When should we use Merry Christmas

[RichfieldMN]

Ever since being in the US I have found people have an aversion for the word "Christmas" you can wish people a Happy Holidays, a Happy Hannukah, a Happy Kwanza, a Happy Eid, a Happy Chinese New Year etc,

but when it comes to Merry Christmas you get such a strange look from people when you say it - Let me know what you actually say for the Christmas greeting-

Post your thoughts here chaps, chapesses,

[Alfonia]

Now, wouldn't it look strange if I talked english all the time?

I like Merry Christmas though...

[TheSensitiveNewAge]

For me, depends upon who I am talking to. If I know they are a Christian, I say "Merry Christmas" but if unsrue I use "Happy holidays."

[Used To Exist]

I shake things up a little. If someone wishes me a merry christmas, I simply reply "and a happy channukah to you too." But if a Jew wishes me merry christmas, then I wish them a merry christmas back (er, that doesn't happen to much). But when I'm doing the wishing un-provoked, I say "happy holidays"

[Klington]

[rant]Merry Christmas, always. Thats my relgion and I can wish you a merry christmas if I want. Its not a I-Dont-Care-About-Your-Relgion-And-Want-To-Impose-It-On-You-Thing, its just something I was brought up to say, and if you dont have the stomach to take someone wishing you a happy holidays in their own form and trying to be nice to you, than get over it!

It pisses me off so much that one can say, "Happy Kwanza" to someone who doesnt celebrate it and then that person will just look back at you and say "You Too." But the second you say "Merry Christmas", they get all up and arms and angry with you, and now its "Happy Holidays", which is just degrading this wonderful time of year. If someone wishes you good will, take it and say you too or thank you. You dont have to be a d.ick about it and get all up in arms. Its just one human being wishing good will to another which is rare and thankfully, we have one time of year when we can express kindness to one another and spread goodwill, but nooooooooooooo, they got to ruin that too.[/rant]

Thank You!

[Used To Exist]

Klington said:

[rant]Merry Christmas, always. Thats my relgion and I can wish you a merry christmas if I want. Its not a I-Dont-Care-About-Your-Relgion-And-Want-To-Impose-It-On-You-Thing, its just something I was brought up to say, and if you dont have the stomach to take someone wishing you a happy holidays in their own form and trying to be nice to you, than get over it!

It pisses me off so much that one can say, "Happy Kwanza" to someone who doesnt celebrate it and then that person will just look back at you and say "You Too." But the second you say "Merry Christmas", they get all up and arms and angry with you, and now its "Happy Holidays", which is just degrading this wonderful time of year. If someone wishes you good will, take it and say you too or thank you. You dont have to be a d.ick about it and get all up in arms. Its just one human being wishing good will to another which is rare and thankfully, we have one time of year when we can express kindness to one another and spread goodwill, but nooooooooooooo, they got to ruin that too.[/rant]

Thank You!

Well, your sounding kinda hypocritical.... you hate it when people say "happy Kwanza" to you, yet you like to say "Merry Christmas" to people who don't celebrate christmas.

Personally, I don't care when people say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Kwanza" to me, I think its nice..... I have never met anyone who gets angry about someone telling them "Merry Christmas."

[Alfonia]

Uhm pardon me for being uneducated, but what exacly IS Kwanza? An african-american thing? Or am I wrong?

[Used To Exist]

yup, thats it.

[New Dracora]

And it's petty disputes over things like this which makes me glad I live down under.

[Eterne]

Haha I don't think it's that big an issue, if you're not Christian and someone wishes you a Merry Christmas it'd be good to smile back and nod to acknowledge their goodwill.

[Newer Oxford]

Used said:

Well, your sounding kinda hypocritical.... you hate it when people say "happy Kwanza" to you, yet you like to say "Merry Christmas" to people who don't celebrate christmas.

I may have misunderstood Klington, but I thought he meant it irritates him that you can wish someone a happy kwanza but not a merry Christmas. (Not that it makes him mad when someone tells him merry kwanza.)

I have no problem with people wishing me a happy kwanzah or whatever they choose to celebrate... but I see no reason for them to be upset when I wish them likewise a merry Christmas. Just because I do not celebrate Ramadan does not mean someone cannot wish me good cheer in that time, and vice versa for Christmas.

[Klington]

Used said:

Well, your sounding kinda hypocritical.... you hate it when people say "happy Kwanza" to you, yet you like to say "Merry Christmas" to people who don't celebrate christmas.

Personally, I don't care when people say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Kwanza" to me, I think its nice..... I have never met anyone who gets angry about someone telling them "Merry Christmas."

No I dont mind if people say that to me, What I meant was people can say that to other people and hat person will say "Oh, You Too!"(I would do the same thing), but if you say Merry Christmas to someone they get all up in arms, when what they should do is say "Oh You too." Because the person who says it doesn mean to offend anyone.

