Is it Christmas?

bry623 · 12-07-2006, 06:05 AM

Does it bother you to hear Merry Christmas?
Should we be so worked up about it??

I saw a commercial last night for a car dealer and as Santa was pulling away he said "HO! HO! HO! Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!" ***??!!?

~~jeffdrummer~~ · 12-07-2006, 06:49 AM

I think that many people are thinking that it is Christmas. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Macy's, to name a few are saying Christmas. It seems like alot of smaller stores are stuck on Holidays, but bigger stores have changed their minds.

If someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah, I say thanks. If I'm in a really bad mood I say, "thanks, I'm not Jewish." I don't call the ACLU and whone about it.

**Fr4665** · 12-07-2006, 07:00 AM

i think it just should be from religion to religion. everyone respects the other person if they say happy hanuka(sp?) or merry christmas. do the muslims celebrate anything over our "holidays" ?

i voted for the last option i could care less i say merry chrismas or in german "Frohe Weihnachten" :p

crazijoe · 12-07-2006, 07:32 AM

Well let's look at it this way. If we never had a Christmas, Would we still say Happy Holiday? You don't say Happy Holiday on Labor Day or 4th of July or Memorial Day or etc.. So why would you say it just for New years, or Hanukkah.
I'm Catholic and I don't have a problem with someone greeting me with Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or Merry Christmahanukwanza. But celebrate the Holiday for what it is.

What gets me more annoyed is the comercialization of the Christmas and that people don't know why the day is being celebrated. Easter is another holiday that is starting to get this comercialization.

~~jeffdrummer~~ · 12-07-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazijoe

What gets me more annoyed is the comercialization of the Christmas and that people don't know why the day is being celebrated. Easter is another holiday that is starting to get this comercialization.

I couldn't agree more.

I'm sure that there are lots of people that actually think Easter is about a rabbit, thanksgiving is a day to watch football, and that Christmas isn't about a fat guy. They still haven't found a way to have "Good Friday sales"... yet.

They are more than glad to take the Christians money, but they won't acknowledge Dec. 25, which statistics show over 90% of Americans celebrate.

**40sondacurb** · 12-07-2006, 08:33 AM

I personally don't get the uproar over retailers not directly using Christmas as a selling point. As I recall Jesus threw the merchants out of the temple, so it's ironic that all these people today are angry that their Lord's day is not associated with PS3s, walmart, and De' Beers diamonds.

~~jeffdrummer~~ · 12-07-2006, 08:50 AM

Jesus threw the merchants out of the Temple because they were using His place of worship as a market for their own profit.

The major issue I take is that the left is trying to secularize everything, even Christmas.

yustr · 12-07-2006, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazijoe

Well let's look at it this way. If we never had a Christmas, Would we still say Happy Holiday? You don't say Happy Holiday on Labor Day or 4th of July or Memorial Day or etc.. So why would you say it just for New years, or Hanukkah.

I have to respectfully disagree with you Joe. People have been celebrating the winter solstice for as long as there have been people. The traditions we have come to associate with Christmas are a combination of many different celebrations from many varying cultures and religions. So saying Happy Holiday (notice the singular) is more correct from an ancient civilization perspective than any of the religious names. Saying “Happy Holidays” (plural) in an attempt to be inclusive may be well meaning but does come across as condescending.

If you celebrate Christmas say “Merry Christmas”. If you celebrate Hanukah, say that. After all if you really think about it I’m wishing you to have a good day on my holiday. I’m not asking you to celebrate it with me. Would anyone object to “Have a merry Thursday?” Yet Thursday might have deep religious meaning to me. By wishing you well today I’m not asking you to share my feast nor am I trying to convert you to Thursdayism.

My take is that the people who need to grow thicker skin are not the PC crowd – a few of whom might object to “Christianizing” their shopping outing. But rather are the many Christian’s who strenuously insist that anything but “Merry Christmas” is somehow sacrilege. Somehow I can’t help but think this started only very recently in some evangelical Minister’s brain as yet another way to rally the believers to make their voice heard above the roar of the disenchanted.

**Fox** · 12-07-2006, 09:48 AM

I agree. For those who freak over "Happy Holidays"- it's not that big a deal. Not everyone celebrates christmas. And for the people who get up in arms over hearing "Merry Christmas", it's a tradition- deal. If I went somewhere where there were mainly Jews, and they wished me a happy Hanukkah, I'd be perfectly fine with it.

It reminds me of the scene in the Sesame Street special where Bert and Ernie wish Mr. Hooper a happy Hanukkah, and he replies back "Merry Christmas".

crazijoe · 12-07-2006, 09:55 AM

I often wondered what would happen if Christmas would have never become a national holiday but a standard day of Holy obligation for Christians. Would we still have what is present?
It isn't just Christmas. Even 4th of July. Ask a number of people what that date means. It's like watching "Jaywalking" on the tonite show.

