12.23.2008

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays

So as trivial as this may seem, the debate rages on over whether or not to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to people who you do not even know.

Isn't it simple to find the answer?

If you don't know someone, why assume they are Christian?

What's offensive or less meaningful about saying "Happy Holidays?"
What is the built-in or inherent superiority in saying "Merry Christmas" ?

Working at a store in a strip mall I see this little battle raging everyday.

I TRY to avoid the issue all together by saying, "Have a nice day," or "Have a good night," maybe "Have a great weekend!"

Other employees at the store sometimes do say "Happy Holidays," which is fine, if you are willing to deal with the more than occasional proclamation-esque response of "Merry Christmas!" Which normally might not pass through your ears causing any stir of emotion, but these people say it like they are proving a point.

Then they follow it up with a look in their eyes as if to say, "Yah, that's right I SAID IT!"

I even get this holier-than-thou, that's right I DARE to assume you are Christian - Because I am one and I'm a rebel who is doing something NOBLE!!! - Response after saying "have a good day!"

What's the deal with people?

5 comments:

BOOM said...

haha Yeah man I used to get that all the time. I remember saying happy holidays and then having a 50 something dude try to corrent me by saying very smugly, "you mean merry christmas."

I get the whole argument that around this time of year that christmas is the only major holiday. it affirms the christian faith by the "birth of jesus" hanukkah is only celebrated with gifts as well and is only at this same time of year because in order to keep up with the BUSINESS of religion, and to keep church patrons from celebrating the pegan winter solstice the two religions began celebrating these occasions at this exact time of her. CHRISTIANS, remember when in the BIBLE it says that joseph had to go to Bethlehem to pay taxes, he was going for a census, which happened after a harvest, because thats when people had money. Jesus was born in what we now call "spring" and I think that its a joke to celebrate his birth for one day a year. isn't the whole point of christianity celebrating his life every day?

SORRY FOR THE RANT

Anonymous said...

Christmas is a religious holiday. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas are both acceptable greetings, just as appropriate as the other.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous:

There are other holidays in "holiday season" too. Not just Christmas.

Anonymous said...

(Other Holidays for OTHER religions)

Also, there are people who aren't religious.

CRH said...

And some Christians, like my family, say "Happy Holidays" to incorporate the upcoming New Years, as well. So it's like a two-for-one greeting.