Merry Christmas ?

[Corey Bryant]

Just curious - how many of y'all actually say this? I had someone say it to me on a forum & it just struck me as weird - even though hearing it all the time growing up in Texas.

I sure you have heard of another group in California starting: http://www.savemerrychristmas.org/

And if you do not say it - any reason, like not to offend, etc? And what do you say - Season Greetings, Happy Holidays?

Personally, just because of the great mix of clients, I usually do not say anything unless that say something first.

[Jamie]

Merry Christmas is the most widely used xmas phrase in England, or at least I would guess it is.

I will try and keep quiet about a lot of things but here goes anyway... stuff em! Stuff been politically correct just for one moment. It really is getting pathetic in my opinion the way everyone, everywhere has to be politically correct.

There was something on the news this morning about how only 7 out of 10 schools in England/Wales are performing a nativity play this year, 3 out of 10 are performing xmas carols and somewhere around 54% of schools are performing something to celebrate that is not directly linked to xmas and/or the Christian faith. All in the name of been politically correct.

[the_pm]

I don't think you necessarily have to celebrate a holiday to have an appreciation for it. If I said "Shalom" to someone instead of hello, I would hope they'd appreciate the greeting and not take offense that I didn't say it in English :)

:santa: :love: :mot:

[Alex]

Saying Merry Christmas to someone is wishing them good things. It doesn't matter what religion you are. It does no harm.

Merry Christmas everyone :D :santa: !!!

[Jamie]

I have just remembered something...
Back in the days of my primary (first for you Americans) school days, during the period of Eid, the Muslim equivalent of Xmas, we had a celebration whether you were white or any other race, everybody would bring in traditional Asian/Indian food and we had a great bash! Obviously, we were too young to think about all these political issues, but the parents were never bothered.

The same happened at Xmas but vice versa. Again, the Asian or other race parents were happy for the children to have a celebration.

[websterworld]

There was something on the news this morning about how only 7 out of 10 schools in England/Wales are performing a nativity play this year, 3 out of 10 are performing xmas carols and somewhere around 54% of schools are performing something to celebrate that is not directly linked to xmas and/or the Christian faith. All in the name of been politically correct.

I dont know Jamie, I do understand where your coming from, but I dont know.

I'm Jewish, meaning that my mother (and father, but its determined by the father) is Jewish. I was born Jewish and thats were it ends, I dont believe in god.

Now, if as a kid you would have taken me to a Christian school and made me sing Christmas carols I would feel out of place and just uncomfortable.

I spent year in the states and had to go to a school that was filled with religious Jews. Personally I think they are terrible hypocrites (they prey and prey to go BACK to Israel, but now that theres actually an Israel they dont go back but keep on praying. Right...), but thats besides the point.

Well heres the thing, I was made to pray along side with them. That is, until I protested and basically shattered their beliefs with my arguments leaving them really angry and mostly speechless. I wasn't a pushover as a child.

I was very uncomfortable then too.

My point is, not everybody beliefs in god, and not everybody who believe in god is Christian. So feel free to celebrate all you want, but doing it in a school (unless its an all Christian school, I dont know) is not very right.

Political correctness aside.

[Jamie]

Valid points and I am glad you churped in Webster as it is always nice to see the point of view from the other side.

I am actually not a true Christien myself in the form that I was never baptised, I can't say whether I believe in God or not, I have never really decided, all I can say is that I do not pray apart from the times when I attend church as part of a Scout service.

I do not see Xmas as a religious celebration, I know full well that it is and many do see it as a religious occasion, but, because of my uncertain faith, it is a celebration of good will and a way to pay friends and family back for the previous year in the form of gifts.

I do see where you are coming from, no doubt about that.

When we celebrated Eid with the food etc I never fealt uncomfortable. Maybe this was because I was happy to eat and I was not a true Christian.

I should say... all the points are just my oppinion based on my background and experiences. ;)

[Jamie]

Just out of interest Webster, what would you, as a Jew, prefer people to say when it is out to a wide audience such as a forum when the Xmas season comes around.

Obviously it needs to be something that is open in terms of the celebration been appreciated, so what is your preference that you deem not to cause offence or to not be uncomfortable to you?

[websterworld]

Oh, I dont mind merry Christmas or happy holidays. The "god bless" you's annoy me a little. It has nothing to do with being a Jew or not, just me as a person.

