetings. |
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Mr.Fraud
Professional Liar
Joined: 03 Aug 2005
Posts: 640
Location: Land of the self-conceited hypocrites and I'm all alone
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Celvaeti wrote: | | If I claim that I find "Hello" offensive because it bears that naughty H-E-double-hockeysticks word in it, will policies be made to force everybody to say "Greetings" instead? |
Right you are, dude... do anyone of you know someone who meets people and say 'Greetings'?? I can only thing of Marvin... the Martian. 
Back to the old topic, I basically use the two expression depending on what situation. If I am talking to someone who I don't really know and what idea there comes into my mind of what religious preferences they have, I greet them 'happy holidays' or 'enjoy the holidays.'
For me, its all about awareness... giving out respect to what others believe. And not stereotyping everybody inside the phrase 'Merry Christmas.' Then again, it's all in the matter of how you express it. Put on a smile while greeting somebody and not some grim looking face like you are cursing them to hell with that form of greeting.
Personally, I know someone greeting 'Merry Christmas' just like that, my freaking neighbor who lives in a monster house sort of thing. Soo intense that my reply is '@#@&^!!!' in my mind. That I would really love to shout in his face that I don't even try to think that he would really mean what he is saying. I just want to go on with the business and say goodbye. Some people really don't know how to please somebody from the bottom their heart, or even a shallow part will do. Atleast it's not pretending...
Give a little smile...
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Im just a "Fresh-Starter"... You don't need to be harsh on me, really... and I got no religion |
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martinz
Grandmaster Poster
Joined: 01 Oct 2007
Posts: 287
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| Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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I say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  But I tend to give the wishes appropriately. In my country, there are people with different religions such as Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, Catholics, Christians etc. Therefore, I need to be sensitive in saying the wishes during to the appropriate person at different festivals. |
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Desbrina
Jadeite
Joined: 11 Jun 2005
Posts: 2972
Location: Earth
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thundergod
Novice Poster
Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Posts: 7
Location: Bulgaria
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| Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:24 am Post subject: |
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Well,I'm From Bulgaria and we say "Vesela Koleda",but I love to say Merry Christmas
P.S I'm New in this forum,I Like it
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kenoodo
Lifeless Person
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 1092
Location: MengDai
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I have noticed that there are more and more people who are so sensitive about these 'Greetings' that come form the other counties or religions.
I have even read topics about 'Is it appropriate for middle school students', who do not believe in any religion at all, to celebrate Christmas in China. And you know that day is not a holiday in China, but I think these young students still had fun. It is not a big deal for them to understand the meaning of Christmas, but since there are movies about Christmas and songs about Christmas at that time, it is not wrong to enjoy with somebody else around the world.
I think it is not a simple question about religions or cultures, but the Globalization. It is hard to say whether such Merry restrictions is right or wrong. I feel good when people wish me a good holiday or Merry something, that means they are willingly to share their joy with me. That's good. |
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mellymoo
Lifeless Person
Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 554
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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All this PC cack really annoys me! If you don't do Christmas, it's simple, don't take the holidays the country might offer you, and feck off to work, then take the time off when you DO celebrate whatever your religion dictates! Does anyone have a problem with the Chinese celebrating their new year or Jewish people Celebrating all their feasts? no! So bloomin leave us alone to our Christmas - don't like it? Move back to where your religion is predominantly followed and everything is hunky dory!
Merry Christmas it is, and it always has been! I don't go for the "happy holidays" Americanism either - after all, not everyone's on holiday! (think about santa!) lol
So, Merry Christmas and Cheers tae Ne'erday (happy new year) , from Scotland - where you'll see the BEST hogmanay celebrations the world over! And remember, the first person in your house on 1st January must be tall, dark and carrying a lump of coal, a loaf of bread and a bottle of whisky!
New years tradition in Scotland - First footing.
| Quote: | A Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger
The first person to cross the threshold at Hogmanay brings all the luck, good or bad, for the year ahead. And, to follow in tradition they have to fulfil certain criteria.
They have to be male, tall, dark and handsome. They cannot be doctors, ministers or grave-diggers (!) - oh, and your first footer cannot have eyebrows that meet in the middle! If you do find a first footer that fits the bill (for remember, we Scots might be handsome but, as a race, we're not renowned for our height) then hang on to them - you could make a packet!
Being a First Footer is great because tradition dictates you can claim a kiss from every lady in the place! |
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