Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

[Victor]

It's been in the news a lot lately. And although the issue seems troubling at first, it lightens my heart to see it brought to the surface for discourse after years of quiet assumption that America has nothin' but Christian folk within its borders. Now, at least, differences in religious preference are being looked at.

So my question to you:
Do you prefer to be greeted in these weeks -- most notably during commercial shopping ventures -- with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" wishes?

[Inquartata]

Though I'm not a Christian, I'm fine with "Merry Christmas". Those who take umbrage at such trivia need to whittle down the chips on their shoulders a bit.

Of course, neither do I object to "Happy Yule" or "Merry Winter Solstice".

[VELISARIOS]

I prefer Merry Christmas. For aeons all Christianity celebrates those Holy days and this can not change.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I'm not a religious person but I prefer Merry Christmas. Beacuase I'm from a christian (protestant) culture this makes most sense to me.

"Holiday" to me, is when you get days off work for eg. National Day and the similar.

[Gav]

I'm not religous but I prefer a Happy Christmas and Merry New Year.

Besides if you are religous December 25th should be a happy time...

[dunastor]

I prefer Merry and Pippin.....

[jeff]

I take almost the same position as Inq (see, we can agree sometimes), adding that I say "Happy Holidays" to other people, because I think it rude to assume they're of a particular religion, unless I know it for a fact or see evidence (like a crucifix). When people say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to me I respond in kind.

I think it is polite to not assume, and to use a generic form: the person you're addressing might be Jewish, Muslim or several other religions or none at all, and it can be off-putting and alienating for people to have somebody else's religion assumed for them - and this time of year it happens over and over again. Good manners means not causing offense - I see this as a good manners rather than a PC thing.

On the other hand it can be funny sometimes, at least among friends: some years ago at exactly this time of year, a few of us went over to the cubicle of one of my employees, who was about to leave for vacation. After wishing her a good trip, it was "Hey! The Jew and the Hindu went over to wish the Buddhist a Merry Christmas!"

[cornflower]

I prefer 'Merry Christmas', although I really don't care if people say 'Happy Holidays' or 'Happy Hanukkah' or the like. I think people who take offense at 'Merry Christmas' or any other greeting really should suck it up and take it, and perhaps take some lessons in being a little more open-minded. This time of the year is full of religious celebrations and holidays, so we shouldn't really discriminate. Myself, I wouldn't be offended if someone said 'Happy Hanukkah' or 'Happy Kwanzaa' or any other greeting, I'd find it interesting, and appreciate the fact that the person is wishing me luck. Especially with holiday cards, I'd think it was really cool if someone sent me a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa card, although it hasn't happened yet.

[neevel]

You could also go the brutally-honest-but-true route and wish everyone a Happy Commerce Month (now go do your economic duty, Friend Consumer) .

[telkanuru]

Angels we have heard on high/tell us to go out and buy!

[achilleus]

I really don't care what they say, whether it's Happy Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Qwanza, etc...

To me it's the sentiment, not the particular event. So well wishers of any faith, or lack thereof, are welcome by me.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Happy Qwanza

What's "Qwanza"?

[achilleus]

What's "Qwanza"?

I misspelled it. Sorry.

Kwanzaa.

[Schiavona]

Merry Yule and Joyous Christmas!

And a Good Fight to All!

[Zilverzmurfen]

I misspelled it. Sorry.
Kwanzaa.

Interesting. I have never heard of this before!

So, from the swedish peninsula, wishing you a very

God Jul och ett Gott Nytt År!

[Peach]

I teach a homeroom class of 6th graders of whom perhaps a third are Jewish, and a third may or may not be Muslim or heaven knows what. Most of the rest don't practice much of anything except skiing as far as I can tell. I've never understood the truculence some people seem to invest in the privilege of being able to wish someone a Merry Christmas, any more than I appreciate the periodic vogue for "Smile!" or "Have a Nice Day!" which seems to allow people to berate anyone whose mother had just died or who suffered from clinical depression if they didn't smile in return. At any rate, being a Christian myself, I have to say Christmas is a much less important holiday than Easter, carols aside.

I do like giving presents to my immediate family, however, and I like Christmas better than Thanksgiving, but it really is a carefully orchestrated exercise in training consumers to feel guilty about not spending. My favorite day of the season has already passed: The winter solstice, which marks the gradual return of daylight.

Enjoy the holidays!

[Heraclita]

My favorite day of the season has already passed: The winter solstice, which marks the gradual return of daylight. !

I completely agree!!!! I need the sun
Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS all of you wonderful fencers!!!

[jeff]

... Most of the rest don't practice much of anything except skiing as far as I can tell.

Orthodox or Reform?

[mrbiggs]

I can understand when someone who is really into another religion starts to become annoyed by constant wishes of a "Merry Christmas" they don't celebrate.

But on the other hand, you are not ALLOWED to put the word "Christmas" up on a poster in my school. Like, for example, if you're trying to do some Christmas-related fundraiser or charity, it becomes a....Holiday-related fundraiser or charity. Which is going a little far, I think. Being inoffensive is one thing, erasing all forms of culture and religion from all public places is another.

[SouthPaw]

I don't get offended when people say Happy Hannukah or Kwanzaa or anything to me, it's just cultural/religious differences. If a Jewish person said Happy Hannukah to you, you would be like "that's fine, he's Jewish, it makes sense because that's what he celebrates," but if a Christian says Merry Christmas to a Jewish person, it's insulting because the Jewish guy is the minority? Doesn't make much sense to me.

I'm completely agnostic. My family and I celebrate Christmas, and honestly I don't care what people tell me to be happy for in this season, they're just trying to be nice. Some people look WAYYYY too deeply into these things sometimes.

Changing the name of this vacation from school from Christmas break to winter break is equally retarded and just shows that some people are very insecure with themselves.