[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[Sheryll Townsend]

I'm not going to quote anyone here, I think most
people reading have followed the thread. 

I work in retail and wish customers Merry Christmas
quite liberally. I had a regular customer come in
yesterday with her daughter. I'd been asking a number
of the children who came in to the store in the
afternoon if they'd received nice gifts from Santa.
For no particular reason, I didn't ask this little
girl. I asked her mother if they celebrated Christmas.
They do not. When asked, she informed me that they
didn't celebrate any other holidays either, though
they did take note of New Year's Day as a time to
recognise the possibility of make new changes in their
lives. She also thanked me for asking before
addressing any Christmas related questions or wishes
to her daughter. Apparently I am the first person to
do so. 

Her daughter is about 5 and very well spoken. She as
recently taken to starting great conversations with me
when they're in the store. She asked yesterday why I
celebrate Christmas. I simply told her that my
religion chooses this day to celebrate the birth of
Jesus. Her mother thanked me for a short,
uncomplicated response that the daughter could
understand. Her daughter, of course, had more to say
and ask. I have to say, it was quite interesting to be
informed by a 5 year old that she didn't celebrate
Christmas because it was "wrong". Her mother was
horrified that she said that to me, but I couldn't
possibly have been offended. 

I had a number of customers who are definitely not
Christian wish me a Merry Christmas. I thanked them
and wished them the same. Aside from my wearing of
Christmas socks, there is no indication to my
customers of whether or not I celebrate Christmas. And
my socks are definitely not visible from their side of
the cash. 

One thing I find quite interesting is the assumption
by customers that everyone working on Christmas is a
person who celebrates Christmas. I wonder why people
never seem to think that those working might be the
staff who *don't* celebrate Christmas?

Sheryll, crossing my fingers that the boss arrives
home from her holidays on time and saves me from
covering even part of her Boxing Day shift this
evening 

Join the fun at Convention Alley 2008



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