Ann Hayden's Real Estate Blog

Merry Christmas to you too! I say it as often as I can. I can't see what the big deal is. If I wish you a Merry Christmas and you say Happy Hanuka.. I still feel as though some one was in the holiday spirit.-Dinah Lee

It does seem exactly wrong that such a well intentioned greeting can actually offend people.  I say my thing and you say yours, and we all enjoy each other's celebrations even if we do not personally participate in all flavors. We can still respect each others individuality and maintain our own. There is a false hyper sensitivity sometimes that gets perpetuated by media.

I think this issue has been blown way out of proportion.  I encounter folks saying Merry Christmas all the time.  But then again, I think that the overall vast majority of folks in my area are some sort of Christian: lots of Catholics, many other independents and other mainstream denominations.  We have a smaller segment of Jewish people and I honestly don't know ANY that are Muslim or who celebrate only Kwaanza.  You will see nativity scenes, you will hear Merry Christmas on radio ads and TV ads.

I personally don't understand why people get bent out of shape over the use of "Happy Holidays" either.  For decades Happy Holidays was an acceptable salutation during this time of year; someone's got a bee in their bonnet and tries to heathenize the phrase.

I find ALL the hullabaloo over Christmas amusing because it's not a Biblical holiday (we are not instructed or commanded at all to observe the birth of Christ and we really don't even know the actual date ANYWAY).  There is a large segment of the Christian community that refuses to celebrate Christmas anyway because it's mostly a hodge podge of pagan traditions that have been Christianized.  The Puritans refused to celebrate it; many modern 7th Day Adventists and other indepentents today do not celebrate it.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, God Bless you - they all mean the same thing:  "I wish good things for you."

I agree, I now have to think before I say Merry Christmas.....so I go with the generic Happy Holidays....

Ann,

For me it is Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays. The politically correct police don't ever want one person offended so they go for the generic holiday greeting. How anybody can be offended by hearing Merry Christmas is beyond my understanding.

Rich

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I don't understand it either.  I have resolved myself to saying it.  If someone wants to say to me Happy Hannukah I will not be offended since I don't celebrate Hanukkah just like they shouldn't be offended by Merry CHristmas?!!??  KM

Ann:

Merry Christmas isn't wrong. Political Correctness and media hype, with a good dose of oversensitivity, is what's wrong with some people these days.

I think the "sayer" of a phrase should say what's comfortable to them. If the sentiments are genuine and positive, then the "hearer" can simply say, "Thank you," even if they don't celebrate that particular event. Some people act like saying "Merry Christmas" is some kind of "curse" thrown at someone else. It's just sad.

But then again, we live in a "don't rock the boat, hug the schoolyard bully, even the losers get a tournament trophy" world where all is sanitized and no offense is tolerated because tolerance is intolerated. Alas...

Happy Holidays! (grin!!!)

- Matthew

I have a client who was fired from Coldstone Creamery because she refused to say Happy Holidays.  She told them it is who I am.  They fired her.  I haven't went into a Colstones since and I won't ever again.

Hey Miss Ann, I watched my favorite movie, It's A Wonderful Life a couple of days before Christmas.  I love that one as much as you do.   In the traveling dance group my girls and I are in, we do 16-18 shows between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We travel to nursing homes, alzheimers centers and elder care facilities.  The director of the group of 25 years is very old fashioned and she absolutely refuses to budge on this one....every year the girls sing We Wish You A Merry Christmas.  She doesn't care if someone is offended.  She said that if they don't want to hear it, they don't have to listen.

Dinah,

Merry Christmas to you too!  I hope you have a Happy New Year too!!

Ann

Maggie,

I agree with you.  I do not get offended when someone says good morning even if I am having a particularly bad morning....;-)

Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas,

Ann

Karen,

I wish good things for you too!  Thank you for your comment.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Ann

Konnie,

I cannot remember to say Happy Holidays...It is Merry Christmas or Happy New Year.  I am getting old and set in my ways, I guess.

Merry Christmas,

Ann

Rich,

I agree with you.  I am dumbfounded when someone gets mad about Merry Christmas.  It is the way I was brought up....I can blame my mother??

Merry Christmas,

Ann

I don't think most people see anything wrong with it at all. I think this has been exaggerated and hyped on TV. Some stores and other places have been so afraid they might offend someone, and then it becomes a news story. For most people it isn't a big deal at all.

Ann,

I agree.  Everytime I tell someone Happy Holidays I really mean Merry Christmas.  I should just start saying Merry Christmas instead.

Marilyn,

Thank you.

I hope good things happen in 2009!

Ann

Kristin,

I agree.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Ann

Matthew,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

Ann

Tami,

That is not even funny. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Ann

Sandy,

So true!  I love saying Merry Christmas.  It puts me in the spirit of the season.

Ann

Leslie,

It really should not be a big deal.  It is a sign you are in the spirit. 

Merry Christmas,

Ann

Kari,

Merry Christmas to you...  a quote from ??  "say what you mean and mean what you say"

Ann

Merry late Christmas to you Ann!

Glen,

Merry Christmas to you too!  I hope you had a good one.

Ann