Do you say Holidays instead of Christmas? Joke is on YOU!

[Warrior102]

Jesus' actual birthday was almost certainly not in December, at least if the Gospel account of the shepherds is true. Shepherds are out in the fields with their flocks, as opposed to bringing them in for the night, only in lambing season, which is in the spring.

The reason Christians celebrate Christmas in December is because there was a major pagan holiday, or several of them, at the same time in the Roman Empire: Mithra's birth, Yule among the Celts of Gaul and Britain, the Saturnalia in Rome, etc. It was our holiday before it was theirs.

I am Catholic - so not sure how the Heathen's celebrate, nor do I care. We're currently in Advent in our church calendar, preparing for the arrive of Christ this month. Immaculate Conception is celebrated today, and it's a holy day of obligation for us.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

What's the world coming to when Santa Claus can't even utter "Merry Christmas!" ?

But when the guy who won’t say “Merry Christmas” is Santa Claus, you know you’ve crossed the line into utter PC insanity. Or the border into Massachusetts. Same thing.

On Sunday evening, my kids and I dropped into the Friendly’s in Sudbury for a post-Christmas-shopping-day treat. They got ice cream decorated with smiley-faces, and I got a few minutes of blessed relief from “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” blasting from the car’s CD player.

Suddenly the door at Friendly’s swings open and who to my wondering eyes should appear, but . . . SANTA! Perfect timing: Ice cream, kids and Santa Claus — what could be better on a December’s eve?

I watched as Santa, dressed in full regalia including the little Santa spectacles on his nose, worked his way from table to table, greeting the delighted children.

“Merry Christmas,” the kids cried.

“Happy Holidays,” Santa replied.

Every table, the same thing from Santa: “Happy Holidays.” Not a single “Christmas” crossed his lips. So by the time he made it back to our booth, I was ready.

“Santa, thanks so much for stopping by to wish my kids a ‘Merry Christmas!’ ” I said before he could even speak.

“Happy Holidays!” he returned.

“And how about a ‘Merry Christmas’ for the kids?” I insisted.

“Happy Holidays, kids,” he insisted right back.

Gag order for Santa? - BostonHerald.com

Valerie did you hear me on the radio talking about this at friendly's by any chance? It was on tuesday around 6pm

Both the host and I had fired off emails to friendly's over their Santa Clause refusing to say merry christmas and this was the response

I have verified with our operations team that we do have Santa helpers in a few chosen restaurants in the area selected by our District Manager and Region Director. The Santa helpers are our own employees. Because we have guests of all different faiths and denominations and some who may not even celebrate a holiday at this time of the year, we normally ask our employees to greet our guests with Happy Holidays. However, if a guest specifically says ‘Merry Christmas’, as in your case, we would expect our Santa helper to reply with the same.

How can you find it offensive to say Merry Christmas yet send Santa Clause into the restaurant....just by having santa there didn't they already cross the "christmas line"?

 

[Dragon]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

 

[Valerie]

What's the world coming to when Santa Claus can't even utter "Merry Christmas!" ?

But when the guy who won’t say “Merry Christmas” is Santa Claus, you know you’ve crossed the line into utter PC insanity. Or the border into Massachusetts. Same thing.

On Sunday evening, my kids and I dropped into the Friendly’s in Sudbury for a post-Christmas-shopping-day treat. They got ice cream decorated with smiley-faces, and I got a few minutes of blessed relief from “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” blasting from the car’s CD player.

Suddenly the door at Friendly’s swings open and who to my wondering eyes should appear, but . . . SANTA! Perfect timing: Ice cream, kids and Santa Claus — what could be better on a December’s eve?

I watched as Santa, dressed in full regalia including the little Santa spectacles on his nose, worked his way from table to table, greeting the delighted children.

“Merry Christmas,” the kids cried.

“Happy Holidays,” Santa replied.

Every table, the same thing from Santa: “Happy Holidays.” Not a single “Christmas” crossed his lips. So by the time he made it back to our booth, I was ready.

“Santa, thanks so much for stopping by to wish my kids a ‘Merry Christmas!’ ” I said before he could even speak.

“Happy Holidays!” he returned.

“And how about a ‘Merry Christmas’ for the kids?” I insisted.

“Happy Holidays, kids,” he insisted right back.

Gag order for Santa? - BostonHerald.com

Valerie did you hear me on the radio talking about this at friendly's by any chance? It was on tuesday around 6pm

Both the host and I had fired off emails to friendly's over their Santa Clause refusing to say merry christmas and this was the response

I have verified with our operations team that we do have Santa helpers in a few chosen restaurants in the area selected by our District Manager and Region Director. The Santa helpers are our own employees. Because we have guests of all different faiths and denominations and some who may not even celebrate a holiday at this time of the year, we normally ask our employees to greet our guests with Happy Holidays. However, if a guest specifically says ‘Merry Christmas’, as in your case, we would expect our Santa helper to reply with the same.

How can you find it offensive to say Merry Christmas yet send Santa Clause into the restaurant....just by having santa there didn't they already cross the "christmas line"?

No, I didn't hear it but I heard about this story yesterday from someone else who heard the radio show... I just think it is silly nonsense!

 

[rightwinger]

How about this?

If someone says Merry Christmas.....you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Holidays......you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Hannukah....you smile and say thank-you

 

[Dragon]

I am Catholic - so not sure how the Heathen's celebrate, nor do I care. We're currently in Advent in our church calendar, preparing for the arrive of Christ this month. Immaculate Conception is celebrated today, and it's a holy day of obligation for us.

