To prefer Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays!

[kittya]

Its too American isnt it? Its just something my friend told me about her workplace, that they arent allowed to send Happy Christmas cards to clients anymore but, Happy Holidays.

Maybe I just need to move with the times

[Kbear]

Nope, not having that - happy holidays are jetting off to Florida! It's Christmas and it's Merry, and so it shall remain.

Ho Ho Ho

[kittya]

So glad you agree I felt like an old fuddy duddy tutting about it today!

[onceamai]

If a Christmas card might offend a client because of the religious message, perhaps it shouldn't be sent in the first place because First and foremost Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Happy Holidays just seems to assume that everyone has a break at christmas time. Hope they don't send the cards to any doctors, nurses, firefighters, policemen, ambulance crew, hotel staff, etc.

[MsKLo]

Its lovely that all people celebrate Xmas but I hate the fact that the true meaning of Christmas I being lost/phased out

[swanandduck]

It's ridiculous. It would be like insisting that Jews or Buddhists refer to all their feasts and festivals as 'holidays' so as not to offend. We are in danger of turning into a very bland monotone society.

[nightmarebeforechristmas]

yanbu
but as long as someone speaks to e most of the time I don't care

[A1980]

I hate the expression "Happy Holidays" it's a vulgar Americanism.

Merry Christmas

[JoBettany]

What is the true meaning of Christmas though?

[JoBettany]

And what's wrong with something being from America?!

[claig]

YANBU. It's the old political correctness gorn mad again.

[Alambil]

does that mean Eid Mubarak should be replaced with happy holidays too? because it may offend some....

[claig]

no that will never happen, it is only meant for Christmas.

[claig]

or soon to be Winterval instead of Christmas

[cloudydays]

Well, if it is an Americanism, then it has nothing to do with an assumption that everyone has time off over Christmas. That's not what "Holidays" means in America! That's called "Vacation".

To an American, "Holidays" means special celebratory days, like Christmas, or Hannukah, or Kwanzaa or New Year's Day or whatever.

I celebrate Christmas and I like "Merry Christmas", but I have no problem with "Happy Holidays" as a means of being culturally sensitive in a multicultural society.

I think because of the holidays/vacation thing, it's just a phrase that doesn't travel well to this side of the Atlantic.

[TottWriter]

I prefer Season's Greetings. I have friends who are pagan and celebrated Yule yesterday. This time of year people don't just celebrate one religious festival.

Frankly, yes, "Happy Holidays" is twee and unpleasant in that sterotypical American way, but there's no reason to assume that everyone you send a card to is celebrating Christmas. Plenty of people have festivals in the winter months as historically it was a way to break up the monotony of winter.

Not that I have an issue with getting Christmas cards; I don't. But there's no reason why you should only send cards which say "Merry Christmas". If one company wishes to make the same decision, then it's up to them. It's not political crrectness "gone mad", it's the decision of the individual who organised the Christmas card rule.

[claig]

Didn't they used to say Merry Christmas in the States. Didn't Bing Crosby sing about Merry Christmas? Why did they change to 'Happy Holidays' instead?

[TottWriter]

Also, Winterval

Just so we're singing from the same songsheet

[onceamai]

Cloudy days - surely in a multicultural society if anyone wants to be sensitive they simply don't send a Christmas card which is a "holiday" that celebrates a religious festival for Christian based religions.

[JoBettany]

Surely Americans use a variety of ways to send good wishes over Christmas. It's not like it's 'Happy Holidays' and nothing else!

[PerEggnogAdNauseum]

Bollocks. I refuse to believe anyone's workplace in the country has put this one out. This is just more of the Daily Mail style hysteria and just plain making things up. Show me where it's actually happened - give me evidence - until then I say Bollocks.

[OTTMummA]

I think some people just think too much and are offended too easily tbh.

Merry Christmas one and all

[PerEggnogAdNauseum]

IT'S NOT TRUE! IT NEVER IS!

Happy Christmas everyone

[onceamai]

Peregg, I worked somewhere in the 1990's where the CEO insisted on a religious card because it was a religious festival and the Marketing Director went out and bought her own with "season's greetings" on because she felt a religious card was unacceptable to send to clients who might be non believers or from other religions. The CEO refused to sign her expense claim and she was furious. She was a bit daft though (IMO).

[JoBettany]

Happy Holidays!