"Happy Holidays"

Resa77

As the stores are beginning to get some Christmas items, I am reminded of my mom's biggest pet peeve around Christmas: the saying "Happy Holidays." 

Each year, I listen to her rant and rave about how she celebrates Christmas, not Hannakuh or Kwanza or anything else, and so she refuses to wish people "happy holidays."  She thinks the saying is an attack against Christians, as though society is saying we must celebrate Christmas quietly. 

I don't feel that way.  First, I think of "happy holidays" as being about the holidays season -- the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years triple whammy.   So I do wish people happy holidays, because I hope all their holidays are happy.  Second, I don't mind being wished a happy hannukuh by my Jewish friends, and I don't think they ever mind if they're wished a merry Christmas.  Third, I think Christmas is a VERY widely accepted holiday in the US.  Perhaps too much so.  Perhaps celebrating quietly would mean the holiday would be special and reverently celebrated by Christians, rather than being some big secular thing. 

What are everyone else's thoughts?  Does the saying bother anyone? 

shawna127

I guess I had never thought about it like that.  I usually say Merry Christmas, but it never bothered me when people said "Happy Holidays"  I think I just love Christmas so much that, that time of year makes me happy anyway.  Although I do believe that Christmas is WAY TOO commercialized.

catarntina

The reason why they say "Happy Holidays" is because somewhere along the way they got sued for not respecting other people's religious preference.  Even if that particular store didn't get sued, I'm sure some non-Christian went off on some poor cashier for saying Merry Christmas. Your mom ought to realize that not 100% of Americans are Christians, considering that freedom of religion is one of the core values in our constitution.  It's just about being politically correct.

professorscience

A school in my district was recently sued because some teachers there forbade children to pass out candy canes with religious messages attached to them.  It's been a recurring story, because the verdict has been appealed and overturned on both sides now.

I still call our holiday break "Christmas Break," because that's what I always called it.  The kids here come from a wide variety of religions, and we all have a mutual respect for each other.  It's pretty awesome.

HandBanana

I was honestly embarrassed and insulted at a previous job when there was a blatant Christian prayer at the work CHRISTMAS party.  The job was a government job and the prayer occurred in the office.  They made  a big stink about how they refused to just have a holiday party.

I think people that get overly insulted by the demand to use the term Holiday instead of Christmas are just looking for something to get upset about.  If you really think that saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas will somehow diminish how Christian/Catholic you are , you probably have bigger problems.

I actually love when these people claim that it is some sort of discrimination against Christians.  Obviously they have no idea what discrimination means.  Being asked to respect that others aren't Christian and may be offended by you wishing them a Merry Christmas is not discrimination.

Calypso1977

i personally dont like happy holidays either.  people should be free to wish happiness or merriment for whatever holiday they choose to celebrate.

i like saying merry christmas.  honestly, if someone came up and wished me happy hannuka because they were jewish i would not be offended at all.

dont even get me started on people that flip out over christmas trees (a pagan symbol).  the holiday season should be a joyous time, no matter what religion you celebrate.  this country was founded on religious freedom.  people should not get bent out of shape because someone puts up a decoration that reflects their faith or verbalizes a sentiment that celebrates their faith.

divinemsbee

As someone who has been on the retail firing line, I've had way more people go off on me for saying "Happy Holidays!" (store mandated) than accidentally slipping and saying "Merry Christmas!" I worked for Starbucks for a number of years, and we are supposed to say "Happy Holidays" as our seasonal greeting once all that starts. I had many people, generally older, ask me why I said that and also getting very offended that there were both "Christmas Blend" coffee and "Holiday Blend" coffee. There is no difference between the two other than the packaging for Christmas is red and Holiday is blue.

"What's this Holiday (sometimes also, "Winter Blend") coffee?"
 "Well, sir, it's just the same as our Christmas Blend...goes on to explain what kind of roast/coffee that is"
"Why is it called holiday, it's Christmas we're celebrating, isn't it?"
"Yes, but not all people do, so we like to have an alternative for our non-Christian or religious customers in the spirit of togetherness."
"You're part of that war on Christmas, I'm going to write to your head office, can I talk to your manager."

agapecarrie

The word holiday came from "Holy Day"

Resa77

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_happy-holidays?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:2445787c-c809-4842-9369-a9ddd229f1a1Post:fa873f59-d190-4ad0-aaa3-75f629051696">Re: "Happy Holidays"</a>:
[QUOTE]The word holiday came from "Holy Day"
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

Good point!

lmeade62

I say "Merry Christmas." Sometimes I think Christians are the only people it's still okay to discriminate against...so I don't know why I should use anything other than what expresses the season for me. If someone wants to respond to me with Happy holidays/Hannakuh/Kwanzaa, then I respect that and respond with equal joyousness, but I don't assume to know what their beliefs are in advance.

So far no one's said anything negative...at least not to my face, LOL...

Linda

ElisabethJoanne

When I was still in school, I'd send Happy Holidays e-mails before Winter Break and list them all:

St. Thomas, Apostle
Chanukah (the Dedication festival Jesus celebrates in John 10)
St. Stephen, Martyr
St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Holy Innocents
St. Thomas Becket, Abp. and Martyr
Circumcision/Holy Name/secular New Year
Epiphany

In that light, "Happy Holidays/Holy Days" sure seems simpler, no?

mica178

I say both.  They mean the same thing to me, and if one is more inclusive to more people, I think that's okay too.  I know what holidays are important to me, and I'm fine respecting whatever other holidays other people are celebrating, so long as we all agree to peace.