[Klington]

Newer said:

I may have misunderstood Klington, but I thought he meant it irritates him that you can wish someone a happy kwanza but not a merry Christmas. (Not that it makes him mad when someone tells him merry kwanza.)

I have no problem with people wishing me a happy kwanzah or whatever they choose to celebrate... but I see no reason for them to be upset when I wish them likewise a merry Christmas. Just because I do not celebrate Ramadan does not mean someone cannot wish me good cheer in that time, and vice versa for Christmas.

Yeah thats the point I was trying to make. You expressed it better than me!

[RichfieldMN]

I brought the topic up because I am not a Christian but celebrate Christmas, my partner is an atheist btw and he celebrates Christmas too - too us it is more than Christianity but a time of year - and like expressed above people should be able to express merry christmas with no problem

The USPS has issued stamps with EID Kwanza, Hanukah, but no stamps with the word Christmas they have used the description traditional holidays to refer to the stamp - but no word Christmas on it.

At school someone glared at me when I said Merry Christmas - bah humbug

[Alfonia]

You seriously mean wishing someone a merry christmas in the USA involves a big risk of offending people?! If it is that way I would want to do something about it.

[Newer Oxford]

Unfortunately yes. There are a few - not a lot - but a few people who WOULD be offended. At least, they would act offended... I find it hard to believe that they could really be offended by a nice gesture like that.

[Alfonia]

Hmmm... aaaaaaah I know!

A little scene, direct from the Palace of Alfonia:
*steps away from painters who are always busy making flattering portraits of me*
*talks to secretary:*
"Miss, would you be a dear and take down these notes for me? good! Now pay attention with those non-noble little ears of yours. Aheeeehmm... Everyone who gets offended by the phrase "Merry Christmas" shall be sent to a camp where he/she will be learnt to love Christmas!"
"Did you get all that? Oh, splendid, my dear girl! Now make sure this little message gets sent to all the provinces. Well what are you waiting for, dear, Hurry up, we haven't got all day!"
*returns to the painters, who starts to paint right away, also makes up plans to order at least three new statues of me tomorrow morning*

(Actually I'm not such an a-hole in reality, I would treat my secretary like a human being. But please keep in mind that the emperor of Alfonia, His Elderberryness Alf II, is an aristocratic dictator who dislikes people from the lower classes, that's why he treats her that way. This is no way to treat your secretary. (I've just ensured that the international secretary union will not come after me. yay.))

[TheSensitiveNewAge]

I understand, I only make jokes about being an evil overlord. I would not really use secret police to enforce my will.

At least I wouldn't think so.....

[Volux]

In England, here over the pond, we wish everyone a merry christmas because as Klington said it is giving people good cheer at this time of the year.
If people choose to celebrate something else then they just have to say, "um.... sorry but i celebrate this (insert festival)" then you can just say "well happy (insert festival here)"
I think that people take offence because you are meant to know what they celebrate, which i find is quite hard to remember, also if you have only just ,et them then it is pretty much impossible.
Religion is meant to be about sharing the good will with each other, it should be true of all of the religions and so that is the way that people should behave.

ps. Am a christian. Just wish me a good time of year, it is the thought that counts, not how you say it.

Oh and i hope that everyone has a great time of year on the 10000 Islands and that they all feel peace whether they are none religious or religious.

[Re-Yupanqui]

TheSensitiveNewAge said:

I understand, I only make jokes about being an evil overlord. I would not really use secret police to enforce my will.

At least I wouldn't think so.....

I thought you used ninja-monkeys? By the way, do they have taco throwing stars? I could provide some, if needed. Only if you give me some salsa or jalapenos ;D

[Thewsconia]

I'm a cashier at a grocery store and I've been telling the customers merry christmas lately whenever they leave and no one has said anything to me or even given me a funny luck. The holiday is Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth, I think everyone has the right to wish someone else merry christmas after all that is what the season is.

[Alfonia]

I Agree 100%

[TheSensitiveNewAge]

Yupanqui said:

I thought you used ninja-monkeys? By the way, do they have taco throwing stars? I could provide some, if needed. Only if you give me some salsa or jalapenos ;D

Did I specify what species the secret police were? Also, tacos are the weapon of choice for battle-monkeys from Chir-Girr. Ninja-monkeys use the traditional fair of swords, pikes, shirken, and bows. All monkey sized of course.

[RichfieldMN]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO AL LTHE PEOPLE IN THE 10K

[TheSensitiveNewAge]

YES! Merry Christmas!

[Used To Exist]

Happy Chanukah!

[Volux]

Merry Christmas to all and to all a great New Year!
I love all of you people.