Happy Holidays or should it be Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year?

[Ridge Runner]

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Growing up back when all the holidays were celebrated separately and not so commercialized, seemed everyone would greet others they met around the holiday season with: Happy Thanksgiving, or Merry Christmas, or Happy New Year, around the respective holiday.

Eventually I learned that different religions and cultures celebrated a variety of different religious holidays based on their religious beliefs, while other cultures didn't celebrate these Christian holidays at all.

Since the overwhelming commercialization of the holidays, especially Christmas, and there are so many religious and non religious cultures, the simplest of greetings I use is Happy Holidays to cover all the holidays at one time. As I for one don't ask people in passing what their beliefs or non beliefs are.

I started saying Happy Holidays long before the phase became a geopolitical, anti cultural phase starting around Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving it's Merry Christmas and Happy New Year followed by just Happy New Year till January 2nd....that's about when I start to regain some cognitive coherence.

Probably a question I may regret asking, but I'll ask anyways:

What do you say to people during the holiday season?

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, particularly with regards to Christmas. I work for a government agency that seems to want to pull us in the direction of getting away from that, which has been all the more reason to double down on calling it what it truly is, rather than going all generic and politically correct. Perhaps the new administration will allow us (my agency) to turn a corner with regards to this, as well as other things.

I would add, that where I live, I get to say Christmas and New Year's twice. Russian Orthodox is the predominant religion across many rural Alaskan villages, and has a strong presence in the community I live in. They celebrate their calendar's Christmas on January 7 and their New Year's on January 14.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Good Question. It's Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas for me. If the person I am speaking to feels like wishing me a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa then I feel no reason to be upset. Let everyone enjoy it the way they want.

HH

 

[mdwest]

I very purposefully say "Merry Christmas" (for all of the obvious reasons.. no special argument here)...

that said.. when I am addressing someone I know to be Muslim.. I greet them with a "Happy Eid!" (at the appropriate time of year).. when Im addressing someone I know to be Jewish I will wish them a "Happy Hanukkah!" during the Hanukkah period, etc.. I dont find anything wrong with recognizing someone elses faith and wishing them happiness or joy in the practice of their faith.. to be honest, I think thats one of the best ways I can demonstrate my Christian faith.. to show respect, courtesy, and kindness to people not of my faith... the saved dont need saving after all...

While at the same time, I dont avoid letting others know what my faith is (by saying "Merry Christmas" to pretty much everyone else).. I find that the only people "offended" by that are people that are perpetually and habitually offended by everything.. and that those people are generally not of other faiths... they are people of no faith.. or people that claim to be Christians, but have completely bought into the whole DEI culture thing..

A quick observation of my own neighborhood (where I as a Christian, White, male am in the minority).. my hindu neighbors to my immediate east celebrate Christmas (they arent Christian.. but they love the tradition, the gift giving, the family meals, etc).. my Azerbaijani neighbors to me immediate west celebrate Christmas (they are Muslim.. but again, they love the tradition, gift giving, the decorations, etc and celebrate it as something of a secular holiday).. my buddist neighbors to my immediate north I havent talked to about Christmas.. but their house is currently draped in lights and they have a santa and a sleigh decoration in the front yard (I'd say its a good guess that theyre celebrating Christmas this year)..

If youre the type of person that gets offended because they made a cartoon years ago where Charlie Brown celebrates Christmas.. and havent made one where Peppermint Patty celebrates Quanza yet.. theres truly little I can do for you no matter how I chose to greet you in December lol.. I find that most people of faith (of any faith) have no problem with Christmas at all..

 

[Ridge Runner]

I say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, particularly with regards to Christmas. I work for a government agency that seems to want to pull us in the direction of getting away from that, which has been all the more reason to double down on calling it what it truly is, rather than going all generic and politically correct. Perhaps the new administration will allow us (my agency) to turn a corner with regards to this, as well as other things.

I would add, that where I live, I get to say Christmas and New Year's twice. Russian Orthodox is the predominant religion across many rural Alaskan villages, and has a strong presence in the community I live in. They celebrate their calendar's Christmas on January 7 and their New Year's on January 14.

WOW!....

Perhaps in my younger carefree days. That's way to many consecutive days of partying for this old goat. I would need at least the next two month to recover.

 

[Denvir Tire]

While in business, all my customers got a " Have a good Holiday", no matter what season it was.....
Now that I'm retired, and sold the business, I no longer need to say anything to anybody!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Merry Christmas for me

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Growing up back when all the holidays were celebrated separately and not so commercialized, seemed everyone would greet others they met around the holiday season with: Happy Thanksgiving, or Merry Christmas, or Happy New Year, around the respective holiday.

Eventually I learned that different religions and cultures celebrated a variety of different religious holidays based on their religious beliefs, while other cultures didn't celebrate these Christian holidays at all.

Since the overwhelming commercialization of the holidays, especially Christmas, and there are so many religious and non religious cultures, the simplest of greetings I use is Happy Holidays to cover all the holidays at one time. As I for one don't ask people in passing what their beliefs or non beliefs are.

I started saying Happy Holidays long before the phase became a geopolitical, anti cultural phase starting around Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving it's Merry Christmas and Happy New Year followed by just Happy New Year till January 2nd....that's about when I start to regain some cognitive coherence.

Probably a question I may regret asking, but I'll ask anyways:

What do you say to people during the holiday season?

I still say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If someone chooses to be offended by Christian good wishes I cannot help them. If someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah or even a Happy Ramadan I will return it with a, "Same to you!"
It seems that the only people that manage to be offended by "Merry Christmas" are devoted Atheists, and I really don"t care!

 

[sgt_zim]

Though I am Orthodox, I cannot fault Ayn Rand's atheistic take on Christmas.

The charming aspect of Christmas is the fact that it expresses good will in a cheerful, happy, benevolent, non-sacrificial way. One says: ‘Merry Christmas’ — not ‘Weep and Repent.’ And the good will is expressed in a material, earthly form — by giving presents to one’s friends, or by sending them cards in token remembrance. . . .

 

[sgt_zim]

I still say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If someone chooses to be offended by Christian good wishes I cannot help them. If someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah or even a Happy Ramadan I will return it with a, "Same to you!"
It seems that the only people that manage to be offended by "Merry Christmas" are devoted Atheists, and I really don"t care!

Only some of them, as I indicated in my response just above this one.

 

[BnC 04]

For us it always has been, and always will be Merry Christmas.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Only some of them, as I indicated in my response just above this one.

No, not all Atheists will choose to be offended by "Merry Christmas!" But some people will seek out and find a reason to.be offended by almost anything. It is a choice, and I will not play the game with them. They can choose to be offended, and I can choose not to care.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Happy Thanksgiving or
Feliz Acta de Gracias
Happy Christmas or
Feliz Navidad
Happy New Year or
Feliz Año Nuevo

That is what we say and we are not changing.

Happy Christmas and safe hunting!