What do we say to "Merry Christmas"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I truly do not understand why people get so upset about stuff like this -- my bet is the very same people who are upset about being wished a merry christmas are the same people who would be furious is someone said, "oh, you look _________ so you must not celebrate christmas..." i don't think you can have it both ways.

OP doesn't sound so upset. She said she is uncomfortable. Period. And it would be pretty strange for someone to say what you suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thank you. Happy holidays to you, too."

Yes.

Agree completely. It's the polite thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, just say thank you and move on. I've had people tell me Happy Hanukkah and it doesn't bother me. I tell them Merry Christmas back and smile. Everyone is different - learn to deal with it. I HATE all this BS. You're probably one of the parents that has gotten anything red and green banned from my child's classroom, too.

Really? You've had random people come up to you and wish you Happy Hanukkah? Was it at least a dozen times a day for 3 weeks? I'm thinking no. And if you tell them Merry Christmas back, why wouldn't you have suggested that OP say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever they might celebrate) in response. Or no, I guess it's only people who don't celebrate Christmas who should just be grateful someone spoke to them and silent about their own beliefs. It's pretty funny that you say "everyone's different - learn to deal with it" when you clearly have not. And I'm sure it's a horrible hardship comparable to war, starvation, and genocide for your child not to get to look at something red and green while he's in his public school classroom. Good grief indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote here for "thank you" or "To you too" or "Happy Holidays". The intent of the greeting almost always is to share the joy and excitement that the bestower feels about the season. How could that be bad? If someone asks me whether Santa is going to visit my son, I smile and say "We'll see". Maybe when he is older, I will need to change this response but really, does everyone need to know that we are Jewish and don't believe in Santa? I should hope not. To our neighbors and acquaintances, I do mention that we are Jewish and celebrate Hannukah instead but I don't feel like going into specifics with the mailman or the checker at Target. People mean well- I interpret it that way.

I'm also Jewish and I agree wholeheartedly. How hard is it to assume good intentions and be gracious? For us, "Thanks! Happy Holidays to you, too!" seems to do the trick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, just say thank you and move on. I've had people tell me Happy Hanukkah and it doesn't bother me. I tell them Merry Christmas back and smile. Everyone is different - learn to deal with it. I HATE all this BS. You're probably one of the parents that has gotten anything red and green banned from my child's classroom, too.

Really? You've had random people come up to you and wish you Happy Hanukkah? Was it at least a dozen times a day for 3 weeks? I'm thinking no. And if you tell them Merry Christmas back, why wouldn't you have suggested that OP say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever they might celebrate) in response. Or no, I guess it's only people who don't celebrate Christmas who should just be grateful someone spoke to them and silent about their own beliefs. It's pretty funny that you say "everyone's different - learn to deal with it" when you clearly have not. And I'm sure it's a horrible hardship comparable to war, starvation, and genocide for your child not to get to look at something red and green while he's in his public school classroom. Good grief indeed.

I am Jewish and may I suggest to all fellow non-Christians to please stop the grievance-mongering! I have no problem with people saying Merry Christmas to me as often as they want to. And yes, good grief--no one is suggesting that you remain "silent about [your] own beliefs." If you want to respond to someone's kind wishes by saying, "We don't celebrate Christmas," then by all means, go ahead. As for me, I will gladly accept any and all well-wishers.

[Anonymous]

My boss is Jewish and loves Christmas way more than any Christian in the office. It's so funny, he is the one to decorate the office for us and sings Christmas tunes doing it. He gives us both Jewish and Christian holidays off.

However at my mom's office, all Christmas imagery has been banned at the request of an offended Jewish lady. Everyone took down their Santas and miniature Xmas trees, but she still keeps her 6-pointed star hanging on her wall. I don't understand that one.

Love thy neighbor no matter what religion they are! Accept and celebrate the diversity in this country instead of being offended by it! And I am neither Christian nor Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Thank you. Happy holidays to you, too."

Yes.

