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!
