Rosie_0801 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Why do celebrations have to include trees, natives, cards, Santa, stockings, gifts, or massive dinners to "count" as a legitimate holiday in December? :huh: Yeah! Litha=Summer Solstice=Midsummer= We watch Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare! That's culture! This is a country town, people say "Merry Christmas." We are probably the only ones in town who also celebrate something else. There are two different occasions that are both called the same thing and are both observed on the same day, with mostly the same traditions. I'll take "Merry Christmas" as meaning anything from "Remember the reason for the season! From your friendly neighbourhood, young earth Christians" to "Everyone loves public holidays!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 But hey, I think this is a record for this board. Usually this question is asked earlier in the season! :D I was thinking the same thing. We made it all the way to Christmas Eve before it even came up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 There is nothing wrong with Merry Christmas. What IS wrong is the developing anger at "happy holidays." The Christian overculture is massive in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Well, I am half Jewish (even though technically that doesn't exist), so I say Happy Holidays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 I don't really say anything, at all. I'm kinda shy (believe it or not) so I don't just go around saying greetings. If someone says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" I just just smile and say, "You, too." I especially would never tell someone, "Merry Christmas" if I knew they didn't celebrate it. If someone said some holiday greeting that I didn't celebrate, I would probably just smile?? Not really sure. Did you have a happy solstice? (Are you smiling?) ((Pulling your leg. :rofl: )) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasperstone Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 Yeah! Litha=Summer Solstice=Midsummer= We watch Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare! That's culture! This is a country town, people say "Merry Christmas." We are probably the only ones in town who also celebrate something else. There are two different occasions that are both called the same thing and are both observed on the same day, with mostly the same traditions. I'll take "Merry Christmas" as meaning anything from "Remember the reason for the season! From your friendly neighbourhood, young earth Christians" to "Everyone loves public holidays!" Hehehe, you missed the old earth creationist Christian. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasperstone Posted December 25, 2014 Author Share Posted December 25, 2014 Many people who are celebrating Christmas are not actually Christian. And there are many people that are Christian that don't celebrate Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Hehehe, you missed the old earth creationist Christian. ;-) I didn't miss anyone! My spectrum was carefully crafted for the season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 I think the analogy of Happy Birthday is a good one. If I know, or have reason to think I know what someone's celebrating, then I specifically reference that holiday. So, if you're my cousin and I know you're Christian, I say "Merry Christmas". If you're my neighbor and I know you're Hindu I wish you a Happy Diwali. If you're a complete stranger at the grocery store, but you're wearing a sweatshirt with Santa, or a cross, or are accompanied by a 6 year old in a Catholic school uniform, then I'll say Merry Christmas. Similarly, if you're wearing hijab or a kippah, then I'll adjust my greeting appropriately. If I don't know, then I'll say "Happy Holidays". It doesn't offend me when someone says "Merry Christmas" to me. It doesn't offend most of my non-Christian friends. But, I do think that some of the arguments against "Happy Holidays" are. I feel as though people are essentially ignoring the existence of other faith traditions in this country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatherL Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Massive family dinners... check Exchanging gifts... check Sending cards to everyone... check Menorrahs in the windows... check Dreidels, chocolate coins, jelly donuts, latkes... check Christians do not have a monopoly on festive holidays. Yup, we do all that. Chanukkah is huge here for us and our children. This year we had a huge family/relative dinner, a friend dinner/party, decorations, Chanukkah cookies, songs, dancing, dreidels, Chanuukah cards purchased in a box from an actual big box store, Chanukkah stories read each night at bedtime... And when someone at a store wishes my 7 year old son "Merry Christsmas" he responds with a big smile and says "Happy Chanukkah". Only once has someone responded with, "I don't celebrate Chanukkah." and his perfectly nice and calm response, "Well, I don't celebrate Christmas." And no, he's really not being snotty. He is very friendly and very excited about HIS favorite holiday of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1GirlTwinBoys Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Merry Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayne J Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 Have you actually been told not to wish anyone a Merry Christmas and that it's offensive, or are you just assuming it happens because angry pundits say it does? It's never happened to me. It's never happened to anyone I know. And believe me, we've discussed it. Sane people really don't care what you say when the intent is that you're wishing them well. Sadly, yes, I have. When I was working in a retail position I experienced hostility over Merry Christmas several times, from a several minute long diatribe on how Christians 'stole' Christmas from the Pagans to snippy retorts like "We don't celebrate Christmas!" accompanied by eye rolls and huffs. I've even been snapped at by members of Christian denominations that do not celebrate Christmas. I don't recall any specifically secularist/Atheist objections though--it generally seemed to be members of another faith. I just try to remember that it is a difficult time of year for lots of people and smile a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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