Happy Holidays? [Archive] - Fanbolt Forums

MidnightShadows

11-25-2005, 04:11 PM

It's funny. My mom was telling me about a store she went to that the employees were talking to one another about it and how they had to sing "We wish you a Happy Holidays!" instead of "We wish you a Merry Christmas!" which is funny. But since I only celebrate Christmas, I still love the originals better...

But as for just saying "Happy Holidays" that doesn't bother me. Just as long as if I say "Merry Christmas" that no one gets mad at me...

OTH man

11-25-2005, 04:15 PM

I do think its kindda annoying bcuz like are buisness/schools so stupid to where they are guna say "HAPPY HOLLIDAYS!" insted of "Merry Christmas" when their breaks are specially designed for Christmas I mean really did anybody notice how its perfectly fit to Christmas every year and part of Channikah (SP?) is outside of the breaks?

everwoodisfab

11-25-2005, 04:25 PM

^lots of other holidays fit into the christmas break aswell though e.g Winter solstice shouldn't everyone be included? It's just one word

Summer_Roberts2

11-25-2005, 04:25 PM

I don't really mind it. Either way works for me. It's nice that Happy Holidays includes holidays for all religions.

HappyHamster

11-25-2005, 06:35 PM

Well, I find it rather weird that a rule has to be made to regulate what staff from stores can say. I'm an atheist but I don't mind people saying Merry Christmas. Personally I would think people have better things to worry about than whether or not the shop girl included their religion in her season's greeting. I know that whenever I buy things during Christmas time all I'm thinking when they wish me Merry Christmas is "damn I spend way too much!!"

Faith

11-25-2005, 07:44 PM

People said happy ede *sp* to me during it, I didnt care :)

Andrew

11-25-2005, 11:03 PM

I know that whenever I buy things during Christmas time all I'm thinking when they wish me Merry Christmas is "damn I spend way too much!!"

lol... for real :nohope:

I work the register at my job every other day. Usually during the end of November/through December, i'll say "Happy Holidays." It's just one more syllable more than "Merry Christmas." It's really not that serious...

I'm atheist, and I celebrate Christmas... although not in a religious way since I don't view it as a religious holiday, although I do know it is somewhat of a religious holday.

christy86

11-25-2005, 11:35 PM

Felizzzz navidad! just say that to the non-spanish speaking customers. lol

Heather

11-26-2005, 02:11 AM

lmao, christy.

But I think everyone pretty much knows what Feliz Navidad means, thanks to Julio Eglesias. :lol:

OTH man

11-26-2005, 02:56 AM

^^yeah that songs a classic :)

Kari

11-26-2005, 04:45 AM

My god...Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Season Greetings...people can say to me whatever they want and I won't be offended...(if they don't add some nasty insults after it)
This is something that will probably discussed and discussed and discussed, while the world has really more serious issues to deal with...but, then, that's just me...

ryan+marissa

11-26-2005, 10:19 PM

I really don't think it's that big a deal that they changed it to Happy Holidays. I actually like it. Is it really that big a deal that signs don't say Merry Christmas, but instead say Happy Holidays? It's just a way of including everybody. . which is what the holiday season's all about .. tolerance. . etc.

OTH man

11-27-2005, 01:48 AM

i love that we say Happy Holidays i was just saying its funny how the break fits right around Christmas

christy86

11-27-2005, 01:51 AM

Funny though Chanuakkah(is that spelled right?) is Dec. 25th starting too.

I always remembered holidays(kwanzaa,Christmas,Chanuakkah)......

Whatever you were you said Happy,Merry.

Heather

11-27-2005, 02:13 AM

Channukah changes every year. Sometimes its before Christmas, sometimes its the same week. Im not Jewish, so Im not sure what it is this year. I should ask my "cousin" Adam...

Heather

11-27-2005, 02:18 AM

I dont really care about the Happy Holidays thing. I just think you should be allowed to say "Merry Christmas" as well.

I remember, when I worked in West Milford, the last day before Winter Break, I walked in, and the chorus, was singing carols. The first song I heard:

"God rest ye Merry Gentlemen, let nothing you do, dismay,
Remember Christ, our Savior, was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan's power,
We had gone astray..."

Keep in mind, this was at a PUBLIC school. My first thought was, "OMG...if the ACLU were here right now, they would be having a field day!!"

Im all for other cultures and such. If you're Jewish, Happy Festival of Lights!!! if your Muslim, Happy Ramadan...try not to get too hungry. But I dont like how we have to take the Christ out of Christmas. After all, he's the reason for the Season.