And when someone says Happy Holidays to me, I always ask "Which Holiday?" and they alway look at me not knowing what to say.

bry623 · 12-07-2006, 11:25 AM

So do I.

yustr makes a point, most Christian holidays take coincide with pagan holidays so they could convert the plebs.

**Joefireline** · 12-07-2006, 11:32 AM

I always call it Christmas, because it is just a work describing a day were everyone is merry.

As you all know

, I am not religious, completely athiest, and when it comes to Christmas, I don't think of it as 'Oh, Jesus did this' or whatever, I think of it as lighting up winter with all the great lights, and for everyone to be happy, and give and recieve. I don't understand anyone who trys to stop that. It's just a time for everyone to be happy...

~~Wozer~~ · 12-07-2006, 07:53 PM

Christmas = Christ's Mass...even though I am fully aware of the 'coincidence' (OK, another theft of a 'pagan' (what an insulting word) holiday) of the solstice, I'm not too offended...when in just the right state of mind I can easily respond to a Merry Christmas with a Happy Solstice just to make a point about it all...

those who are rabidly for or against the concept of Merry Christmas are just radicals with no clue about the word tolerance and what it means...

the majority of the world celebrates Christmas, so there should be no issue with a merry one...I mean Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year is redundant, and the traditional saying rings a nice bell...

**40sondacurb** · 12-07-2006, 07:56 PM

I like Happy Holidays because I think New Years is far too overlooked.

**superflysmith** · 12-07-2006, 11:52 PM

You can advertise how you like. But if Walmart is celebrating 'Christmas' and Target is celebrating 'Happy Holidays' my greenbacks will be going into the registers at Walmart. I believe alot of other people speak out by where they spend there money too, and that is why Merry Christmas is making a comeback.
I don't know what the Happy Holiday people are celebrating but I do know what the Merry Christmas people are celebrating. I'm not celebrating Hanukkah but I'd rather have someone say Happy Hanukkah to me than Happy Holidays.

bry623 · 12-08-2006, 07:30 AM

Amen!

~~jeffdrummer~~ · 12-08-2006, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bry623

Amen!

Stop right there mister!

I'm calling the ACLU!

**forcifer** · 12-08-2006, 08:06 PM

i really dont care. parents Christian, im Christian, but have jewish, agnostic, and aetheist friends. none of them really care

~~jeffdrummer~~ · 12-09-2006, 05:57 AM

I don't really care either, I only care when you hear, "Merry Chri-, err Happy Holidays!" I think people should just say what they want, not what their employer wants.

**Joefireline** · 12-09-2006, 06:23 AM

I haven't actully ever heard anyone say Happy Holidays, they all just say Merry Chistmas, or Merry XMas around here...

View Poll Results: Part1: What Do you want to hear? Part 2: Should we be so PC about it?
Merry Christmas	11	73.33%
Happy Holidays	2	13.33%
We should be more sensitive to others.	2	13.33%
We shouldn't be so uptight about a greeting.	5	33.33%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

12-07-2006, 06:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	Is it Christmas? Does it bother you to hear Merry Christmas? Should we be so worked up about it?? I saw a commercial last night for a car dealer and as Santa was pulling away he said "HO! HO! HO! Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!" *??!!? __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"**

12-07-2006, 07:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fr4665 aka mr.fraggs Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA or Germany Posts: 2,965 OS: Win XP,Vista,Android My System	i think it just should be from religion to religion. everyone respects the other person if they say happy hanuka(sp?) or merry christmas. do the muslims celebrate anything over our "holidays" ? i voted for the last option i could care less i say merry chrismas or in german "Frohe Weihnachten" :p __________________ I don't subscribe to threads please PM me if i miss a reply. ------- Everest SensorView Pro DriverCleaner how to fix your game

12-07-2006, 07:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Well let's look at it this way. If we never had a Christmas, Would we still say Happy Holiday? You don't say Happy Holiday on Labor Day or 4th of July or Memorial Day or etc.. So why would you say it just for New years, or Hanukkah. I'm Catholic and I don't have a problem with someone greeting me with Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or Merry Christmahanukwanza. But celebrate the Holiday for what it is. What gets me more annoyed is the comercialization of the Christmas and that people don't know why the day is being celebrated. Easter is another holiday that is starting to get this comercialization. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-07-2006, 08:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	I personally don't get the uproar over retailers not directly using Christmas as a selling point. As I recall Jesus threw the merchants out of the temple, so it's ironic that all these people today are angry that their Lord's day is not associated with PS3s, walmart, and De' Beers diamonds. __________________ Donate to keep the forum running Last edited by 40sondacurb; 12-07-2006 at 08:35 AM.

