Holidays
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Ummm...happy holidays? Whatever happened to that?

This year I got a lot more Merry Xmases than Happy Holidays.  Obviously it makes me a little uncomfortable cuz I'm a dreidel spinner not a xmas tree decorator.  I always just say you too, to be polite, but it bugs me.  Also at my work they has a Christmas party, not Holiday and they wanted to emphasize Xmas, so I couldn't go.  I know I live in a Christian country that overwhelmingly celebrates Christmas, I'm not stupid, but especially in a big city like Vegas, I would think people would be more PC.

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Re: Ummm...happy holidays? Whatever happened to that?

  • ... I think you are being too sensitive. Let's decide as Americans not to live our lives worrying about being PC... I am sure that they were not being disrespectful, they just were celebrating the Holiday that they hold dear to their hearts.  I am not going to say Happy Holidays to every person I meet, in the fear that a small minority of them might be offended by the words "Merry Christmas."  That's just silly. That being said, I hope that you have a Happy Holidays! :)
  • Really, you're offended by people who are wishing you well? Unclench a little. Life's too short to spend all your time looking for things to be offended by.

    fiizzlee = vag ** fiizzle = peen ** Babies shouldn't be born wit thangs ** **They're called first luddz fo' a reason -- mo' is supposed ta come after. Yo Ass don't git a medal fo' marryin yo' prom date. Unless yo ass is imoan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Then yo ass git a all-expenses paid cruise ta tha Mediterranean n' yo ass git ta hook up Jared Padalecki on tha flight over while bustin yo' jammies. But still no medal.
  • imageMrs. Chip:
    ... I think you are being too sensitive. Let's decide as Americans not to live our lives worrying about being PC... I am sure that they were not being disrespectful, they just were celebrating the Holiday that they hold dear to their hearts.  I am not going to say Happy Holidays to every person I meet, in the fear that a small minority of them might be offended by the words "Merry Christmas."  That's just silly. That being said, I hope that you have a Happy Holidays! :)

    wow. --- p.s. i love how you added the little smiley at the end as if that makes everything you said totally cool.

    OP- happy holidays :) i've never understood what so many christian people have against that phrase anyway. it's all encompassing. not only for nonchristian holidays but it's also be a good catch-all for both christmas and new years. if people know you are jewish and are still wishing you a merry christmas and leaving you out of what should be general holiday celebrations, then that's just rude. no matter where you live.

  • food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!
  • imageLCSC1980:

    Also at my work they has a Christmas party, not Holiday and they wanted to emphasize Xmas, so I couldn't go. 

    You could have gone, you just wanted to be all woe-is-me and pearl-clutchy and out-martyr Jesus Christ.

    fiizzlee = vag ** fiizzle = peen ** Babies shouldn't be born wit thangs ** **They're called first luddz fo' a reason -- mo' is supposed ta come after. Yo Ass don't git a medal fo' marryin yo' prom date. Unless yo ass is imoan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Then yo ass git a all-expenses paid cruise ta tha Mediterranean n' yo ass git ta hook up Jared Padalecki on tha flight over while bustin yo' jammies. But still no medal.
  • People who say it on purpose, knowing your religion, are simply rude.

     

    Its not about being PC. Its about being polite and thoughtful. To the person who responded about it being PC: its not all about YOU and what YOU celebrate. You should think of others sometimes, too.

  • imageMs_Matched:
    food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!

     

    uh, the X means Christ. Seriously. Xmas isnt taking Christ out of Christmas. 

  • imageIrishBrideND:

    imageMs_Matched:
    food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!

     

    uh, the X means Christ. Seriously. Xmas isnt taking Christ out of Christmas. 

    I disagree on both counts. The X does not mean Christ. An "X" is generally used to cross something out. No?

     

  • imageMs_Matched:
    food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!

    The reason I write Xmas is cuz I'm lazy. CHRIST CHRIST CHRIST, are you happy now?

  • They know I'm Jewish, they know they have Jewish coworkers- and they say in the invite these words "This is a CHRISTMAS party not a holiday party."  Thats disregarding of others.  And by the way, you can get off your high horse!
  • To the OP - people may not realize that you are offended, so I wouldn't take things so personally. I'm agnostic, but if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, or whatever religious celebration they are partaking it, I see it as inclusive - they are simply wishing me the "best of the season."

    I do think that a place of employment should do holidays as opposed to Christmas - perhaps you can bring it up next year, and find ways to bring some of your own religion into the festivities - through baking, or decoration, or song, or whatever you see fit.

