Comments on: Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays!

By: Mervis

Mervis — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:23:19 +0000

It’s just stupid changing the forever joyful “Merry Christmas” for a dull and crappy “Happy Holidays”. When you say Merry Christmas! you say it with a smile on your face and this kind of a glitter in your eye.
Don’t you dare to Happy Holidays me!!!!!
If you don’t want to hear Merry Christmas… Lock yourself up in your house and don’t leave until january comes again!!

By: VA

VA — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:16:08 +0000

LOL! Who cares? Christmas isn’t Christian holiday. Do you research. It’s pagan in origin, adopted and re-mixed by Roman Catholics.

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:42:28 +0000

P.S. — Mike is right — the original Freedom OF Religion concept was primarily a response to the extreme political antagonism between Protestants and Catholics (with plenty of bad behavior on both sides for centuries) that all started with Henry VIII and his wish to divorce (which Rome wouldn’t allow, which caused Henry to break with Rome and start the Church of England). Over 200 years of English history was a horrendous power struggle among the ruling elite as Catholics, Anglicans, and Puritans all tried to eradicate each other in Britain, along with the aftermath of the Reformation and counter-Reformation on the Continent.

The original intent of Freedom of Religion in this country was that the government couldn’t mandate one flavor of Christianity on the citizenry over another, that the government would stay neutral. How far we’ve strayed from that.

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:24:12 +0000

I’m not particular over whether I hear Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays — I just want to hear something said from the heart!

What I find more objectionable is if I’m in stores doing my Christmas shopping — and economists are quick to remind us all that the retailers are depending on all us good little consumers doing a bang-up job with our Christmas shopping if they are have a successful year — so if the retailers are so dependant on all us Christmas shoppers, then they darn well should be cheerful about the season. Most of the time this year I encountered salespeople and checkers who could barely be bothered to say “Hello” and “Have a nice day”, let alone “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”.

However, I don’t worry about offending anyone — anybody who is important enough to me to hurt my feelings already knows I’m a religious person.

I always send out Christmas cards with a beautiful nativity scene on them. I say Merry Christmas to co-workers and strangers in stores and on the train. If I know somebody to be of a different faith (I have both Jewish and Muslim friends), I make an effort to acknowledge their traditions because it’s respectful to them.

By: Peng

Peng — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:38:54 +0000

I am a nothingarian. most existing holidays come from religion, no matter which countries, religions or race. I am not offended by ‘Merry Christmas’, because I respect and understand all these holidays, just like Muslim say ‘happy Eid ul-Adha’ to me (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_ul-Adha).

I only feel offence if the holiday been rephrased and someone tried to convince me it is true.

For me 25-Dec is holiday, any holiday should have name, just say ‘Merry Christmas’, it is non-sense to call it ‘Happy Holiday’ only. But don’t tell me whatever I do is to celebrate birth of Jesus, It is what Christian does, not me.

Again I understand, respect, and sincerely to see what Christian are doing on 25-Dec, but don’t ask me to do same.

PS: the vote is mis-leading, it may cause wrong interpretation. because if I feel offence by MC, doesn’t mean that I want to say HH or don’t respect Christian.

By: Dean

Dean — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:40:24 +0000

I am offended that “Happy Holidays” is being used by retailers to draw in more money than “Merry Christmas”. I’ve heard people say that it’s more diverse to say “Happy Holidays”, however Christmas is a major event for Christians and trying to generalize it with other religions is offensive. It’s bad enough we have to deal with Santa Claus…. As long as something pushes Jesus out of the spotlight seems to be good. The problem is Christians are way to passive, it’s like they are sorry about their faith. Look at the Muslims, Hindu’s and Jew’s, if you offend their faiths, all hell breaks loose.

By: The Writer Mama

The Writer Mama — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:47:43 +0000

I say “Happy Holidays” because I am part of an interfaith family. Sometimes I say “Happy Holy Days” to remind me that important traditions of the season we still practice today come from many (non-christian) faiths. I feel better about myself when I don’t make assumptions about others being one faith or another but remember that we are all the same regardless of what religion we choose or are raised in. At holiday time, I want to celebrate and acknowledge diversity because diversity is healthy and it’s the reality in which we live. I say Happy Holidays because I trust my gut, not a study when it comes to what I should say and to whom. Personally, I don’t find anything particularly American about Christmas. Nor do I associate being American to have anything to do with one religion or another. I am an advocate of people following their gut…and it will inform them of what to say when. Thanks for the discussion.

By: Meghan M

Meghan M — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:06:06 +0000

What is wrong with people…if there were no CHRISTMAS there would be NO Holidays. If sombody saying Merry Christmas offends you in any way you have some other issues to figure out, this is insane. Majority Rules…sorry!

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:14:30 +0000

I say Merry Christmas not only because its the name of the the holiday we celebrate on Dec 25th , but because this nation is Christian founded.

Even if your not a believer in a religious faith theres is nothing wrong with the name Christmas for the T is silent.

If someone came up tp me and said, “Happy Holidays” I would reply, “Which holiday are you talking about for there are many?” same thing with season greatings there is more than one season but only one Christmas.

If people have a problem with that then maybe they should consider another part of the world to live in. For we are “One nation under God”.

By: Michael Stelzner

Michael Stelzner — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 16:44:08 +0000

Jenny - Thanks for stopping by AND Merry Christmas! - Mike