12-07-2006, 06:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
~~jeffdrummer~~ Register user Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 870 OS: MAC OS X 10.4.8, and 10.5!! WinXP SP2	I think that many people are thinking that it is Christmas. Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Macy's, to name a few are saying Christmas. It seems like alot of smaller stores are stuck on Holidays, but bigger stores have changed their minds. If someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah, I say thanks. If I'm in a really bad mood I say, "thanks, I'm not Jewish." I don't call the ACLU and whone about it.

12-07-2006, 08:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
~~jeffdrummer~~ Register user Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 870 OS: MAC OS X 10.4.8, and 10.5!! WinXP SP2	Jesus threw the merchants out of the Temple because they were using His place of worship as a market for their own profit. The major issue I take is that the left is trying to secularize everything, even Christmas.

12-07-2006, 09:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	I agree. For those who freak over "Happy Holidays"- it's not that big a deal. Not everyone celebrates christmas. And for the people who get up in arms over hearing "Merry Christmas", it's a tradition- deal. If I went somewhere where there were mainly Jews, and they wished me a happy Hanukkah, I'd be perfectly fine with it. It reminds me of the scene in the Sesame Street special where Bert and Ernie wish Mr. Hooper a happy Hanukkah, and he replies back "Merry Christmas". __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

12-07-2006, 09:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I often wondered what would happen if Christmas would have never become a national holiday but a standard day of Holy obligation for Christians. Would we still have what is present? It isn't just Christmas. Even 4th of July. Ask a number of people what that date means. It's like watching "Jaywalking" on the tonite show. And when someone says Happy Holidays to me, I always ask "Which Holiday?" and they alway look at me not knowing what to say. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

12-07-2006, 11:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	So do I. yustr makes a point, most Christian holidays take coincide with pagan holidays so they could convert the plebs. __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

12-07-2006, 11:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	I always call it Christmas, because it is just a work describing a day were everyone is merry. As you all know , I am not religious, completely athiest, and when it comes to Christmas, I don't think of it as 'Oh, Jesus did this' or whatever, I think of it as lighting up winter with all the great lights, and for everyone to be happy, and give and recieve. I don't understand anyone who trys to stop that. It's just a time for everyone to be happy...

12-07-2006, 07:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
~~Wozer~~ Troubled Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,038 OS: 2kpro/XP pro/MCE	Christmas = Christ's Mass...even though I am fully aware of the 'coincidence' (OK, another theft of a 'pagan' (what an insulting word) holiday) of the solstice, I'm not too offended...when in just the right state of mind I can easily respond to a Merry Christmas with a Happy Solstice just to make a point about it all... those who are rabidly for or against the concept of Merry Christmas are just radicals with no clue about the word tolerance and what it means... the majority of the world celebrates Christmas, so there should be no issue with a merry one...I mean Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year is redundant, and the traditional saying rings a nice bell...

12-07-2006, 07:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
40sondacurb Don't be a menace Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,285 OS: Vista sp2	I like Happy Holidays because I think New Years is far too overlooked. __________________ Donate to keep the forum running

12-07-2006, 11:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
superflysmith An American Hero and Moderator, The Conversation Pit. Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,581 OS: XP PRO	You can advertise how you like. But if Walmart is celebrating 'Christmas' and Target is celebrating 'Happy Holidays' my greenbacks will be going into the registers at Walmart. I believe alot of other people speak out by where they spend there money too, and that is why Merry Christmas is making a comeback. I don't know what the Happy Holiday people are celebrating but I do know what the Merry Christmas people are celebrating. I'm not celebrating Hanukkah but I'd rather have someone say Happy Hanukkah to me than Happy Holidays. __________________ "Some people go their whole life wondering if they ever made a difference. Marines don’t have that problem." Bush made the Packers lose

12-08-2006, 07:30 AM	#16 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,692 OS: winxp pro sp2	Amen! __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"

12-08-2006, 08:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
forcifer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kansas City kansas Posts: 3,625 OS: Vista Premium 32 My System Blog Entries: 1	i really dont care. parents Christian, im Christian, but have jewish, agnostic, and aetheist friends. none of them really care __________________ now i remember

12-09-2006, 05:57 AM	#19 (permalink)
~~jeffdrummer~~ Register user Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 870 OS: MAC OS X 10.4.8, and 10.5!! WinXP SP2	I don't really care either, I only care when you hear, "Merry Chri-, err Happy Holidays!" I think people should just say what they want, not what their employer wants.

12-09-2006, 06:23 AM	#20 (permalink)
Joefireline Enthusiastic TSFer~Joseph Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portishead (Bristol) England Posts: 5,319 OS: Windows 7 64bit(Desktop) / XP Home SP2(laptop) My System	I haven't actully ever heard anyone say Happy Holidays, they all just say Merry Chistmas, or Merry XMas around here...