Agree completely. It's the polite thing to do.

Yes again. And people who say Merry Christmas are truly trying to share their joy with you. So even if a person doesn't do Christmas, I think it's polite to say thanks in some manner, because that person is being nice. We have too little of "nice" on this planet these days.

When I'm in an Islamic country or among Muslim friends/relatives, and someone wishes me Eid Mubarak, I feel flattered and included in the festivities, even though I'm not Muslim.

[Anonymous]

OP's post suprised me, because I do celebrate Christmas and almost no one has said "Merry Christmas" to me lately. Lots of "happy holidays," not so much "merry Christmas." Eh. Whatever.

I think if someone says, "May the love of Jesus grow in your heart this Christmas" or something overtly religious/conversion-oriented, then it's worth a fuss. But just "merry Christmas" -- I'd agree with the majority here. "Thanks!" or "Happy holidays!" is a great response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, just say thank you and move on. I've had people tell me Happy Hanukkah and it doesn't bother me. I tell them Merry Christmas back and smile. Everyone is different - learn to deal with it. I HATE all this BS. You're probably one of the parents that has gotten anything red and green banned from my child's classroom, too.

Really? You've had random people come up to you and wish you Happy Hanukkah? Was it at least a dozen times a day for 3 weeks? I'm thinking no. And if you tell them Merry Christmas back, why wouldn't you have suggested that OP say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever they might celebrate) in response. Or no, I guess it's only people who don't celebrate Christmas who should just be grateful someone spoke to them and silent about their own beliefs. It's pretty funny that you say "everyone's different - learn to deal with it" when you clearly have not. And I'm sure it's a horrible hardship comparable to war, starvation, and genocide for your child not to get to look at something red and green while he's in his public school classroom. Good grief indeed.

You forgot to mention the hardships of coming up with good reading material for a gifted child.

[Anonymous]

OK, I was staying out of the fray and lurking on this thread until I read 14:31, aka Bitter Betty...I have had the experience of being wished a Happy *insert name of holiday I don't celebrate* by everyone around me three times a day for weeks at a time. I went to an orthodox jewish law school and I am catholic. In September and October the majority jewish student, teacher, staff population wished each other and me "Happy New Year" on a regular basis as the celebration of the High Holy Days came near. I responded, "Thank you! You too!" or "Happy New Year to you as well."

Oh and on Fridays when people wished me, "Good shabbat" or "Good shabbas" I said, "Thank you and good shabbat/s to you too."

It does not take a tremendous amount of brain power or forethought to be polite and courteous when someone is exchanging a pleasantry. People who want to take offense are always going to do so. If not about wishing their fellow Washingtonians well, then something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, just say thank you and move on. I've had people tell me Happy Hanukkah and it doesn't bother me. I tell them Merry Christmas back and smile. Everyone is different - learn to deal with it. I HATE all this BS. You're probably one of the parents that has gotten anything red and green banned from my child's classroom, too.

Really? You've had random people come up to you and wish you Happy Hanukkah? Was it at least a dozen times a day for 3 weeks? I'm thinking no. And if you tell them Merry Christmas back, why wouldn't you have suggested that OP say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever they might celebrate) in response. Or no, I guess it's only people who don't celebrate Christmas who should just be grateful someone spoke to them and silent about their own beliefs. It's pretty funny that you say "everyone's different - learn to deal with it" when you clearly have not. And I'm sure it's a horrible hardship comparable to war, starvation, and genocide for your child not to get to look at something red and green while he's in his public school classroom. Good grief indeed.

You forgot to mention the hardships of coming up with good reading material for a gifted child.

Okay, I realize that this poster (in bold) was trying to be funny/ironic/sarcastic/whatever, but honestly, enough already about being hostile and demeaning to the parents of the gifted. (I am being serious.) AAMOF, as has been discussed over and over on other threads (where, also, people who don't have this issue tend frequently to be bitter and horrible for some reason) it *is* very difficult to find good reading material for the gifted, for reasons discussed in the other threads. Do you honestly think anything is gained by being *again* rude, hostile, and just plain mean, and on a totally separate thread to boot?

