Are you offended when someone says Merry Christmas, as opposed to Happy Holidays?

Question

In recent decades, it has been noticed that public, corporate, and government mention of the term "Christmas" has declined and been replaced with a generic term— usually "holiday" or "winter"— and that popular non-religious aspects of Christmas.

Evidently the American Family Association is calling for a boycott on Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores because they have chosen to use "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" on some of their advertising.

I celebrate Christmas and will say "Merry Christmas" to people...but what is so horribly wrong about "Happy Holidays" that people would choose to boycott companies using it?

Do you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" and what reasoning do you use? Or do you think the entire debate about it is ridiculous?

Answer 1

ok at first you question was, but then I realized you were talking about non christmas celebrating cultures!.

ok here's where I stand. in the united states of america. english should be the national language and christmas will be a national holliday whether any jahovas witness, jew or non celebration religeon likes it or not.

happy hollidays refers to BOTH thanksgiving and christmas. the term happy hollidays is not a way around christmas..make sense?

The fact that the conpanies are changing is becasue they need more money and targeting all cultures is thier best marketing tool.

Answer 2

Being that so many holidays follow one another at this time of the year I don't see anything wrong with saying happy holidays. Especially if you 're not sure when you will see the person the next time Of course on the specific holiday a good wish should always be presented. Then there are some folks now a days that are too darn sensitive about things like that.

Answer 3

No, I'm atheist and I don't give a damn. When people say "happy holidays'' they actually mean merry Christmas, Im sure that the holiday they have in their mind it's not Kwanzaa or Hanukkah. Everything in the streets screams Christmas, the lights, the tree, the santa claus yet somehow they still managed to squeak in a happy holidays. It's bullshit, it's a farce. Most people celebrate christmas and I don't see anything offensive about it and neither does my Hindu friend. I hate all this politically correctness.



Noveau griot- It's not atheists complaining. It's mostly Jews and Muslims. If atheists were the ones complaining then why settle on 'happy holidays'? This is obviously pandering to the minority religions.

Answer 4

The way Christmas has been commercialized, I don't agree with telling my children we are celebrating the birth of Christ. I just made it a fun day for my children and we just enjoy the lights, the music, the gifts and the holiday. As for the birth of Christ that is something I will teach them separately. I love the holiday season so I prefer to say happy holidays, and I specifically buy cards that say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. If someones says Merry Christmas to me No I don't get offended.











Peace

Answer 5

I hate the "political correctness" of this country. If I wish someone "Merry Christmas" it's because I want to extend a feeling of good will towards them, it's not meant as a religious insult. This country has gone mad.

If I'm at work then company policies state that we're not allowed to show religious bias for fear that someone will accuse us of misconduct so I have to say "Happy Holidays" but on my own time I will usually say "Merry Christmas"

If someone says "don't spout your religious beliefs at me" (this has happened before) I simply point out that "I'm not religious but anyone can offer the spirit of good will over the holidays, whatever they may or may not believe" and leave it at that.



I can't believe that some people are so petty as to throw a friendly gesture back at someone purely on the grounds of an incompatible religious interest, especially if said religion happens to be the mainstream of the the individual's country.

Answer 6

Some people are just too sensitive and don't understand that the world doesn't revolve around them. (*Cough* Moskau *Cough*) I don't care what term is used. I just assumed people said Happy Holidays as an all encompassing expression for all three holidays. It's easier than saying Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Also some people celebrate Hannukah instead and so on and so forth but it's still a holiday for us all in some way or another.

Answer 7

I say Merry Christmas to most people, but say Happy Holidays also, especially if I know they aren't Christian. And, anyone can tell me Happy Holidays/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Ramadan, etc., and I will not mind it one bit.



I think the debate is rather absurd but......



when employers are SO afraid of offending potential customers that they gladly browbeat [even fire] their employes who say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays [even if it was out of habit after saying the former for so many years], I think there is indeed a problem. Aren't there more important things to worry about...inventory shrinkage, etc.



One person said "the management told me 'you can't say Merry Christmas because it isn't tolerant!'.....yet the irony was completely lost on them."

Answer 8

No because that's what we're celebrating. Jesus and I are having an off period (I'm coming around, though) but even I can be cordial enough to celebrate his birthday.