OTH man

11-27-2005, 02:19 AM

yeah one year it started b4 break.. so it was CHRISTMAS BREAK i just think if they r going to call it Holiday Break they need to make it more multi-holiday-friendly

Heather

11-27-2005, 02:22 AM

Can someone answer a question for me...

What the hell is Kwanza?

OTH man

11-27-2005, 02:27 AM

:lol: yeah i dont really know.. lemme search google

okay thats really weird i seached "Kwanza" and like nothing about a Holiday came up:shrugs:

Andrew

11-27-2005, 02:31 AM

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/7principles.html

christy86

11-27-2005, 02:32 AM

Wait you don't know [http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/ Kwanzaa?

It's some African American holiday after Christmas it starts...until new yrs.

I guess it is the south then.....hmm....
They made us learn about it in elementary school. I forgot its about some principals something.

Fading Shadow

11-27-2005, 09:28 AM

My god...Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Season Greetings...people can say to me whatever they want and I won't be offended...(if they don't add some nasty insults after it)

I have to agree with Kari it doesn't matter what they say to me as long as the don't add insults after it.

Faith

11-30-2005, 05:44 AM

I still say Merry Christmas to my customers... I always have, and I always will. It is polite, and it is full of well meaning, and I'm sick of living in a PC world that has gone crazy.

Manon

11-30-2005, 06:43 AM

i don;t think it changed here in the netherlands....but we're not really in a christmas mood here....first we have sinterklaas, and then we get in the christmas mood. but i don;t know if we have to say happy hollidays in stead of merry christmas.....

oclover24

11-30-2005, 04:41 PM

I celebrate Christmas... although not in a religious way since I don't view it as a religious holiday, although I do know it is somewhat of a religious holday.

I agree with that...I am sort-of agnostic (long story!!), and I know so many Jewish people. They would get annoyed if I said "Merry Christmas." I'll say "Merry Christmas" to the people that I know who celebrate it, and "Happy Holidays" to the Jewish, Muslim, etc. kids and the kids who I don't know they celebrate. To me, it's not a big deal that "Merry Christmas" is on the way out. Practice tolerance, right?

oclover24

11-30-2005, 06:27 PM

Sorry for the double post, this can be deleted, but I wanted everybody to know this. On CBS Evening News, there is a thing about "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays."

Noah

11-30-2005, 07:09 PM

dammit, I'm Jewish and when people say "Merry Christmas" to me I just wanna punch 'em in the face! little bastards and their "Jesus" and Christmas trees and "fa la la la la" and Jolly old Sain Nick and his massive bag of goodies.... and what do I get?! spinnin' friggin' dreidels and little chocolate candy coins that just taste like alluminum foil. blech!

it's tough being a lonely Jew on Christmas.

oclover24

11-30-2005, 07:11 PM

^Aw, Noah...

:lol: I was wondering when we would get a Jewish POV.

Andrea

11-30-2005, 07:49 PM

I have many Jewish friends, old and young, some of them quite Orthodox, and none of them get angry at "Merry Christmas." Just as I don't get angry at the massive Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur/ etc celebrations that go on. It's not like the person is trying to offend you or tell you that you have to celebrate it.

marianne

11-30-2005, 07:54 PM

Here we just say "God Jul" ( Norwegian way to say "Merry Christmas) to everyone. At least I think so because everyone says it to me and they can't really tell what religion I belong to so yeah.. and I haven't met anyone that has a problem with it. So far that is.. =P

I reeeally don't see why anyone would be bothered to care. It's just stupid. It's so typical.. THAT is what they are all focused on fixing instead of like.. real issues.

Noah

11-30-2005, 08:01 PM

Honestly, I love Christmas and Christmas time and absolutely everything about it. The music, the chill in the air, the lights... It's the best time of year. And whether or not you believe that Jesus is the son of God, I view Christmas as a chance to celebrate the man, the life he lived and his teachings. A time for love, fellowship, giving thanks to everything we have and taking time to help those less fortunate than you.

I never really viewed "Happy Holidays" as an attempt to appeal to everyone. I think it's more convenient to say "Happy Holidays" than it is to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year andHappy Chanukka...

We've always celebrated Christmas and had a Christmas tree in my house, and we also observe Channukah and light the menorah and all that fun stuff. And even if I raise my own kids Jewish, I'll be damned if I deny them having a Christmas Tree and the anticipation of waking up Christmas morning and getting boat loads of presents.

Andrea

11-30-2005, 08:06 PM

So what you're saying is... Happy Holidays isn't anti-Christmas... it's just pro-laziness? :lol:

oclover24

11-30-2005, 08:21 PM

So you celebrate Chrismukkah, Noah? :lol:

christy86

11-30-2005, 08:59 PM

Noah

11-30-2005, 09:06 PM

So what you're saying is... Happy Holidays isn't anti-Christmas... it's just pro-laziness? :lol:

Yes!