[daniel]

its all about politics -

some work places have band xmas cards and trees becasue its a symbol of christians and can upset other religions.

Some street lights have been re named festive lights instead of christmas lights.

As jamie said alot of schools wont be playing carols or having a play because its christian based.

Our college gave all the muslims a day off when it was there religious day (cant remember its name or spelling so i wont post it just in case it offends someone) But then there were some people complaining because they got an extra days holiday and demanded that the people who had off should work through christmas.

Now were a just getting stupid, what is the point in banning eveything just because its not politicly correct?

[sonicgroup]

I think we're confusing the issue that was originally brought up with the discussion of holiday plays. get-togethers, and what-not in schools.

I am of the opinion that whether you say Merry Christmas (or Happy Christmas for those wacky Brits ;) ) or Happy Hanukkah or whatever, I doubt you are going to truly offend someone. The sentiment is what is important here, and whatever you say, the sentiment is the same.

I know many people that use Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings in order to not take the chance that they might offend someone, but if someone is going to get offended by you wishing them well during the holidays (whether or not it's the 'correct' religious context), that person needs to relax and accept that without asking that person is not going to know what is correct for you, and they should accept the fact that they are wishing them well.

[the_pm]

Do you guys know there's pretty much one story that explains Jewish holidays, right?

Someone tried to kill us. We won. Let's eat.

Actually, Webster brings up a good point, a striking difference between Judaism and Christianity/Catholicism. Being Jewish is as much a cultural phenomenon as it is religious. Judaism can be described in various religious contexts, and it can be described in sociological ways as well.

There's this one gentleman who comes to teach every so often, giving classes on public speaking, Jack Solomon. Jack is a very religious Baptist from Atlanta, who converted 35 years ago from Judaism. If you talk to him about it, he'll tell you how offput his experience growing up being Jewish was. He grew up on Long Island, and God and religion felt superficial to him the way they practiced the faith. He had some very hard times in life, and when he finally found religion again, he found he truly was saved, not in the biblical sense, but in the human sense.

The point to all this is that Jack will tell you that to this day he is Jewish to the core. He never stopped being Jewish and he'll be Jewish until the day he dies. But he expresses his faith in God as a Baptist.

So there really is a distinction between the two, and naturally the two can and usually do coexist. I'm far from religious. I'm marrying a Catholic woman. I was raised Jewish, Bar Mitzvah and all. My mom is Catholic, so it's not that much of a stretch (she loved going to temple, by the way). I will never, ever stop being Jewish regardless of what way I choose to celebrate or not celebrate God, because it's simply not something you stop being.

[Corey Bryant]

Thanks for all the input. Really interesting analogies. On a personal level, I was raised Methodist, but that was about it. I went to a really "Southern Baptist" church when I was in the military. And then in Los Angeles, I have attended the Kabbalah centre. (Just to give you some background on myself :) )

I did not know if it was just me or what. I always try to be a nice guy, but trying to be politcally correct is just not something that I usually do. I speak my mind & usually try to repsect other people's views / beliefs. And I know that it is our beliefs that dictate most of what we do in our lives.

So since it seems I won't offend anyone here - Merry Christmas!

[Jamie]

You too Corey and everybody else! Quite a nice debate we had/have there, I always admire how everybody has different views all of which are valid, :D

[Tjobbe]

Seasons Greetings Everyone!

[Christina]

Hm.. I don't care..I'm Chinese! We celebrate Christmas not for the religious aspect of it but because of the symbolism it brings every year that we've grown accustomed to. Family, friends, sharing, and giving. From what I've seen...the good part of my culture (minus those bad FOB/FOP apples) respect others beliefs and what not. My husband is Catholic, I've been to church. It's rather boring and nothing really holds any water when I'm listening to the preaching and what not. I'd rather go to a gospel church! I was brought up with the choice to choose whatever to believe in. I love words of wisdom and have my own morals based upon lifes experiences and judgement. My great grandmother was a buddhist and only passed along the ideals of that religion upon my mother and aunties but never forced it upon them to practice it. I have friends who celebrate Kwanzaa and other holidays. I love to experience new things other cultures have to bring. Some things I may not agree with but I do respect it. When someone at the checkout says have a merry christmas, I usually reply with a thank you and you have a merry christmas as well. Some people don't even get to have any type of "christmas" so why take it for granted? For those who gloat about this holiday, then they should work christmas eve and day....not taking the "holiday" off like others!!! Hmm......