DOOL Discussion Group

Topic: Are you offended when someone wishes you a generic *Happy Holidays?*

This is an on line poll question from my local newspaper.  I am surprised that 51.3% people voted yes.

I dont take offense at all and I wonder why others are offended.

It is a Holiday, it is a Holyday, it is a time of the changing of the seasons... so I suppose it is seasons greetings, too.

The season is so many things to different people. And even with the same people, the holiday changes as time passes.

What I don't want to see is any one aspect of the holiday season to be eliminated, just because someone doesn't like it. You may not like the way I worship or spend my time...but my time is my time, and your time is yours. God bless you, one and all.

Love always, Grinchy-DING

P.S. Just kidd'n y'all! - I don't care one way or another! Oh, & HAPPY CHRISTMAS! MERRY HOLIDAYS! SEASONS GREETINGS! Heh.

Thanks for responding everyone.  Glad to see I am not alone in not being offended over something so trivial!

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!

I believe some people have taken 'happy holidays' or 'seasons greetings' to a whole new level. I've always been under the impression that its alot easier to say happy holidays, NOT to leave Christmas out...but to include them all. And frankly, since we are a melting pot of many diverse days that people celebrate, its just a lot nicer to include everyone by saying happy holidays. Do you want the cashier at Target to stand there and recite the entire list of days that people celebrate? I think a hearty happy holidays is sufficient.

People do need to lighten up and quit taking things so literally. I'm so tired of all the nonsense. I'll be glad when its all over to be honest.

No. I don't understand why people are offended, especially when Christmas did not start out as a Christian holiday to begin with and not everyone celebrates Christmas. We should be grateful that people wish us anything anymore. The phrase "get a life" applies here.

And Bill O'Reilly is not a Christian, he's an a$$hole. Big difference. ;-)

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I feel the same way ......... SuzyB

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Posted by: Kat
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 19:36:41 2008
Message:
I'm like Carissa - I say - Enjoy your holiday. Period. I don't like Christmas much so if someone gives me good wishes, I count that as a blessing.

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Posted by: Carissa
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 19:10:58 2008
Message:

Nope, I tend to tell people to 'enjoy the holidays' and I don't mean anything bad by it.

To me, Happy Holidays includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, Advent, etc.  Just have a nice holiday season.

And I don't get offended by 'Merry Christmas' either.  Whatever.

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Posted by: Edward
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 18:59:16 2008
Message:
 It definitely doesn't offend me. No matter what somebody says, they're being nice and they're not obligated to say anything or even acknowledge the holiday. I always just say have a nice holiday because it's up to each individual as to what the holiday means to them and how they celebrate it.

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Posted by: pickles
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 17:49:12 2008
Message:

It doesn't offend me at all.  But what does is the fact that "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" have somehow become anti-Christmas slogans.  It's ridiculous.  It's just a holiday greeting.  I like "Merry Christmas" too and I'm not even a Christian lol

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Posted by: Mitch
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 17:32:02 2008
Message:

I think it's the wrong time of the year to go around with your glass half empty.  Also, some seem systemically incapable of doing otherwise.

If I know someone celebrates Christmas, then I wish them Merry Christmas or send a card with that message.

If I know the person is not Christian, is atheist or agnostic, Christian but does not celebrate Christmas, or if I don't know how the person feels on the subject, I wish them Happy Holidays.

If they choose to be offended, then that's on them.  It has nothing to do with me.

Somehow, I get the feeling that Bill O'Reilly and the Christian supremacist movement is behind this pole.  51%?  I suspect most really don't care. 

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Posted by: susienews
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 17:02:50 2008
Message:
Some people always need something to be pissed off about.  I say "Happy Holidays" and "Merry Christmas."  Maybe I'll mix it up this year and start wishing everyone "Merry Holidays."  But Hanukkah began last night, Christmas is Thusday and Kwanzaa is Friday.  I'd think it courteous to include them all in happy wishes for people at this time of year.  Though I can't say I know anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa...

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susie, I couldn't have said it better myself, *Some people always need something to be pissed off about*! LOL! You go girl! ~AV~

LOL! Sad, but true, right? :) --susie

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Posted by: Bonk5
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:58:19 2008
Message:
We get both at the shop. we try to say, *Happy Holidays* bc there are people who come there that are of different faiths or no faith. Tho no one has every been upset by an Merry Christmas.

Our big lines we can only use this time of year, is:
*That is your last Haircut of the year* or See you next year!**

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Posted by: sandy
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:50:48 2008
Message:
So far this year I am getting Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays is fine with me too because there are two holidays in two weeks. I think just being acknowledged is nice!

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it is nice to be wished some sort of happiness this season and not get hung up on semantics///SusieB

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Posted by: misspm
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:32:41 2008
Message:
Doesn't offend me the least little bit. I have friends of different belief sytems and when I send out my cards, I send "Happy Holidays" cards to them, regular Christmas cards to my other friends, Hanukkah to my family members and friends that are Jewish and my more religious Christmas cards to my Christian friends and family.  I say, "Have a great Holiday" to everyone in general and Merry Christmas to those I know celebrate Christmas.

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Sounds perfect to me!///susieb

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Posted by: ingyandbert
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:11:45 2008
Message:

Why should I be offended that someone extended a friendly greeting to me? 

I really don't get why some people act offended over ''Season's Greetings'' or ''Happy Holidays.''  To me, that is really missing the point (and isn't it also an ironically un-Christian reaction?).  Just because someone doesn't say ''Merry Christmas'' does not mean they are dissing Christians.  Even a lot of Christians say ''Happy Holidays.'' 

