People can be fully aware of the origins of the celebration, and yet still be actually celebrating what the holiday has developed into.. I would guess that most folks in the DMV who celebrate Thanksgiving did not actually grown any crops this summer that they need to survive the winter on. They were celebrating what the holiday has become, not how it started.

By the same logic, Christians, then, need to accept that the holiday has become more than a celebration of the birth of Christ and has expanded into flavors of strictly religious, semi-religious and non-religious celebration, and not all people celebrate the holidays in the same way that a specific set of Christians think they should.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, Christmas isn't about Christ, it is about turning a pagan holiday into something agreeable to a fairly young and dogmatic religion that had to appease the common folk by allowing them to continue their traditions in a way that would not undercut said religion.

+1. Exactly.

Oh, the pagan posters. Not every Christian tradition came from the pagans. Evergreen trees were also used in Hebrew and Egyptian celebrations.

Christmas trees come from the Egyptians? My, I didn't know that!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel at every turn someone said "Happy Hanukkah" not caring or realizing you do not celebrate it? How would you feel about having to listen to non-stop Hanukkah music when you shop? How would you feel if people pretending to be friendly asked if your child enjoyed lighting the menorah and acting like your child is being rude for looking at them funny as they do not know what it is (my child has no clue who Santa is)?

Why not just say Happy Holidays and be respectful to all?

I do hear hannukka stuff a lot, and I do not mind at all.
The music in the stores is awful, maybe they think people buy more that way
No need to say happy hannukkah when it is already over. Hannukkah is not a consolation celebration for those who do not do Christmas, so no need to make a big deal of a minor jewish holiday

Not pp, but you don't get it. Not every child knows about Santa and Jesus, so it's a bit rude to go up to achild and ask him what he wants from Santa.

Really? Every year for the month of December (at least), Santa is everywhere. How do you manage to avoid it? Or does your kid have so little curiosity that they don't ask who the fatty in the red suit is? Or do you refuse to answer when they ask?

Anonymous wrote:How would you feel at every turn someone said "Happy Hanukkah" not caring or realizing you do not celebrate it? How would you feel about having to listen to non-stop Hanukkah music when you shop? How would you feel if people pretending to be friendly asked if your child enjoyed lighting the menorah and acting like your child is being rude for looking at them funny as they do not know what it is (my child has no clue who Santa is)?

Why not just say Happy Holidays and be respectful to all?

You know what -because of our last name people always assume we are Jewish. I reply "Happy Hanukkah" right back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, Christmas isn't about Christ, it is about turning a pagan holiday into something agreeable to a fairly young and dogmatic religion that had to appease the common folk by allowing them to continue their traditions in a way that would not undercut said religion.

+1. Exactly.

People on DCUM like to spout this pagan history as if is they are so cool and knowledgeable, and no Christian is aware of the origins of the celebration. Grow up. People can be fully aware of the origins of the celebration, and yet still be actually celebrating what the holiday has developed into.. I would guess that most folks in the DMV who celebrate Thanksgiving did not actually grown any crops this summer that they need to survive the winter on. They were celebrating what the holiday has become, not how it started.

Anonymous wrote:I'm just going to leave this here.
http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/holiday-greeting-flowchart.jpg

+1000 for getting it right.

I'm an atheist. When a Christian says, "I'm praying for you," I say "Thank you" because they are doing something meaningful to them on my behalf. Many of them know that I don't believe as they do, but that doesn't change the fact that they wish me well and are praying for my well being.

When someone says, "Merry Christmas," I say it back. If I'm pretty sure the person isn't Jewish, I'll say "Merry Christmas" to people spontaneously.

When I send out cards, they're usually in the "Happy Holidays" vein because I have friends of many different faiths (or lack thereof).

Similarly, if you're a Christian, and someone says "Happy Holidays," you can say, "Thank you, same to you."

Not everything has to be a battle of belief. We can just be nice to each other and recognize the sentiment behind the words.

Nice try, PP. But no one wishes Christians a happy Hanukkah or happy Kwanzaa.

[quote=Anonymous]How would you feel at every turn someone said "Happy Hanukkah" not caring or realizing you do not celebrate it? How would you feel about having to listen to non-stop Hanukkah music when you shop? How would you feel if people pretending to be friendly asked if your child enjoyed lighting the menorah and acting like your child is being rude for looking at them funny as they do not know what it is (my child has no clue who Santa is)?

Why not just say Happy Holidays and be respectful to all? [/quote]

NP here. As long as someone is expressing a nice sentiment to me, I don't really care if they say happy holidays/ happy Hanukkah/merry Christmas/happy Eid. I also like Hanukkah music, so I'm fine hearing that while I shop. Finally, if someone assumed I was Jewish and asked my kids about lighting the menorah, they would explain that we don't do that because we're not Jewish, no need for them to give someone a funny look.

If your child really has no clue who Santa is, I feel sorry for your child. Not for missing out on Santa, but, for being raised by insular parents who don't explain the basics about the customs of others.

I'm just going to leave this here.
http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/holiday-greeting-flowchart.jpg

You're actually offended by "Happy Holidays?" What about meaningless greetings like "hello," and "welcome?"

I'm not sure why anyone is upset by any of this. If someone wishes you well, be it holiday-specific, generic, or just a smile, isn't that a good thing?

Happy holidays isn't a new thing. Ever hear the oldie but goodie song by the same name? It's fine.

I am an atheist here and actually agree with OP. I am not at all offended by being wished "Happy Christmas", sending x-mas cards with manger scenes, or whatever else. Likewise "Happy Hanukkah" would not offend me.

"Happy Holidays", on the other hand, does offend me, because it is so anodyne and meaningless, devoid of any historical context or meaning. It is bullshit.

I'm confused. If you're wishing Christians a Merry Christmas, why are they getting upset? Has this happened to you before? It's never happened to me.

If on the other hand you are wishing Muslims and Jews and Hindus and atheists and secularists a Merry Christmas - why are you doing that? I mean, I don't go around wishing Christians happy Diwali or blessed Rosh Hashanah or a joyous Eid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, Christmas isn't about Christ, it is about turning a pagan holiday into something agreeable to a fairly young and dogmatic religion that had to appease the common folk by allowing them to continue their traditions in a way that would not undercut said religion.

+1. Exactly.

Oh, the pagan posters. Not every Christian tradition came from the pagans. Evergreen trees were also used in Hebrew and Egyptian celebrations.