"Happy Holidays!"

In Mexico no one gives a damn about it. I'm Jewish, they say "Merry Christmas" to me, I don't make a big fuzz about it, and I say "Happy Holidays", no one notices anything wrong about it.

Ideally, I should use Merry Christmas on Eve Eve/Eve and Christmas itself, and Happy Holidays the rest of the time, but I generally just use Merry Christmas as a reflex.

The reason for that is that I'm actually a big advocate and the way I celebrate is for the entire holidays, going from Christmas Eve Eve (which is the start of the real holiday season to me), right through to New Year's Day.

Again, where does the idea that 'Happy Holidays' is about renaming Christmas come about? I still don't get it. That's not the reason its use became widespread. It's used to be inclusive of people who don't celebrate Christmas but do celebrate other winter holidays.

This. "Happy Holidays" is for whatever a person might be celebrating, be in Christmas, other religious holidays, New Year or simply enjoying a winter break. When talking specifically about Christmas, there is no need to use "Happy Holidays" phrase.

But anyway, even though I personally prefer "Happy Holidays" as a general phrase in public places, paying much attention either for or against it seems quite petty to me.

edited 17th Dec '11 8:32:55 AM by Beholderess

It's a symbol of privilege and cultural power.

That's why some people fight so hard for/against it.

edited 17th Dec '11 9:09:26 AM by Karmakin

I can't disagree that it is indeed rooted in privilege. However, I cannot see it as terribly offensive. If anyone was to wish me a merry Christmas, I would see it as an... invitation... rather than affirmation of my irreligious agnostic stance as an aberrant.

But then again, I see the outrage against inclusive "Happy Holidays" as equally petty. Wishing someone merry Christmas is not offensive, but insisting that it must be the only holiday to be acknowledged is. And what's even more puzzling to me is the claims that using "Happy Holidays" as a default somehow deprives those who celebrates Christmas of anything.

edited 17th Dec '11 9:40:55 AM by Beholderess

Yeah I don't really see Merry Christmas as offensive in and of itself. It's kinda..self-absorbed? I guess, in a way, but as I do it myself, it's not something I can get mad about.

But it's the anger over people who use Happy Holidays that gets my goat. It's that anger where it all goes wrong. That's where the privilege shows up. And yes, I'll admit it. I have, in the past, trolled people telling them Happy Holidays when they've shown that privilege just to piss them off even more.

I actually do think the only way to deal with privilege is to tackle it head-on. If that means offending people, so be it.

Hmm. I don't have much to say on this manner, except I think this old troll post is very amusing.

Happy Hanukkah, everyone! Remember, this is a time when families should get together and share their love and reaffirm what it means to be children of God!

How is that even a question? I don't like how Yahoo Questions gets misused.

I suppose you can claim happy holidays based on official calendar days, just recognizing that such days exist.

I'm not even Christian but I celebrate Christmas, so I tend to say Merry Christmas over Happy Holidays. Like it fucking matters in the first place, it's like saying "have a good day" and someone flipping out because it's technically mid-afternoon or some shit.

Like fuck, be happy for two seconds.

Yeah, I pretty much just say Merry Christmas without thinking. Even at a public university like U of I, the bus drivers wished me Merry Christmas, which made me smile a bit and get the holiday fuzzies.

Anyone who gets offended simply by someone saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" is just looking to be offended and make a big fucking mountain out of a molehill.

It's fucking ridiculous.

My name is Mary and I am offended!

That's not what you said last night.

"Merry Christmas" sounds more natural to say than "Happy Holidays." For me, anyway.

Never had anyone correct me ever, though if I ever ran into those people, I'd be laughing my ass off. Those people are funny as hell, and God help 'em if they ever pull it around me; there'll be tears in my eyes.

Work in retail long enough and you'll meet some. Then you get fired for betraying the "Customer is always right" policy that most places have.

Generally, the only people it bugs are that cute population of nutcases who genuinely believe theres some vast liberal/atheist/media conspiracy to take christ out of christmas.

edited 17th Dec '11 4:52:53 PM by Midgetsnowman

My friend who works in a supermarket had a hilarious story about a customer.

@60 - Well, I was actually referring to the second response to that question (which is very over-the-top) more than the question itself, but w/e.

More on the topic of Happy Holidays, I'd only have a problem once people started claiming we're not allowed to say Merry Christmas. Otherwise, most people tend to mean the commercial aspect of the holiday either way, so it doesn't usually make a difference.

Of course, there's always the alternative 'Merry Happy!' I hear that does pretty well with the crazies.

I like Happy Holidays, and other generic terms, because they're all-inclusive. I don't know, not talking specifically about Christmas with everyone doesn't really affect me in any negative way. Who cares?

MERRY HALLOWEEN!

I just say an ordinary farewell unless someone sets the standard first. Christmas music shreds my nerves too much for me to acknowledge it with either standard term.