Happy Holidays includes the entire season through New Year's.  It's meant to be inclusive, not an insult.  I think people need to lighten up and realize not everyone celebrates Christmas (and you can't always tell what holiday people do or don't celebrate by looking at them.  Case in point I know several blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jewish people.  Others don't always realize they are Jewish and will say ''Merry Christmas.''  Instead of acting offended, these people just say ''Thank you, same to you'' and go about their business.).

You'd think people would have better things to worry about (especially these days) and just accept a nice gesture in the spirit in which it's made.

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ITA, people do need to lighten up on the trivial stuff///SusieB

My thoughts exactly! Too often people read a meaning into a simple gesture that is way off track. You nailed it with *Why would I be offended if someone extended a pleasant greeting to me**...or something like that, can't see the original quote from this screen. Lighten up and be glad people still have friendly exchanges, I say! ~AV~

I agree about the purpose being to include other holidays, i&b. That's the crazy thing. As I understand it, the original intent of ''Happy Holidays'' was to cover both Christmas and New Year's in one greeting. So it also comes in handy when you are dealing with people who don't celebrate Christmas. Why should that be a problem? eom--RK

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Posted by: RK
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:08:06 2008
Message:

From what I gather from discussions on the subject here and elsewhere, some people take offense because they view it as some sort of anti-Christmas or anti-Christian thing, or because they assume that anyone who says "Happy Holidays" does so because they themselves are offended by "Merry Christmas".

I think that's silly. I have no problem with any phrase used as a greeting with good intentions. To assume that someone saying "Happy Holidays" is some sort of politically correct anti-Christian nut is as stupid as assuming that someone saying "Merry Christmas" is imposing his/her religion on others.

I personally tend to prefer it when people say "Happy Holidays" to me because I find it easier to respond with "Happy Holidays" than "Merry Christmas" because I'm not used to celebrating Christmas or wishing people a merry Christmas. This was especially true a couple of years ago, when I didn't celebrate Christmas at all. (I now do celebrate with my husband's family.) It's not that I was offended by the wish; it's more that it felt a bit awkward because I wasn't actually going to have any sort of Christmas, merry or not.

Anyway, I think it's silly to get offended by "Merry Christmas", but I think it's just as silly to have a problem with "Happy Holidays", and it really annoys me when people make a big deal about either.

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ICAM RK,,,,,SusieB

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Posted by: Jennifer
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:04:04 2008
Message:
No.  I don't know why ANYONE would be offended over it.  Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannakuh, Festivus, whatever - someone who says Happy Holidays is WISHING YOU WELL.  Why the hell would anyone be offended??

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I guess some people are just too sensitive for their own good!///SusieB

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Posted by: SherylM
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 16:01:32 2008
Message:
Absolutely not, in fact I say it alot.  I usually say Merry Christmas on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  I don't get all the people who think it takes away from the true meaning of Christmas.  I have an Aunt who sends me all kinds of e-mails telling people to stop saying 'happy holidays' it takes the 'Christ' out of Christmas.  I don't buy it!

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So your Aunt is one of the 51.3%...LOL///susieB

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Posted by: P
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:48:09 2008
Message:
Well, how odd.  I actually say Happy Holidays in the hopes of NOT offending anyone.  I have many friends, and a few family members, that are not Christian.  Happy Holidays covers everyone.  I am Christian and celebrate our Lord's birth, but I know that's not for everyone.  I won't force my beliefs on them and expect they won't do that to me either.  I thought that was respectful, not offensive, hmmm.   

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P)Also, I always put Happy Holidays on my cards and I get both religious and secular stamps - I put the religious stamp on those I know are Christian and the secular on those who aren't or that I am unsure of - is that offensive?

Thats how I feel, too, because some people that you meet in the work place or casual aquaintances you may not know if they are Jewish, Christian or whatever so its just a nice way to cover all the Winter Holidays///SusieB

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Posted by: sam
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:29:51 2008
Message:
Not at all. People are finally coming to the realization that there are other holidays at this time of year.

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Exactly!///susieB

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Posted by: Elizabeth
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:18:22 2008
Message:
NO!!!! I'm just glad they didn't cuss or spit at me! lol

Seriously, I prefer Merry Christmas, but I'm not selfish enough to think everyone is of Christian faith.

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LOL///SusieB

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Posted by: WendyB
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:14:44 2008
Message:
I prefer Merry Christmas but I don't get offended if someone says Happy Holidays.  I say Merry Christmas.

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That way all bases are covrered///susieB

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Posted by: toader
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:13:10 2008
Message:
I'm not offended. I do it myself.

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Me neither///SB

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Posted by: lifetimeviewer
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:12:50 2008
Message:

The older I get, the fewer things offend me.  Mainly because it takes way too much energy to get riled up - so I tend to save that for worthwhile infractions. 

If someone wishes me "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" or "Go jump in a lake" my response is always the same; "And to you as well!"

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Perfect response LTV///SusieB

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Posted by: Editrix
Date posted: Mon Dec 22 15:08:55 2008
Message:

Not at all!

The uproar over this in recent years is a huge pet peeve of mine.

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its so trivial in the grand scheme of things///SusieB

Mine too! I think the media is guilty of stirring it up and people who never would have given it a second thought are suddenly ''offended'' by a perfectly innocuous phrase. People should be thankful that someone is actually trying to be polite to them. Ginger

I think you're right. (Wasn't Bill O'Reilly involved in stirring this up?) The phrase ''happy holidays'' has been around for ages, and nobody seemed to have a problem with it before. Even for Christians, as ingy said, it encompasses New Year's. Editrix

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