Happy Holidays... Offensive? or not?

Hi Ray! I don't really mind it at all! I mean, I'm not one to get into the holiday spirit but if someone says it to me I just say it in return just as cheerful as I can. LOL I sort of see it like you do, no more than saying hello, good morning or what have you. Many people will use it in place of hello. Perhaps this is what people are arguing, why say something else than just saying plain old hello or good morning and so on. I cant really understand why anyone would get offended, maybe not like it, but to be offended? Hmmm. Not sure. Bay Lay Gray xx

I agree with you. Happy Holidays is not offensive and is certainly better than nothing. There are many religious celebrations at this time of year, so why assume any particular one is meaningful to the person you're addressing? Not that I'd be offended by Happay Kwaanza, Happy Hannukah, Happy Diwali, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Christmas or whatever. It's the sentiment behind the greeting that counts, and if someone wants to wish me a happy anything, I'll appreciate it.

If they do, they do if they don't, they don't. That's my outlook on it LOL. I don't get offended either way.

I don't think it's offensive. I mean, especially now, everyone does not prescribe to one religion. So, not everyone celebrates Christmas. I find it offensive when I'm told Merry Christmas. Simply because this person is assuming I'm Christain, when I really prescibe to other belief systems. Just because I participate in Christmas does not mean I'm Christain and that does not mean I want to be all cheery about it. Happy Holidays is good enough for me and I try to stick to that ideal whenever I talk to others. If I know they're christain, fine, but if I have no idea, it's Happy Holidays. Less offensive and makes people feel better that you're considering other belief systems.

I don't really get offended but it just seems like a watered down greeting to me. I do love Christams...both sides of it...so I LIKE to say and hear Merry Christmas. And I like to say Merry Christmas because that's the only holiday I celebrate.

I don't find it offensive at all. It is simply a way to put wishes for all the holidays into one simple greeting. Some families celebrate several holidays this time of year, so saying happy holidays is a way to wish greetings for all of them without listing each one. Especially for people you don't know well enough to know which holidays they celebrate, it is an appropriate holiday greeting. In my opinion it's better than failing to recognize that someone celebrates chanukkah or kwanzza as well as christmas. That is what would offend me.

Well no-one ever wishes me Happy Holidays because I'm in the UK and we don't say that here. Of course it wouldn't offend me if they did. I've never understood why people get uptight about that sort of thing. I have muslim friends and I wish them a Merry Christmas - heck I send them a Christmas card every year lol! They don't care, at face value it's a meaningless thing for them but it's the spirit the greeting is given in that counts. It's the same when people say God Bless to me or tell me they will pray for me. I'm an atheist but I look on it as being the same as me saying I will keep someone in my thoughts or whatever. There again some people just look for any opportunity to be offended I think.

Here Down Under, we don't celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving so they don't apply. But Christmas is a different thing. It's Christmas! I think people who say "Happy Holidays" are copping out. What...is it all of a sudden politically incorrect to celebrate Christmas? Will someone be offended because we celebrate these seasons? As far as I'm concerned they can crawl into a hole for the season. If you don't believe or participate, don't try and spoil things for those of us that do. Get over yourselves. I've seen a few "Happy Holidays" greetings in my email already, even from Aussies and our local bush Newsletter had it too. I was a tad peed off but mostly disappointed. Let's stick to the spirit of Christmas and celebrate in joy and love for each other. Leave things be. May all my friends have a very Merry Christmas.

I love Happy Holidays. It works for me because I don't always know what holidays the person I am speaking to celebrates. Usually they aren't the same holidays I celebrate, since I'm a religious minority, so I find Happy Holidays a nice way to tell them I care and hope they have a good time, whatever they're celebrating. I've had people get offended because I said "Happy Holidays" to them, and I usually ignore then, unless I'm at work. If I'm at work, I usually just say "I really do hope you have happy holidays, whichever ones you celebrate" and if they continue to argue, call over my manager. If people give me a specific holiday greeting, I say it back to them no matter what it is. They're pointing out what holiday they celebrate, and in that case it doesn't hurt me any to say I hope they have a good one. However, if I'm giving the greeting first, it's almost always Happy Holidays. With my friends, if I know what holiday they celebrate, I'll usually say "Happy Solstice" or "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hannukah" or "Merry Yule" or "Happy Kwanzaa" or whatever else I'm missing here.

I think it's a polite, religious-freedom concious way to greet someone. I use it along with merry christmas, happy yuletide system, have a lovely winter solstice, and so on, lol.

I'm not offended by this at all. If someone wishes me a Merry Christmas or other Christmas/holiday greeting, I will say it back to them. And if they don't say it first, I will! :) I have yet to meet anyone who finds this offensive, though I know there are people from a certain religion that don't celebrate holidays and such. Maybe these are the people that get offended when one greets them with a holiday greeting?

no i don't get offended but i do wish them a happy holiday though and when they say it to me i will reply back to them happy holidays.i prefer it that way sometimes because gosh with all the darn holidays that other people celebrate i wouldn't want to say something to them if it was the wrong holiday or something.so happy holidays is just easier and safer.pattie happy holidays!

who cares if someone says happy holidays! Its a greeting. I mean if someone said May Jesus bless you I might feel uncomfortable. There are so many holidays around this time though: -Christmas -Solstice -festival of dewali (lights) -Hanniuah -Kwanza -New years eve -ukrainian chrismas Plus alot of people get time off work regardless of their creed at this time of year

rubberband in the pocket day? hahaha. well, i think that being wished a happy holidays by store employees or whoever else you come across is nice. it is pretty generic and it's pretty much a guarantee that they're supposed to say it as part of their job in the holiday season, but it's still nice. especially when you can tell in someones voice that they mean it and aren't just saying it so their manager doesn't over hear them skip out on the greeting.

Who cares; It is just a greeting, Not offensive. I don't celebrate Christmas or Chanakah or Kwanza or anything. But I am not upset if someone says Happy Holidays or Seasons greetings. Big deal. I don't say it back I just say Thank you have a nice day.

I don't think it as offensive. Ofcourse holidays should be happy. That's why the term came into existence.

I think its nice when people say happy holidays or have a nice day. The world is filled with way too much hate. We all need to say nice things to each other. But we all know thats not going to happen.LOL So happy holidays to you!

I do not find it offensive either. For me, its just that they want to greet me in advance. When someone does... I just reply same to you.I am not really sensitive with the sort of greetings as long as the greetings is not foul. And it is better greeting me taht way than ignoring or snob me. I would find it more offensive.

Not really. If they do, great, if not, that's fine too. I've never been one to get all offended by that kind of stuff. I work with girls that are like that though. They are also realy into getting together for the holidays and they can't understand why my friend and I aren't as into as they are. I'm just not. I don't mesh with them enough to want to spend every flippin' holiday with them. So, no. I don't get offended. I will say it, but if someone doesn't say it to me, I don't get mad about it. I also agree that it is better than nothing. What is with people wanting everything to be all specific anymore?

Hello! I don't see anything offensive about saying 'Happy Holidays', If the person who said it meant it well, then just say 'thank you'. And you're right, it's better than saying nothing at all. The person must just be being thoughtful, well, at least that person greeted you, better be greeted than not be greeted at all. Take care. *smile* ciao! c",)