What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[dumbledore11214]

Magpie:
That's odd. To me, at least. To me it's always been the other way
around. I've never lived in a part of the US where I assumed everyone
celebrated Christmas, so it was more natural to wish the correct
holiday to the correct person. Like at the Jewish New Year I wish
Jews Happy New Year, not the other way around. If one makes a mistake
about the holiday somebody celebrates it's not a big deal, but the
goal would naturally be to just wish somebody the holiday they're
celebrating. <SNIP>

Alla:

Thank you, glad to know that I am not that unique in doing this, 
heheh.

Magpie:
Sadly, we just had a local incident where people got on a train
yellng "Merry Christmas" and when they were answered with "Happy
Hannukah" they attacked! <SNIP>

Alla:

I KNOW. That was so horrible. How dare those guys were to wish Happy 
Chanukah indeed. Sigh.

And I was soooo pleased that Arabic guy interfered to protect them. 
Things like that make me feel warm and fuzzy truly.

Magpie:
Happy holidays is a great, handy way to greet somebody if you don't
know, imo. Though it far pre-dates the whole argument about it. It
used to mean Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's--and still does as
far as I know. Which is why I find it bizarre when people talk about
it as being part of a "war" on Christmas, as if not being greeted
with your specific holiday is some sort of insult to your holiday
(unless you're a non-Christmas celebrator, in which case being
greeted with somebody else's holiday should be just fine!).


Alla:

Oh oh I did not even know that it used to mean this. I guess I am 
again just saying me too. Great post !

bboyminn:

Yes, in the context you have established, but that assumes I
know what holiday you are celebrating, and I don't. So, I
express the holiday I am celebrating, and expect you to
respond in kind. That is, to respond with the holiday
appropriate to you.


Alla:

But the context that Magpie established is the ONLY context I 
personally was talking about. The context where you KNOW what 
holiday I am celebrating, know and continue to wish me happiness for 
the one I do not. That is odd to me indeed.

As I also said if stranger wishes me Merry Christmas, he will get a 
smile and thank you from me and also same to you or something like 
that.

The close friend doing it may get a different reaction though. If 
you want to share your joy with me, by all means do, but show me 
that you know what I am celebrating as well. At least wish me Merry 
Christmas and happy new year as far as I am concerned.


Bboyminn:
<SNIP>
I do understand the context you are using, if I can paraphrase
it, it is like going to your birthday party and expecting you
to wish me 'happy birthday'. I agree that makes no sense.
<SNIP>

Alla:

Precisely, very good analogy.

Bboyminn:
But I do think it makes sense at Christmas.
<SNIP>

Alla:

Why? How is it different?

Bboyminn:
I am not against a variety and range of seasons greetings,
but I am put off by the politically correct idea that
Christmas must be secularized. That 'Christ' must be stripped
from Christmas to avoid offending anyone. Typically, the
people who the politically correct are afraid of offending
are not offended at all, so it is to no real purpose. It
is simply the politically correct placating their own
conscience.

Alla:

I do not remember myself talking about wishing for Christmas being 
secularized. I do remember myself wishing that people who know me 
give me well wishes for the holiday I do celebrate.
And how is making sure that I wish person the holiday she loves and 
celebrates is politically correct? What conscience I am placating I 
wonder except trying to learn more about people I love?

My sister in law sometimes celebrates Christmas as in having dinner. 
She is not practicing Christian either, not even her parents, only 
her grandparents are. Never once it entered her mind to wish me 
Merry Christmas or Happy Easter, which she celebrates as the holiday 
also mostly secular, just something she used to celebrate as kid.

She wishes me New year on December 31, she wishes me Happy Rosh 
Hashanah, Happy Chanukah, etc. Her parents call to wish me and my 
mom well on those holidays. They never called to wish me merry 
Christmas either. I do not think that this practice is so bizarre. 
Friends and family are supposed to know what their loved ones are 
all about IMO.

Happy holidays to all.

Alla.