Some people say there not being allowed to say Merry Christmas. But it's legal to say Merry Christmas all you want here, the US. Because we have the First Amendment. What isn't legal is to disrupt classes testifying about Jesus, like they did in a small southern town once. Or disrupting a courtroom saying Jesus, or Merry Christmas. Because that is contempt of court. They're trying to have a trial. Or saying "God bless you" if you are a telemarketer. Because one lady said it was. But her boss said that wasn't religious discrimination, she just wasn't allowed to do that. Other employees couldn't say hail Satan or Allahu Akbar, you know. But people should be allowed to do all of that damnit! They just shouldn't be allowed to use dildos ore have gay sex. Yeah.
Happy holidays is a load of BS. The fear of causing offence to others is so stupid. If I want to offend people, it's on me. If a person chooses to take offence they're too sensitive. That's on them. However, denying the celebration term, "Happy Christmas" and just genericising it, (it's not a holiday for those who don't celebrate it), dispenses with one "tribe's" culture. Nothing wrong with saying Happy Christmas. Nothing wrong with saying Happy DiwalI or saying Happy 'whatever' for someone else's celebration. It just simple respect of another's life and culture.
I think the expression is usually "Merry Christmas", "Happy New Year". But if anybody wishes me merry or happy anything, I'm happy and merry. It's the assholes who make a big deal about "holidays" versus "Christmas" that bug me. Christmas, of course, is a celebration of the birth of Jesus--an important event to us Christians. But of course it's also an important season for Jews. Hanukkah, the "Jewish Festival of Lights", begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, anywhere from late November to early December. Kwanza, an African-Amereican holiday, is observed from December 26 to January1. Ōmisoka, the Japanese New Year's Eve, is celebrated on Dec. 31. Buddhists celebrate Bodhi day, when the Buddha achieved enlightenment, on December 8. This is probably not coincidental, since it's close to the winter solstice, when people are feeling kind of depressed and in need of celebration to cheer them up. The Roman Festival of Saturnalia, honoring the god Saturn, was held from December 17-23. (those Roman knew ho to party!) That might explain why Islam has no winter holiday, since winters in those countries aren't as depressing, and Muslims are oriented toward a lunar instead of a solar calendar. Solar religions chose the solstice to celebrate the births of their preferred deities. The birth of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) was celebrated by the Romans on December 25, the date when the sun begins its ascent. Mithra was also thought to have been born on that day. Early Christians didn't know when Jesus was born, but settled on December 25, possibly to fit in, or pre-empt pagan holidays, and/or because it came nine months after the supposed Annunciation to Mary that she was pregnant (March 25). And of course there's "Festvus, for the rest of us." So it's understandable that savvy merchants, not wishing to offend anybody, might prefer the generic "Happy holidays". Or that progressives would decide that political correctness demanded it. Or that Christians accustomed to the traditions of a "Christian nation", and right-wing politicians looking for a wedge issue, would react with high dudgeon to any effort to share or dilute their special day. I like to wish people whatever they wish to be wished, and tend to be offended by anyone making a divisive issue out of a season of peace, joy and love. So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever turns you on. And don't forget to love thy neighbor!
Like I said, it's already illegal to coerce someone into not saying Merry Christmas. But it should be a felony to do that. Yes it should. And then we can talk about hate crimes. In Michigan where I live hate crimes against gay and LGBTQ people are not illegal. Make it a felony not to say Merry Christmas, and then make hate crimes against gays a felony too.
Who makes anybody say or not say anything? Only thing I know that should be illegal is causing a riot or disturbance where people or individuals get hurt or killed. In courtrooms, proper behavior is expected and enforced. Dildos? Gay sex? Nobodies business.
The issue is merry Christmas = I'm assuming you're a Christian and you celebrate Christmas Happy holidays = I'm going to refrain from making any judgments about your religion and holiday preferences and just acknowledge that there are all sorts of different holidays this time of year. The former is a judgement--something I thought Jesus was against. The latter is a greeting that can apply to anyone, regardless of religion. So why not make the default greeting something neutral that applies to everyone--Jews, Christians, pagans, non-beleivers, folks of the African diaspora, etc--instead of making the assumption everyone believes and celebrates what you do? I'll tell you why: arrogance.
If you work as a telemarketer, you say or don't say what your boss tells you. If the boss thinks "Merry Christmas" risks turning off customers, better not say it or risk being fired. Same with "Happy holidays"! Legality has nothing to do with it. And why are we talking about this a day before Palm Sunday? Is it lawful to say "Happy Easter" on the Sabbath (Jewish,that is)? Get a rock!
No, Princess, arrogance is shown when someone can't be arsed to learn about another's religion, to show respect for it, but instead, to sanitize the greeting into happy holidays or such like. I've experienced something about 5 times in the past month. It seems some Americans have a particular way of addressing situations around religion, politics and race/culture. Not saying they're wrong but, when in a different country, on vacation, or online, where people from different countries are in the same forum, it might be an idea not to think your way is the correct or best way. Different cultures have different sensibilities and in Europe there seems to be much more cultural awareness and we get along as well as with others from our own culture. Sanitisation is not good either for particular greetings or in relation to cultural history. Fwiw, the expression in my country or in our social groups is 'Seasons Greetings'. It conveys the sentiment respectfully, as it means 'greetings of *their* season/celebration', and not that of the person saying it. And it means we don't need to know their religion and they don't need to know ours.