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  • imageIrishBrideND:

    imageMs_Matched:
    food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!

    uh, the X means Christ. Seriously. Xmas isnt taking Christ out of Christmas. 

    Quoting a website:

    The occasionally held belief that the "X" represents the cross on which Christ was crucified also has no basis in fact. Saint Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a ?. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi ? stood for "Christ" in the ancient Greek acrostic ??T?S ichthys.) While some see the spelling of Christmas as Xmas a threat, others see it as a way to honor the martyrs. The use of X as an abbreviation for "cross" in modern abbreviated writing (e.g. "King's X" for "King's Cross") may have reinforced this assumption.
  •  

    imageLCSC1980:

    No high horse, and I do not feel better about you writing out Christ. I am not here to argue with you. I am sorry if you feel that way. I was just giving you another perspective.

    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (Chanukah) and Kwanzaa to you! :)

     

  • imageLuvMyFurbaby:

    Quoting a website:

    The occasionally held belief that the "X" represents the cross on which Christ was crucified also has no basis in fact. Saint Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a ?. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi ? stood for "Christ" in the ancient Greek acrostic ??T?S ichthys.) While some see the spelling of Christmas as Xmas a threat, others see it as a way to honor the martyrs. The use of X as an abbreviation for "cross" in modern abbreviated writing (e.g. "King's X" for "King's Cross") may have reinforced this assumption.
    I realize "X" is not the Roman letter X, but is a Greek chi, short for "???st??" which means Christ. However I do not speak/write Greek, nor do I think atheist or anyone that write X-mas are using it in that way. I never see it written Merry ???st??mas! Do you?
  • Everyone that I talked to around here had 'holiday' parties at work...and we live in a very Christian oriented communtity  My husband's office party was just called the office holiday party.  I am really surprised that so many places in Vegas are that Christmas centric.

    I noticed that it seemed like a lot more people than usual said Merry Christmas to me in stores, rather than make more vague 'holiday' references that I have gotten used to, but many ads on tv were very 'holiday' pc this year.

     I am a Christian, (and very into Christmas), but I am aware that not everyone is and tend to note un pc things.  My kids went to preschool at a non denominational pre school that was at a Jewish temple, and went through school with many of the same kids, who were members there, (children of all faiths and some non believers too), so we I think that helped raise our awareness. 

     

  • imageLCSC1980:
    They know I'm Jewish, they know they have Jewish coworkers- and they say in the invite these words "This is a CHRISTMAS party not a holiday party."  Thats disregarding of others.  And by the way, you can get off your high horse!

     

    This is weird to me. What about it made it all about "christmas"? Was there a nativity scene and prayers?

    Why did they need to emphasise that it was a Christmas party?

    That is a) weird and b) offensive.

    Having said all that I work with a Muslim woman. Another woman had baked gingerbread cookies and came over to us to say, "merry Christmas, I baked some cookies would you like some" 

    As soon as she said it she registered that she may have offended our Muslim colleague and so apologised. The Muslim woman was not offended and said how she really enjoyed the Christmas season, that her family is Christian and so she likes getting to have lots of parties.

    I was impressed with how gracious she was about the situation and also I liked her attitude of, "it's not my belief system but there's no reason why I can't enjoy spending time with family, having fun and eating good food" 

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  • imageMs_Matched:
    food for thought: The same way you feel the need to take Christ out of CHRISTmas by using an "X", in every CHRISTmas reference of your post, is the same way others may feel about saying Happy Holidays. It is about standing up with what you believe in. Whether it is PC or not, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not say it out of spite, but because I believe that is Jesus Christ's (celebrated) birthday. Christ is the REASON for the SEASON. Hence why they named the holiday after Him!

    Actually, we have no idea when his birthday is. The Christians actually stole the holiday from the Pagans. Christmas trees and decorations . . . they all stem from pagan rituals. It honestly surprised me that most Christians don't know this.

    And before you think I am some bitter agnostic or atheist, I am not. I am a former Southern Baptist who went to the largest Baptist school in the country. Now I am just "Christian" since I got really tired of the gay bashing in the Southern Baptist church.

  • imageKateLouise:

    imageLCSC1980:
    They know I'm Jewish, they know they have Jewish coworkers- and they say in the invite these words "This is a CHRISTMAS party not a holiday party."  Thats disregarding of others.  And by the way, you can get off your high horse!

     

    This is weird to me. What about it made it all about "christmas"? Was there a nativity scene and prayers?

    Why did they need to emphasise that it was a Christmas party?

    That is a) weird and b) offensive.