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwaanzah, Joyous Festivus to all!

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish and grew up where there were very few Jews. For kids, I actually think this can be a difficult time of year if you don't celebrate Christmas, since it is such as big part of what everyone talks about school. As an adult, though, I don't care too much anymore. and just say happy holidays/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I was staying out of the fray and lurking on this thread until I read 14:31, aka Bitter Betty...I have had the experience of being wished a Happy *insert name of holiday I don't celebrate* by everyone around me three times a day for weeks at a time. I went to an orthodox jewish law school and I am catholic. In September and October the majority jewish student, teacher, staff population wished each other and me "Happy New Year" on a regular basis as the celebration of the High Holy Days came near. I responded, "Thank you! You too!" or "Happy New Year to you as well."

Oh and on Fridays when people wished me, "Good shabbat" or "Good shabbas" I said, "Thank you and good shabbat/s to you too."

It does not take a tremendous amount of brain power or forethought to be polite and courteous when someone is exchanging a pleasantry. People who want to take offense are always going to do so. If not about wishing their fellow Washingtonians well, then something else.

But you chose to go to an Orthodox law school so it seems like this would be expected.

I agree with the PP who noted that it's hard for kids who aren't Christian to be constantly bombarded by Christmas.

[Anonymous]

OP - Yes, it does stir up a lot. I grew up without Christmas (and didn't miss it), but married a man raised Catholic. So, we sorta do Christmas now. Every kid raised without Christmas in their house has to come to terms somehow with the fact that it is EVERYWHERE, and that many folks couldn't care less about the religious minorities around us.

In general, I say "Thank you, you too," or "thank you, enjoy your holiday." Most people are harmless and mean well. I don't feel the need to educate the small-minded at every turn, so I don't make a big deal of it even when the people addressing me don't mean well.

Your kids will say what they need to say to make peace with Christmas in their own way. Sometimes I instruct my son to just say "thank you, you too." because it is easier.

To the PP who said 90% of the population celebrates Christmas - clearly, your world is smaller than mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, just say thank you and move on. I've had people tell me Happy Hanukkah and it doesn't bother me. I tell them Merry Christmas back and smile. Everyone is different - learn to deal with it. I HATE all this BS. You're probably one of the parents that has gotten anything red and green banned from my child's classroom, too.

Really? You've had random people come up to you and wish you Happy Hanukkah? Was it at least a dozen times a day for 3 weeks? I'm thinking no. And if you tell them Merry Christmas back, why wouldn't you have suggested that OP say Happy Hanukkah (or whatever they might celebrate) in response. Or no, I guess it's only people who don't celebrate Christmas who should just be grateful someone spoke to them and silent about their own beliefs. It's pretty funny that you say "everyone's different - learn to deal with it" when you clearly have not. And I'm sure it's a horrible hardship comparable to war, starvation, and genocide for your child not to get to look at something red and green while he's in his public school classroom. Good grief indeed.

You forgot to mention the hardships of coming up with good reading material for a gifted child.

Okay, I realize that this poster (in bold) was trying to be funny/ironic/sarcastic/whatever, but honestly, enough already about being hostile and demeaning to the parents of the gifted. (I am being serious.) AAMOF, as has been discussed over and over on other threads (where, also, people who don't have this issue tend frequently to be bitter and horrible for some reason) it *is* very difficult to find good reading material for the gifted, for reasons discussed in the other threads. Do you honestly think anything is gained by being *again* rude, hostile, and just plain mean, and on a totally separate thread to boot?

I'm sure 14:31 understands the reference. (Oh, REEEEAAAAALLLLYYYYY??????) Talk about being rude, hostile, and just plain mean and on a totally separate thread to boot....It just goes to show that some people can be that way on just about any subject, from Little House on the Prairie to Merry Christmas. Er, I mean, Happy Holidays.