Holidays
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Re: Ummm...happy holidays? Whatever happened to that?
First of all, is anyone here not celebrating Christmas? Secondly, how many of you keep the Sabbath every week?
I do keep the Jewish Sabbath every week in my home. I take my traditions (notice I did not say religion) seriously, and frankly, to some degree most Jews do take some tradition seriously. The people I work with are well aware that I am like that, that I keep a Jewish home-I married an Israeli last year it doesn't get more Jewish than that. They know I take it seriously, I've even gone as far as covering my hair. So when they go out of the way to EMPHASIZE it's a CHRISTMAS PARTY and not a holiday party (which is exactly how they put) they put me in an uncomfortable position, b/c no I cannot attend nor participate as a Jew.
You know what is sad? I can't say "Merry Christmas" where I work because I might offend someone.
I personally think it's a shame that people feel the need to generalize a wonderful day in just "Happy Holidays".
Being an American is all about religious freedom. You do remember that is why we have a country in the first place, correct? America wasn't founded as a Christian nation and I think it is ridicoulous that people think it is or was.
You are free to think and believe and be as PC or un-PC as you like.
Man, this has really gone farther than the OP probably meant it to. In the infamous words of Charlie Brown, "good grief!"
No, I'm sorry, I have to come back. I am a Christian. Sometimes I wish people Merry Christmas, and sometimes I wish people Happy Holidays. I don't care if people wish me Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Solstice, whatever -- the point is they are wishing me well, and I am touched.
I also like parties and wouldn't feel threatened by a Hanukkah Party, general Holiday party, etc. My Christian Elementary school had a Seder meal once. It was cool to learn about a different religious tradition. I think it's awful to be offended by someone else's well-wishes.
Here's the thing though, it's not just one holiday. Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa Al Hijira and New Years Eve are all in the same month. Multiple holidays...thus "happy holidays". I think it's impolite to wish someone a Merry Christmas when you know they don't celebrate Christmas...it's like wishing someone a happy birthday on your birthday. It's not all about you and your belief system. Recognize that there are some other people living in this world who don't believe that Jesus was their lord and savior.
Yeah see you're someone who gets their panties all in a bunch over silly language issues.
You really think the phrase, "you don't care for Christmas" means, "I think you woke up one and thought F*** Christmas I want Hannukah"?
Yeah sure that's what I meant. I clearly have no concept of being born to a particular group.
I'm not going to even bother to try and convey to you what I was trying to say because clearly you will choose to misinterpret it.
Please feel free to enlighten me in just the exactly right way to phrase my thoughts so as not to a) offend you b) have them misinterpreted by you.
Would any of you wish others "Happy Birthday" on YOUR birthday? I assume not. To me, saying "merry christmas" to those you know don't celebrate is the same thing. Why do it?
Yes, I think getting offended is a bit much, but IMO is very rude to do it to someone on purpose....and to get your panties in a bunch because people would prefer happy holidays.
If this is the only thing you have to complain about, you are lucky.
Also, if the school you work at went out of their way to emphasize that it was a Christmas party and not just a holiday party, and they force the kids to sing songs about how Jesus is their brother, maybe you should look for a different job. You sound miserable there.
I wish people a Merry Christmas. But if I knew they didn't celebrate, then I'd wish them a Happy whatever you celebrate.
Also, Hanukkah ended way before Christmas this year.... So if Hanukkah were already over, then I wouldn't wish that person a Happy Hanukkah. Plus, isn't Hanukkah a relatively small holiday in the Jewish religion? It isn't even widely celebrated.
Regardless, I don't see an issue with wishing people a Merry Christmas. If you don't like it, then reply with Happy Holidays, or thanks, but I don't celebrate Christmas. Most people don't mean any harm when they say it, they are just wishing you well.
Maybe next year you can wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah! I bet most would say the same back to you.
Well said! I myself wish people a "Merry Christmas" more than "Happy Holidays" but if someone corrected me, ok, cool, I'd wish them whatever holiday they celebrate, and would not be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. I'm Catholic, I attend mass, I hope to send my kids to a Catholic school, my family displays a Nativity in their yards, and still would not be offended if someone invited me to participate in their own holiday traditions- in fact I'd enjoy it. Most people are not trying to be insensitive, or un-PC, and if they are, they're just jerks, and you're free to get miffed then. And back to the employee Christmas party- say something to your employer if it bothers you that bad. And when you're wished a merry Christmas, there's no rule saying you can't tell the person you don't celebrate it. I know it's like a week late, but Happy Hanukkah!
I think, what the OP was referring to was her employer, who employs people of all faiths and are well aware that there are people who don't celebrate Christmas, would specifiy that it's only a Christmas Party and not a holiday party. She may have taken that to believe that she was not included in the party, and was upset that she was delibrately being excluded.