So you celebrate Chrismukkah, Noah? :lol:

Yes!

Those chocolate Jewish coins are really good.
<3 them.

ok, I'll admit... they're pretty awesome.

Quinton

11-30-2005, 09:23 PM

Does anyone get annoyed with the fact that stores cannot say Merry Christmas anymore but that they must state, "Happy Holidays," when greeting customers?lol you guys aren't allowed to say "Merry Christmas"?

we do here. That's kinda odd. Oh well, it's the first official day of Summer here BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS! :dancing:

oclover24

11-30-2005, 09:32 PM

Ol'blueyes
Does anyone get annoyed with the fact that stores cannot say Merry Christmas anymore but that they must state, "Happy Holidays," when greeting customers?

^I'm going to correct that about saying "Merry Christmas" so everybody knows.

We're allowed to say Merry Christmas. Shout it to the world, get one of those sky writer planes and spell it out. But we just don't say Merry Christmas to random people at, for example, Marshall Fields, because we're supposed to be promoting tolerance.

(Which shouldn't be a problem, but somehow, it is...)

Scarlet

11-30-2005, 10:11 PM

OK, so everywhere you look now, all the stores are decorated with Christams stuff...but let's face it, not everyone celebrates Xmas...I know half my friends don't...so when I say Happy Christmas to them, I then add Happy (religious holiday) after it....all I know, is that it's a joyous time of year...and I get presents, lol...

But to everyone here: Happy Holidays!!!

oclover24

11-30-2005, 10:15 PM

^Happy Holidays back to you!

(And it's one less letter to type in that 'Happy Holidays' phrase than "Merry Christmas" right? :lol: )

Ol'blueyes

11-30-2005, 11:17 PM

I should have reworded my first post. I meant that some people aren't allowed to say Merry Christmas where they work and any type of Christmas celebration has just become, "Happy Holidays," hell some kids can't even celebrate it in public school. Not to mention that instead of nativity scenes, christmas trees are put up instead. Don't get me wrong I love christmas trees, but its not the true symbol.

Ol'blueyes

11-30-2005, 11:18 PM

Sorry for the double post-my laptop sucks at life.

Heather

12-01-2005, 01:49 AM

Yup, Jesus is the reason for the season. ;)

You're Jewish, Noah? How did I never know that?

Although, I must say...very interesting choice of avatar. Lenin? When Communists are against any form of organized religion, or a God?

Hmmmm..... :ponder:

Heather

12-01-2005, 02:46 AM

My best friend for most of my life is Jewish, so I have the utmost respect for their faith. After all, Christ was a Jew, so if I had a problem with Judaism, it would make me a hypocrite...which, I am not. :)

everwoodisfab

12-01-2005, 05:10 PM

I have alot of Jewish friends but they dont care if someone wishes them happy christmas :) I just say Nadolig Llawen (welsh for happy christmas) no one can get offended because no one knows what I am saying :D

Heather

12-01-2005, 06:03 PM

lmao...thats a good idea. I should try that.

I live in an area that has a really big Jewish population. It actually used to be a pre-requisite to live here, that you were Jewish. I remember in high school, when I first moved here, and people found out where I lived, they would always ask me if I was Jewish. I was like, "Do I look Jewish? (I look Irish), its not a pre-requisite, you know!" And they would laugh and say, "It used to be."

Its actually pretty cool this time of year, because you have houses with nothing but Christmas lights, then others with Menorahs in the window.

Plus, every Saturday, you pass people walking to Temple. (Theres one a few blocks from me.)

Its an interesting melding of Christianity and Conservative Jews all living together. :)

We've always celebrated Christmas and had a Christmas tree in my house, and we also observe Channukah and light the menorah and all that fun stuff. And even if I raise my own kids Jewish, I'll be damned if I deny them having a Christmas Tree and the anticipation of waking up Christmas morning and getting boat loads of presents.

You sound like my mom's best friend, Noah. My friend, Josh's, mom. She was raised in an Orthodox household, and turned around and married a Catholic. Oh, the scandal that she was. :lol:

Her kids grew up celebrating Christmas and Channukah, Passover and Easter. She actually had pendants made for each of them that is the Star of David with a Cross going through them, a symbol of both faiths that they were raised in.

Although, its kind of funny how she yelled at me for my shamrock tattoo, about how I "defamed my body", then allowed her son to get more than one. That same son, Adam....is in the Army now. (inspired by my bro...their like brothers...born a year and a day apart). In the Army, they call Adam "the Jew", which I find hysterical, since he is as much a Christian. He sees the irony in it, as well, and laughs about it.

oclover24

12-01-2005, 07:18 PM

^That's cool how she combined the two faiths.