    Having said all that I work with a Muslim woman. Another woman had baked gingerbread cookies and came over to us to say, "merry Christmas, I baked some cookies would you like some" 

    As soon as she said it she registered that she may have offended our Muslim colleague and so apologised. The Muslim woman was not offended and said how she really enjoyed the Christmas season, that her family is Christian and so she likes getting to have lots of parties.

    I was impressed with how gracious she was about the situation and also I liked her attitude of, "it's not my belief system but there's no reason why I can't enjoy spending time with family, having fun and eating good food" 

    Yes under those circumstances I would be grateful that she acknowledged my religious difference and say thank you.  BUT I am not the Muslim woman either, just because she and I do not celebrate Christmas does not make us the same as far as attitudes.

  • imageMs_Matched:
    imageLuvMyFurbaby:

    Quoting a website:

    The occasionally held belief that the "X" represents the cross on which Christ was crucified also has no basis in fact. Saint Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a ?. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi ? stood for "Christ" in the ancient Greek acrostic ??T?S ichthys.) While some see the spelling of Christmas as Xmas a threat, others see it as a way to honor the martyrs. The use of X as an abbreviation for "cross" in modern abbreviated writing (e.g. "King's X" for "King's Cross") may have reinforced this assumption.

    I realize "X" is not the Roman letter X, but is a Greek chi, short for "???st??" which means Christ. However I do not speak/write Greek, nor do I think atheist or anyone that write X-mas are using it in that way. I never see it written Merry ???st??mas! Do you?

    The vast majority of people who do write it are writing it as a short cut...so yes, they are. I think its hilarious that some think its to "cross out" christ. Thats not the intention.

    You are making a huge assumption as to the OPs intentions. 

  • Hmmmm....I wonder...since so many people are tired of being PC about the holidays, what other "PC" ways of life can we let go? 

    I'm not trying in any way to bash anybody's holiday.  In fact my Israeli husband and I went to the Bellagio the other night to see the beautiful Christmas display there, my best friend is alone today so later we're going to her house to have dinner; but I do believe in being INCLUSIVE not EXCLUSIVE.  I teach at a school that is mainly African-American and Hispanic.  I teach units every year on Day of the Dead, Civil Rights, etc.  At the same time, since people in my school have found out I'm Jewish, I'm often invited to classrooms to tell students what my house is like at the holiday season.  That's being educated, inclusive, socially concrned and socially sensitive.

  • I'm just worried that in this instance American's overall are being less inclusive.  I don't want that for my children...

    I don't want that in public school programs they are singing about Jesus (Santa is ok), and yes at my school that I work at the Kindergarteners sang "Jesus is my brother." 

    I don't want to have to go to the only Hallmark that has a Hannukah display and give my parents the same card they give me (2002 and that was in upstate NY-suburban Jewish capital)

    Or as Adam Sandler would say I don't want my kids to "feel like the only kid in town without a Christmas tree."  Especially not in a big city!

  • imageLCSC1980:
    imageKateLouise:

    imageLCSC1980:
    They know I'm Jewish, they know they have Jewish coworkers- and they say in the invite these words "This is a CHRISTMAS party not a holiday party."  Thats disregarding of others.  And by the way, you can get off your high horse!

     

    This is weird to me. What about it made it all about "christmas"? Was there a nativity scene and prayers?

    Why did they need to emphasise that it was a Christmas party?

    That is a) weird and b) offensive.

    Having said all that I work with a Muslim woman. Another woman had baked gingerbread cookies and came over to us to say, "merry Christmas, I baked some cookies would you like some" 

    As soon as she said it she registered that she may have offended our Muslim colleague and so apologised. The Muslim woman was not offended and said how she really enjoyed the Christmas season, that her family is Christian and so she likes getting to have lots of parties.

    I was impressed with how gracious she was about the situation and also I liked her attitude of, "it's not my belief system but there's no reason why I can't enjoy spending time with family, having fun and eating good food" 

    Yes under those circumstances I would be grateful that she acknowledged my religious difference and say thank you.  BUT I am not the Muslim woman either, just because she and I do not celebrate Christmas does not make us the same as far as attitudes.

     

    Yes I understand you do not have the same attitude. What I'm saying is that I like her attitude. 

    I understand that there are many different attitudes to all aspects of life.

    You don't care for Christmas which is fine. But it seems hypocritical to me to get all upset that others don't care about your religious holidays.

     

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  • I was just giving an example as to why OP employers could have called her Christmas Party what it is, rather then a Holiday Party. They could be taking a stand for what they believe in or what the majority of the employees requested. I am sure the company had to check with their HR, dot their "i"s and cross their "t"s. Obviously the OP is the minority in feeling this way. 