Sure I could be petty and say "Happy Overpriced Superficial Ungrateful Kids Last Minute Gift Giving Day" but "Merry Christmas" makes so much more sense.

Answer 9

On December 25th, I will be saying, Merry Christmas. I will be asking what the kids want for Christmas, not the Happy Holidays. It's crazy to me. I know it as Christmas and will continue to know it as that.



I remember seeing a commercial last year that said all the dang religious holidays around this time at once. It was silly as hell.

Answer 10

HaHa... This subject is really political, well in Bill O'Reillys' book "Culture Warrior." The "SP" or the secular progressive, are trying to destroy America. In other words, the White Judea Christian America.



It's just a bunch of Atheist, willing to sue a corporation, due to discrimination, because they don't believe in Religion. So, to avoid being sued, they're willing to use other euphemisms to describe a Holiday.

Answer 11

I say merry christmas because that's the whole reason why we get days off in december BECAUSE of the holiday christmas, if we got days off for people celebrating hannukah or kwanza i'd totally being saying "happy kwanza/hannuckah etc. Why should we put down christmas how is it offending anyone? Some people say happy hannakuah too me but i don't mind because it's nothing offending infact i'm happy they're willing too celebrate their holiday with me.

Answer 12

I say "Merry Christmas" - Because the holiday we're observing is Christmas.

If non Christians, are offended..then they shouldn't be celebrating the holiday.

I don't see anyone changing Yom Kippur to something more general...

Answer 13

I say Happy Holidays because I work retail, but I love Christmas.

Answer 14

LOL...I think it's ridiculous that people are boycotting it. Those Republican groups are literally crazy, and they hate anyone/anything that isn't just like them. I say "Merry Christmas" if I know the person celebrates Christmas. Since I work in retail, I have to say "Happy Holidays," and I have no problem doing so...it's ignorant to just assume everyone celebrates Christmas, when there's Hannukah, Winter Solstice, etc.

Answer 15

I figure people will wish me a happy "whatever they celebrate." Why would I be offended? When I used to send Christmas cards I sent them to Jewish friends. I was sharing MY holiday with them. They totally got it. I got Hanukkah cards from them.

Answer 16

It pisses me off actually, I think it should stay as "Merry Christmas". I grew up hearing "Merry Christmas" and I prefer to keep it that way.



My guess as to why people are angry with "Happy Holidays" is because it feels like conforming to accommodate someone else- taking away something from yourself to make someone else feel more comfortable. That's why it makes me angry.



Also America was founded upon "christian" beliefs (one nation under God etc. )and to try and tone down most celebrated (Christian) holiday to be less offensive would offend traditional americans. I would love to see more commercials promoting "Merry Christmas" instead.



When someone says "Happy Holidays" I say "Merry Christmas".



and it does sound ridiculous but people talk about it.

Answer 17

I am so anti-Christian it hurts, but I take on a pretty Buddhist outlook when it comes to religious observances like Christmas.



If people want to celebrate, that is awesome. More people should love each other all year round, not just during the season of greed. When December rolls around, I kind of dig the whole holiday cheer thing. I can look past Christianity's pure evil and vileness during those few short weeks when everyone is bustling about, thinking of others instead of themselves for once.



I still observe Christmas, in all intents and purposes, even as a proud atheist. But, it's more of a family ritual than anything else. No religious connections at all. Hell, I hang my Christmas tree upside down, suspended from a planter hook that's drilled into a stud in the ceiling brace, from another hook that's screwed into the wood of the base of the tree.



People see it and double-take. Then they ask me if it's Satanic.



*facepalm



Jesus wasn't born under a fir tree.

Answer 18

no, i'm not offended. i'm not religious and only celebrate Christmas by working in soup kitchens. all that gift giving and fake yuletide cheer bothers me, but ppl can do what they want. i just wish ppl would be kinder to each other all year than just 1 day.

Answer 19

i dont get offended by either one. i grew up with "merry chrismas" but i really dont gaf what ppl say to me. cus they all mean good by it.

Answer 20

I really don't think about it, I say either one.

Answer 21

offended?....no, nothing to get offended about.

Answer 22

No i'm not



SteveC