Heather

12-03-2005, 04:26 AM

Well, she is an amazing woman, and mother. Thats probably part of the reason why she is my own mother's best friend, and her children are mine.

Besides, it takes a pretty strong woman to go against her family for love. But she did. And because of it, she has three wonderful children, and through her husband, met the best friend she ever had...my mom. (Before I was even born, my dad worked with her future husband, and became his friend...thats how my mom met her.)

Its funny how fate works, sometimes.

But yeah, her children were raised in both faiths, and embrace both faiths. That was a big thing with her. That they fully understand both religions, and when they came of age, decided for themselves which religion to follow.

I have to say, growing up with them (they are like brothers and sisters to me and Stephen), it was so enlightening for us as Catholics, to see Judaism and Catholicism medling together.

Normally, it would seem impossible, but for them it works. And through her family I have been exposed to so much more of the Jewish faith, than I normally would be.

After all, they're practically family. :)

*gwen*~*grover*

12-18-2005, 05:30 PM

thats really sweet...

so, ive been arguing (well sortof) with people about this all morning...
then ifound out there was a current events board on this site... haha.

another jew's perspective (haha) (well, more agnostic i guess... long story): i honestly couldnt give a s*it. i mean, im happy that they are trying to recognize more than one religion, but (and someone said this), there are more important things that we could about (this hasnt bothered me since i was little..., then again, i live in NYC, so iguess there are more diversity or religions here on a day to day basis...) i read this article about walmart and people protesting outside, and what those people dont realize is that the happy holiday sign is up from thanksgiving through new years... anti-christmas? no... just good marketing.
the other thing (and im really glad that no one here brought this up) is i really hate the people who say that we need to keep it as christmas becasue america is a christian nation... but no onr did so i dont have to argue with that, haha.

Ol'blueyes

12-18-2005, 07:43 PM

the thing is when you look at a newspaper and you see all christmas stuff like lights, trees, etc, they always say HOLIDAY, like its horrible to say the word christmas. thats what really pisses me off.

oclover24

12-18-2005, 08:01 PM

They had an article about Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas in the newspaper. People are freaking out too much about it. It is way too publicised now. Bridget, I agree that calling speific Christmas items 'holiday items' is annoying.

*gwen*~*grover*

12-18-2005, 08:24 PM

oh, i agree too. if something is marketed for christmas, then its a christmas item. i really think this is blown out of proportion... haha.

wes&fred

12-18-2005, 08:32 PM

Chrismuhanakwanzakah, people :)
I'm Jewish, too, but I wouldn't mind if someone wished me a Merry Christmas. Just as long as I can say Happy Hanukkah sometimes :)

*gwen*~*grover*

12-24-2005, 03:17 PM

haha, kind of off topic, and i tried to find it to post here, but on friday jonathan safran foer wrote this thing in the op-ed of the ny times, something like "hanukkah for beginners", it was really funny, and completely making fun of the whole issue... well, really just making fun of chanukkah, but it was good, haha.

Springflower

12-28-2005, 03:39 AM

I don't mind at all when someone I don't know says Happy Holidays.
But for the most part, everyone that knows me, says Merry Christmas..
I think it's totally wacky not to 'be able' to say Merry Christmas, to someone whom you know celebrates christmas...like at work.
but I'm so happy this time of year, that it's not terribly annoying.

By the way, has anyone heard that new Christmas song exactly about this?
I don't know who sings it, or all the words, but it's a cute christmas song, about how there aren't any christmas signs anywhere :lol:
I heard it on the radio, now I can't find it..

extreme_cowgirl

01-02-2006, 04:48 PM

Yes It does bother me, it may be a holiday and a happy time. but it's a free country right you should be able to say what u want to say. and people are trying to take christ out of christmas, saying that christians have basically lost their holiday it's become more than celebrating Christ's birth, it's not about that anymore. well I disagee, it's still all about Christ in so many ways. It's not about all the extra stuff and the gifts well @ least it should not be. I think that taking Christ out of Christmas is like taking you out of your birthday and etc. Say merry Christmas all u want, I will continue to say it. :)

*gwen*~*grover*

01-04-2006, 02:33 PM

ok, i agree, but at the same time i feel like that is the reason that this got blown out of proportion...
they wanted to have a happy holday slogan so that they could cover more holidays... which makes perfect sense... but people began complaining about the signs and then saying happy holidays, and i think it really got to be "complicated" bc once it was made an issue they couldnt allow people to say merry christmas bc then it would seem like they were favoring religion which would be a problem and whatnot...
dont know if thats true, but it makes sense in my head, haha