    It doesn't matter to me how Christmas came to be or if Jesus was actually born on December 25th. The observance for Christians, has come to be the day that we celebrate (that is why I said "celebrated birthday") the birth of Jesus. 


  • imageIrishBrideND:
    imageMs_Matched:
    imageLuvMyFurbaby:

    Quoting a website:

    The occasionally held belief that the "X" represents the cross on which Christ was crucified also has no basis in fact. Saint Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a ?. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi ? stood for "Christ" in the ancient Greek acrostic ??T?S ichthys.) While some see the spelling of Christmas as Xmas a threat, others see it as a way to honor the martyrs. The use of X as an abbreviation for "cross" in modern abbreviated writing (e.g. "King's X" for "King's Cross") may have reinforced this assumption.

    I realize "X" is not the Roman letter X, but is a Greek chi, short for "???st??" which means Christ. However I do not speak/write Greek, nor do I think atheist or anyone that write X-mas are using it in that way. I never see it written Merry ???st??mas! Do you?

    The vast majority of people who do write it are writing it as a short cut...so yes, they are. I think its hilarious that some think its to "cross out" christ. Thats not the intention.

    You are making a huge assumption as to the OPs intentions. 

    Again I disagree, so we will have to agree to disagree. :)
  • imageLCSC1980:

    I'm just worried that in this instance American's overall are being less inclusive.  I don't want that for my children...

    American's? American's what overall are being less inclusive?

    I weep for our children.

    fiizzlee = vag ** fiizzle = peen ** Babies shouldn't be born wit thangs ** **They're called first luddz fo' a reason -- mo' is supposed ta come after. Yo Ass don't git a medal fo' marryin yo' prom date. Unless yo ass is imoan. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Then yo ass git a all-expenses paid cruise ta tha Mediterranean n' yo ass git ta hook up Jared Padalecki on tha flight over while bustin yo' jammies. But still no medal.
  • If someone wishes you a Merry Christmas, just wish them a Happy Hanukkah right back.

    I'm not Christian, but I celebrate Christmas anyway. I enjoy it for the most part. If you invited me to a Jewish Seder, I'd attend. I've been to one before, and I'd go again. It's fun to be included on things even if I don't believe in certain parts of them.

  • imageLCSC1980:

    This year I got a lot more Merry Xmases than Happy Holidays.  Obviously it makes me a little uncomfortable cuz I'm a dreidel spinner not a xmas tree decorator.  I always just say you too, to be polite, but it bugs me.  Also at my work they has a Christmas party, not Holiday and they wanted to emphasize Xmas, so I couldn't go.  I know I live in a Christian country that overwhelmingly celebrates Christmas, I'm not stupid, but especially in a big city like Vegas, I would think people would be more PC.

    Why couldn't you go?  Did they do something against your religion that forbade you from attending?  Or, were you able to go and chose not to because you felt left out or comfortable?

    If I worked with people who were primarily Jewish, and they had a Happy Hanukkah party, I'd go and when they said Happy Hanukkah, I'd say Merry Christmas.  Then laugh, and share some good food together!  And, you could have brought some special treats that they weren't used to eating, and show them some of your traditions.

    imageVisit The Nest! Love to scrapbook!
  • imageLCSC1980:

    I'm just worried that in this instance American's overall are being less inclusive.  I don't want that for my children...

    I don't want that in public school programs they are singing about Jesus (Santa is ok), and yes at my school that I work at the Kindergarteners sang "Jesus is my brother." 

    I don't want to have to go to the only Hallmark that has a Hannukah display and give my parents the same card they give me (2002 and that was in upstate NY-suburban Jewish capital)

    Or as Adam Sandler would say I don't want my kids to "feel like the only kid in town without a Christmas tree."  Especially not in a big city!

    I don't want my future children to be singing songs and being lied to about a factitious fairytale character named Santa Clause that magically flies through the sky on a sled, being taught about evolution instead of creation, and being told they are not able to say Merry Christmas, they need to be PC and say Happy Holidays. However unless I plan to send my future child to a private Christian school, that is how it will be. 
  • Ummm...it's not that I don't CARE for Christmas.  I didn't wake up one day and F*** Christmas I want Hannukah.  I'm a Jew, it's what I was born as.  And you may feel differently about what you say if you were not in the majority.
  • imagezitiqueen:

    Really, you're offended by people who are wishing you well? Unclench a little. Life's too short to spend all your time looking for things to be offended by.

    ***yawn***

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