One of my co-workers told me he was offended by people calling the Christmas/New Year's season Happy Holidays and the world news had a little story about it also.

I am more of a traditionalist so to me it does sound not so right.

What are your thoughts and/or opinions about this?

Jerry

I live in a very diverse neighborhood (many Jewish, Hmong, Somali, Muslims), so I wish people a Happy Holiday season if I am not sure what holidays they celebrate.  Once Hannuka and Christmas have passed, I wish people a Happy New Year.  

My area is mostly Hindu but we all say Happy Holidays to each other.

I've never lived in a culturally diverse area so it's always been Merry Christmas.  Even when I worked in a predominantly Jewish area we still wished each other a Merry Christmas, but I don't get offended by Happy Holiday greetings.  I don't really think it's a big deal at all, especially in this country were there is such a blending of various people.  Now that I think of it, I actually like Happy Holidays because it's a friendly greeting that acknowledges and respects our differences.

I'm pretty sick of the generic "holiday" this and that. I've never cared for the whole "politically correct" movement because it's a complete crock. You can't please everybody. There are always going to be the people who get offended by anything, so I'm all for just saying whatever's in your heart and letting the rest react as they please.

I know, I know...I really must stop this independent thinking. The world can't handle it.  ::)

You'd like the button I wear, Angel.  It says "It's okay to wish me a Merry Christmas"  I've gotten nothing but positive feedback and have given them away to anyone who says they like it.  It's been fun!

lol Silvermayne...that's cute.  ;)

The only time I say "holidays" is when I'm referring to Christmas and New Year together. Give or take Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, etc. lol If I'm aware that someone celebrates a different holiday than I do, I greet them accordingly. But I've never been one to bend over backwards to be PC. Too much like censorship.  ::)

If you know what holiday somebody celebrates, it's polite to wish them a merry <name of their particular holiday>. otherwise... well, for better or worse the U.S. is a predominantly christian nation, and therefore Christmas is a good fallback. or you could always wish them a YuleMasZaaKah, like I do. Confuses everybody equally.

I think this Clan Of The Cats comic strip is pretty much applicable, though...

http://clanofthecats.com/comics/Xmas20071221c.jpg

I like that and it is very applicable 8-)

Jerry

Jerry wrote on Dec 21^st, 2007 at 4:17am:

One of my co-workers told me he was offended by people calling the Christmas/New Year's season Happy Holidays and the world news had a little story about it also. I am more of a traditionalist so to me it does sound not so right. Jerry

I should have said, I am more of a traditionalist to a point.

Quote from Kiraela on Dec 22nd, 2007, 2:32am:  
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/goddessacelestial/Xmas20071221c1.jpg;D ;D

Every day I'm still alive, well, and breathing is a great day. That wrote, my favorite holliday is actually Thanksgiving. Most think it's Christmas, but Christmas is simply the climax to an extended Thanksgiving celebration filled with eating great home-made cookies, Christmas dinners, lunches, egg nog, vendor treats, (bribes)....

After Christmas, it's all over, I'm a fat rat, I'm tired, and it's time to take in the holiday display, which is a tiring task.

Since Thanksgiving is my favorite, I decided to set my retiremant date to the day before Thanksgiving. THAT will be the greatest holliday.  :D

Sir Rat - so instead of the 12 days of Christmas you have 30 days of Christmas?   ;D  I missed it - did you have pictures of this year's display?  I do enjoy a good, home-made holiday display.

It does seem that "the holiday" is extended as far as possible.  I feel the true spirit of ALL the holidays has been lost to commercialism.  It is so frustrating to me.  But I try to go along with the gaiety and not damper anyone elses mood while I keep my holidays simple.  

I agree, BB. We gave out well wishes for christmas, and recieved the same in return. No gifts, except that Paul's dad gave me a wooden trunk he'd made about 24 years ago that he says seems to like me. *shrugs*

One of our friends called everybody wishing them a happy "commercialized capitalism day"... I think a lot more people every year are getting jaded by the societal pressure to buy worthless crap that no one wants, for people you really don't even neccessarily like much anyway. I mean, buying something small for the close friends and family is one thing... but random people you know that you don't talk to or even like... that come hanging out near the holidays with their hands out? they ought to get the latest deposit from the cat box, IMNSHO*. I also think that the "need" to buy huge, extravagant crap that you can't actually afford is rather stupid.

But that's just me... and I know I'm waaay in the minority there.




*in my not so humble opinion

bikerbraid wrote on Dec 27^th, 2007 at 9:29am:

Sir Rat - so instead of the 12 days of Christmas you have 30 days of Christmas?   ;D  I missed it - did you have pictures of this year's display?  I do enjoy a good, home-made holiday display.

You might call it the 30 days of Thanksgiving. The only pictures I took this year were the snow pictures. I added the library wall display pictures this year that stays up all year. This is homemade, too, so you might enjoy it. Next year, I hope to have my 1/87th scale Christmas village done which will also blink lights to music. It will also give me some landscape painting challenges as I paint and sculpt mountains, roads, and buildings for it.

http://longhair.sinfree.net/images/xmas2007/xmas07.htm

Shesh!  How could I forget the pretty snow pictures! :P  I guess my mind has been fried from the TV reruns, cold temps, and commercial overkill.  ;)