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In reply to the discussion: What is wrong with saying "Happy holidays?" [View all]renate
(13,776 posts)72. Last year I was dropping off some stuff at the homeless shelter
Where all the volunteers are, I think it's safe to assume, unusually good people.
As I was leaving, I wished a guy decorating the front door "Happy holidays!" and he fairly assertively (assertively enough that I remember it a year later) replied "Merry Christmas!"
Okay, fine, so he celebrates Christmas. Now I know. But how does he know I do? Perhaps not everybody saying "Happy holidays" is playing it safe or being sensitive or politically correct. Maybe the person saying it doesn't celebrate Christmas themselves.
(As it happens, I do celebrate Christmas. But I was kind of disappointed to be thinking of Bill O'Reilly and the OMG War on Christmas at what should have been a friendly moment.)
It's a polite greeting both coming and going.
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I've noticed more and more people aren't saying anything. And I find that sad. n/t
RKP5637
Dec 2012
#2
You noticed that I have not wished anyone anything. But that does not keep me from thinking what
jwirr
Dec 2012
#3
Anymore I'm inclined to think no matter what I do or say, about 50% of the world is going
RKP5637
Dec 2012
#13
I'm expecting someone to claim that "merry Christmas" is an attack on Christmas soon. (nt)
Posteritatis
Dec 2012
#35
I live in a rather affluent and religious area and one would think the people would
RKP5637
Dec 2012
#66
When I was young Happy Holidays was introduced as a way to be inclusive to Jews.
denverbill
Dec 2012
#11
I think that is the most considerate holiday greeting at this time of the year.
TheDebbieDee
Dec 2012
#27
Nothing. That's been said for decades. To me, it represented rolling Christmas and New Year's Eve
Honeycombe8
Dec 2012
#12
That's been my experience too. It's only the fundamentalists in every religion who get huffy.
yardwork
Dec 2012
#33
Although there are those among us on DU who get offended if someone says Merry Christmas
Bake
Dec 2012
#45
I too live in a heavily Jewish neighborhood. I think, as a Gentile, it would be highly
CTyankee
Dec 2012
#38
If I know someone is christian I say merry christmas, no problem. If I don't know, I say
CTyankee
Dec 2012
#61
Nothing. Christmas isn't the only holiday going on during the "holiday season".
baldguy
Dec 2012
#75