I personally don't get offended when people wish me a Merry Christmas. I do feel very special though when people wish me a Happy Hanukkah, because it means that they made a special effort to send me a greeting for my holiday. But I don't get upset when people in public would wish me Marry Christmas. I was wishing people a Merry Christmas all day yesterday, because it WAS Christmas.
I wish everyone a Happy Holidays...I'm not ignorant enough to assume others beliefs. As far as having my panties in a twist...you don't know how I feel, b/c you are not in my position.
Coming to this late.
Here is my take.
As individuals, people should be able to say a greeting based on THEIR beliefs. And if that means "Merry Christmas", then that's what it means. Why shouldn'[t people be able to say that when that is what they believe? You don't believe it? Then don't say it, and/or say "Happy Hanukkah".
But it's ridiculous to be offended by people expressing greetings based on their belief system. There HAS to be respect in both directions here.
However, when it comes to work parties.... I do fully believe it should be a HOLIDAY party. Open and welcoming of all relgions and beliefs.
My DH is Jewish (I am not) and he could care less about "Merry Christmas" greetings, but I do think he gets a little put off by "Christmas parties". He jokes about it- and it's nothing he would refuse to go to. But I do feel that he appreciates it a LOT when something is called a "holiday" party.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
And Tamb for the win. Thank you for remembering the Solstice.
I'm a Yule celebrator and I get irritated when people say things like "CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON." I'm sorry but Yule was around long before christmas came around.
2011 AthensGAHalf official time: 2:33:31
Ze Blog
Is America a Christian Nation? - David Barton
Uh, maybe a more academic source would help your case here. It'd be like someone disagreeing with you and linking you to Athiest.com or something.
I don't get why when someone says "merry christmas!" you can't just respond with, "And Happy Hannukuh!"
I don't get why it has to be generic. Someone is wishing you well according to their traditions, so why not wish them back according to your own and then just move on?
I agree the work thing is rude as is anyone who goes out of their way to try to make you feel bad, but a random person who doesn't know or may not remember, I think it's dumb to get your panties all in a twist. All my years as an agnostic, I can't remember getting all butthurt when people wished me ANYTHING other than a Happy Solstice.
Are you serious???
It's unusual to you to be wished a Merry Christmas around Christmas? I find that difficult to believe, considering how many people in this country are at least nominal Christians.
As for your work party, where in the world do you work? Is it a church or something? If not, and if the invitation really said "this is CHRISTMAS party; not a holiday party," then yeah, that's kindashitty. Sorry.
Finally, don't spill your guts and then cry "you don't know how I feel!" when people criticize. You just told us how you feel.
So what I have gotten out of this thread is we can't possibly understand how you feel, that you don't care how people of other faiths feel, and you don't care how any of us might hypothetically feel if we were in your situation.
So it seems you wanted to hear, "Gosh what a terrible situation you are in. I don't really get how you feel, but from my limited understanding it seems pretty crappy. I won't bother sharing any of my experiences or any of my thoughts because I can't understand your position and you don't care about anyone elses thoughts. I hope you have had and continue to have a happy holiday season."
You should consider just talking to your mirror.
The other poster just made a statement with no evidence to back up that it isn't. I live in the "Show Me" state, show me proof!
Dude, I didn't even say whether I agreed with you or not. But it's just foolish to think that a source like that is going to convince someone. If I went to Athiest.org or whatever, I'm sure I could find convincing arguments the other way.
It reminds me of the time someone disagreed with me about immigration, and cited an article on VDare.
Perhaps you would like to explain why all of currency has "In God We Trust" on it, and the Star Spangled Banner has "One nation under God" in it?
"American history demonstrates repeatedly that the nation was founded on Christian principles and its founding fathers wished to acknowledge that fact all over Washington D.C. buildings, in official documents, and historical speeches. Less than a hundred years after its Declaration of Independence, In God We Trust was proclaimed on its coins. America is a free nation, and freedom of religion is still guaranteed in the Constitution?s First Amendment."
Foolish or not you still have shown me "zero" proof stating otherwise.
http://www.allabouthistory.org/in-god-we-trust.htm
She's not trying to "prove" you wrong and say this country wasn't founded on Christian beliefs... All she was saying is that if you want to make an argument, you shouldn't use what could be considered a biased source.
ETA: "One nation under God" is in the pledge, not the Star Spangled Banner and it was not added into the pledge until 1954.
Also, "In God we trust" wasn't added to US currency until 1957...
My point is, if nestie Stumpie is going to make a statement such as the country was not founded on Christian beliefs, I want to see "proof" that supports her statement.
Oh, you're asking Stumpie for proof? I kind of skimmed the thread, so I didn't see that.
Well, yeah, then I would also agree with Stan on the source thing. If she wanted to prove you wrong, using something from a well known anti-religion website wouldn't be a good cite either.