Christmas

United States
December 18, 2006 10:35pm CST
I don't understand why in a workplace, you are expected to say Happy Holidays rather than merry christmas when you know good and well that everyone you work with celebrates christmas... even if they didnt, would they really be offended if you actually said the word christmas, it is a national holiday? If someone came up and said happy kawanza(sp) to me, it wouldnt offend me, it is a nice gesture to say happy or merry anything to anyone, isnt it?
2 people like this
44 responses
@venshida (4836)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I say Merry Christmas. If I know for a fact they donot celebrate, I would use the appropriate gesture. I would not be offended if someone says something otherwise, I would probably tell them I donot celebrate and that's it. There are so many other important things to worry about I donot understand why people have issues with Christmas.
• Australia
19 Dec 06
The holiday is gazetted as "Christmas Day" so why not say "Happy Christmas"? While our government gazettes the holiday as Christmas Day, no one can object. I believe Christmas is no longer celebrated as CHRISTmas. It is denegrated by commercialism and drunken parties and called Xmas. Therefore, I would be in favour of a government change of the name and have the day celebrated in whatever way desired, without insulting my best Friend and Saviour. Then I and all true Christians can celebrate and worship the Christ in the way we desire without all the frills.
@jfeets726 (775)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I used to work in retail and we were always told to say “Happy Holidays,” too. Since then I have gotten really used to it. I guess it doesn’t really phase me anymore when I hear someone say happy holiday, although I was taken aback a little bit when I called our local Wal-Mart and the lady answered the phone “Merry Christmas, Thank You For Calling…” Now, it didn’t bother me at all, but I hadn’t heard a retailer use Merry Christmas is so long it was kind of weird to hear it!
• United States
19 Dec 06
Wal-Mart is the only store in my area that have the workers say "Merry Christmas". I asked one of the checkers and she said they were encouraged to use Christmas since that is the season most people are celebrating. Of course Sam Walton, the man that founded Wal-Mart, was a professed Christian so maybe they are continuing his tradition. I really hate when they call a Christmas tree a "Holiday" tree. Anyone who has a Christmas tree must be celebrating Christmas - but many aren't celebrating the actual reason we have Christmas. Some people don't seem to know Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth.
• India
20 Dec 06
Christms is a Happy Holiday in christain religion.Christmas meana the Birth of Jesus Christ.This day celebrate Christmas.
@jade01 (803)
• Australia
19 Dec 06
I really hate political correctness it sucks.
• United States
20 Dec 06
Yes, it really does!!
@djb876 (93)
• United States
20 Dec 06
I agree with one of the responders...it's all about businesses who fear being sued for offending someone or leaving someone's religion out. We live in a litigating society; it's a sign of the nature of the times we live in. The impression seems to be with all this "greeting stuff" that we each think our holiday stuff is the "best". Really, though, if you got a diverse group to sit down in a circle and share their holiday experiences so that all could learn and appreciate each other, the response would most likely be "Hey, that's cool!"
@sylar18 (116)
• Canada
20 Dec 06
Yes i agree. I say merry christmas to everybody even if they dontcelebrate it and there not offended.
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
20 Dec 06
The thing your company is doing is covering there a$$ incase they happen to hire someone who doesnt celebrate Christmas. Honestly I understand where you are coming from. I wouldent be offended if some one came up to me and said Happy Hannukkah even tho I dont celebrate it. I celebrate 2 holidays, Yule and Christmas. The reason is because I grew up in a Christian home and we celebrated christmas as a child. Recently I have been learning Wicca and Wiccans celebrate Yule which in a way is the same as christmas except it is on the 21st of the month and not the 25th. So going with tradition I celebrate both. Happy Yule Merry Christmas.
@FiredUp (270)
• United States
20 Dec 06
They are catering to the very few who are offended by everything. Most people recognize it for what it is...which is a friendly gesture. There are those few who are just looking for an argument and like to cause heartache for the rest of us.
• United States
19 Dec 06
Happy Hoildays sounds ok to but I would say whatever you feel comfortable with. Merry Christmas to you!
@Idefix72 (502)
• Italy
19 Dec 06
i work for christmas .. no holidays for me .. then ..merry christmas
• United States
19 Dec 06
I don't know about all of that but around this time my job always try to get you to spend money like that secret santa stuff and dessert day. I just had a baby I don't need to be buying stuff for you grown overpayed people, but if I don't than I'm a scrooge...
@yidi17 (9)
• China
20 Dec 06
Christmas day does not have in China is accepted completely
• United States
20 Dec 06
I do not want to upset anyone by giving my response to this discussion,so no one get up in arms about this. Christmas is and was a time for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus.Throughout the years this was the purpose of Christmas until business started seeing how much money could be made. I believe this time of year is for Christians.If someone does not believe in Jesus than they have no reason to celebrate this time of year.If they want to give gifts and do all of the other things that have become associated with Christmas and leave out the only reason that there is to celebrate,than pick another day in December. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and nothing else. Now I warned everyone that I might upset a few people but your angry comments will not change my mind,so forgive me as Jesus will forgive everyone who ask. Merry Christmas!!!!
@KDejohn (58)
• United States
20 Dec 06
It is the same way in schools. We have to have "Holiday Parties" not Christmas parties. It really bothers me.
@vipul20044 (5794)
• India
19 Dec 06
Well buddy you know that people are losing christmas spirit they say holiday as they arent pretty concerned about christmas rather than a days off due to christmas so that they can enjoy their holidays!
@mkup30 (494)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I dont celebrate christmas. did you ask everyone at your workplace if they did? I am certainly not offended when someone says merry christmass - just annoyed. cant understand why people make the assumption that everyone celebrates christmas...i guess it just ignorance..
@artguy (1474)
• United States
19 Dec 06
People are easily offended by anything, specially religion. Christmas is supposed o be a christian holiday (even though in truth it really isn't)so saying merry christmas to a jewish is offensive to them. I think saying happy holidays is the best thing to say anyway because that is what is really being celebrated. It sure isn't the birth of Christ.
• United States
19 Dec 06
It is because some people will sue a company because of dumb little things like this. The unfortunate thing is, the people sueing usually end up winning the case. You just have to accept this.
• India
19 Dec 06
i think they wish happy holidays cos u get a long stretch of holidays.... perhaps they can wish merry christmas and happy holidays
19 Dec 06
well really some people do not celebrate christmas so as they get the days of work people say happyu holidays really.