Do you care about the history of the Church, and of where its holidays came from? The Catholic Church emerged from the schism of the Imperial Church in about the 5th-6th century (as did the Orthodox Church). So its traditions go back to the Imperial Church founded by Constantine for political purposes. Part of that was co-opting major Pagan holidays so converts could go on celebrating at the times and (mostly) in the fashion they were used to, making it easy to convert.

Celebration of Christmas in December dates only from the early to mid 4th century, coinciding with the founding of the Imperial Church in 325 at the Council of Nicaea (now considered the first Ecumenical Council). Earlier than that, Christians celebrated Good Friday and Easter (although it may not have been on the same date) but not Christmas.

Of course, it really doesn't matter when Jesus' actual birthday was, and there is nothing at all wrong with Christians celebrating it on Dec. 25th or any other day of the year they prefer. Cool with me. I'm just saying that when you said:

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Christians celebrate this event. Non-Christians should report to work that day rather than use a Christian holiday as yet another excuse for a day off hitting the bottle.

You were speaking without knowledge. It's our holiday, too -- in fact, it was ours before it was yours.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

How about this?

If someone says Merry Christmas.....you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Holidays......you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Hannukah....you smile and say thank-you

Sounds VERY reasonable to me.

In the process you would be against disallowing someone to say any of those too, correct?

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

For non-religious people like me who celebrate christamas as a family event Santa is the symbol of the Christamas holiday.

 

[Valerie]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

For non-religious people like me who celebrate Christmas as a family event Santa is the symbol of the Christmas holiday.

God knows if I was there I probably would have got all the customers in the place to start singing "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" to Santa...

 

[Si modo]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

But, he IS a Christmas figure. THE Christmas figure.

And, no one can "steal" holidays from another group. We all just borrow from each other and share joy whenever we can.

 

[Dragon]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

But, he IS a Christmas figure. THE Christmas figure.

And, no one can "steal" holidays from another group. We all just borrow from each other and share joy whenever we can.

Agreed. As I said, I have no problem with Christians celebrating our holidays and giving them a Christian meaning. I think it's

 

[rightwinger]

How about this?

If someone says Merry Christmas.....you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Holidays......you smile and say thank-you
If someone says Happy Hannukah....you smile and say thank-you

Sounds VERY reasonable to me.

In the process you would be against disallowing someone to say any of those too, correct?

The greeter is wishing you well.......you should gracefully accept it whether it is your belief or not

 

[konradv]

I say Merry Christmas because I like to drive the liberals crazy.

I think you have it backwards, it's "Happy Holidays" that drives conservatives crazy. I have yet to hear a liberal say anything negative to anyone saying "Merry Xmas", beyond saying it back.

 

[Si modo]

LOL Santa Clause is hardly a Christian figure.

But, he IS a Christmas figure. THE Christmas figure.

And, no one can "steal" holidays from another group. We all just borrow from each other and share joy whenever we can.

Agreed. As I said, I have no problem with Christians celebrating our holidays and giving them a Christian meaning. I think it's

Very much cool.

 

[Dr.House]

I've never been offended by someone wishing me well....

 

[konradv]

Both the host and I had fired off emails to friendly's over their Santa Clause refusing to say merry christmas and this was the response

I have verified with our operations team that we do have Santa helpers in a few chosen restaurants in the area selected by our District Manager and Region Director. The Santa helpers are our own employees. Because we have guests of all different faiths and denominations and some who may not even celebrate a holiday at this time of the year, we normally ask our employees to greet our guests with Happy Holidays. However, if a guest specifically says ‘Merry Christmas’, as in your case, we would expect our Santa helper to reply with the same.

How can you find it offensive to say Merry Christmas yet send Santa Clause into the restaurant....just by having santa there didn't they already cross the "christmas line"?

What part of what you quoted indicates that someone was offended? Just sounds like a Santa didn't read the memo! Small wonder we chuckle every year, when this comes up. It's the 'Merry Xmas only' crowd that always gets offended, NOT the other way round.

 

[Si modo]

I mentioned Habib at my favorite gas station earlier. He and I had gotten to know each other one summer because I always stopped in there (where one of the DC sniper shootings took place, BTW...yikes!) to get a cold drink on the way home. So, I knew he was from Iran and I knew he was Muslim. So, the first time I said "Merry Christmas" to him, I immediately apologized to him. He just laughed, told me no problem - he likes having happy days wished on him, and wished me "Merry Christmas" back.

Never - not once - has anyone ever been offended at my wishing a "Merry Christmas" to them.

It's not as if I'm saying, "Convert or die!" to them. (Which would be pretty funny since I'm not even a Christian, just an agnostic theist.)

 

[Againsheila]

12/22.....happy winter solstice all over the place.....

12/24 .... merry christmas

12/25 .... merry christmas

Just one little change in there

12/24

Happy Birthday to me.....

 

[Againsheila]

I admit I say Merry Christmas to people at Christmas time. Its my favorite holiday and to me its a family celebration and has zero religion because my family isn't religious.

If they say they don't celebrate I tell them "Thats cool I still hope you have a merry day"

Who is offended by being wished a merry christmas anyway? Is someone here offended by being wished a merry christmas? Honestly?

I would love to discuss what is offensive if you are.

When I was a little girl, I asked my mom why people who weren't Christian celebrated Christmas. She said "Don't you think it's nice that there's one day during the year when we all wish each other happiness?"

Merry Christmas to ALL.

 

[InDoctriNation]

As an atheist I love celebrating Christmas with my family, my favorite Christmas carol is "O Holy Night," and I go to church with my Catholic family on Christmas morning. If I was offended by any of this stuff, I think I'd be a pretty damn miserable person. Just like the people who are offended when someone calls a Christmas tree a Holiday tree. Get the fuck over it already.