Happy and Merry HOLIDAYS?

[viioletsarentblue]

What a load of pretentious, 'trying too hard not to offend anyone' bollocks of an ad.

In the words of Slade:

''It's CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!''

[PeterLovesHisKids]

Merry holidays sounds even better....like booze is being wished for us

[PeterLovesHisKids]

If someone wishes me happy holidays I just take it with the kindness its meant. Surely someone wishing you happy ANYTHING is nice?

[JassyRadlett]

but wishing someone a Merry Holiday sounds bizarre and all kinds of crazy.

Which is probably why H&M decided it would be attention grabbing.

[theycallmemellojello]

It's an American thing. It's considered quite aggressive to say Happy Christmas instead if Happy Holidays in NYC (where I used to live). It's because Christmas is still more of a religious holiday there and less of the massive deal that it is here. So saying happy Christmas in the US is exclusionary because not everyone participates. Whereas here in my experience pretty much everyone gets involved to a greater or lesser extent, so saying happy Christmas is less exclusionary. It's just a cultural difference, nothing to get mad about.

[viioletsarentblue]

What the actual fuck is going on now?
Merry holidays?

Happy Holidays I can at a push get my head around

but wishing someone a Merry Holiday sounds bizarre and all kinds of crazy.

[JassyRadlett]

Plus, it's promoting a new KP single called 'Every day is a holiday'. And seems to be shown in the US and Canada too.

But don't let that get in the way of some enjoyable outrage.

[coffeeslave]

I'm always amused at people complaining that "Happy holidays" is a new thing, when Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1942

Anyway, as everyone say,s December features LOTS of holidays (Christmas, Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa to name some) so it's just easier for people to say "Happy holidays" if you don't know which holiday(s) the person you're talking to celebrates

[toffeeboffin]

ROFLMAO at Happy Winter a la Jon Snow.

[toffeeboffin]

What the actual fuck is going on now?

Merry holidays? I'm appalled, I tell you.

It's Merry bloody Christmas everyone!

[KondosSecretJunkRoom]

But the only people who are offended here are the foot stamping but-it's-Cristmas types?!?

It seems a bit disingenuous to make out like everyone else has a problem.

[JassyRadlett]

Ones, not one's. DYAC.

[JassyRadlett]

Besides, H&M have nearly twice as many stores in the US as in the UK, plus some Canadian one's. Anyone know if the ad is being shown there.

I was shocked at how they tried to avoid Christmas-related imagery in the ad.

[JassyRadlett]

Oops!

I thought it was Happy and Merry to link in with H & M. Not that I enjoyed it! Rather annoying.

Just watched it. Does anyone honestly not think this is the reason for the Happy and Merry thing?

[Raxacoricofallapatorius]

You do not have to say happy holidays if for you it is a happy christmas but you are slightly missing the point with your "but it IS christmas protestations". Yes, it is Christmas. For you.

My friend is celebrating Hanukkah, I celebrate Yule and dd has a good friend who is plymouth brethren but wishes her friends a happy holiday.

Christmas is a fairly young occasion and there were celebrations way before the christians hijacked the date. My Dad is a devout Orthodox Christian and does not celebrate on the 25th December either.

Nowt wrong with a cheery happy Christmas if that is right for you but sometimes a happy holidays is right for other people.

[JassyRadlett]

^I thought it was Happy and Merry to link in with H & M. Not that I enjoyed it! Rather annoying.

[JassyRadlett]

Eh, I can't get worked up about this.
It's a retailer trying to appeal to the broadest possible customer base. Not that surprising, is it?

How does 'holidays' hurt, exactly? And how do you make the leap from 'holidays' to 'they're trying not to offend'?

I don't think 'Christmas ' really offends anyone. 'Holidays' includes more people, which is both a nice sentiment if it floats your boat, and probably a good way to increase your revenue if you're a business.

[viioletsarentblue]

I don't see the problem of saying 'happy holidays' if you're unsure which of these holidays the person you're speaking to celebrates

Okay, but it's still trying too hard to not offend.

If somebody said Merry Christmas to me and I didn't celebrate Christmas, it wouldn't bother me one little bit, as I suspect it wouldn't offend^ most people)
There are too many people choosing to be offended on behalf of others. It's strange.

[murmuration]

Sorry, can't watch the video, but I don't see the problem. There's lots of holidays this time of year. I don't see the problem of saying 'happy holidays' if you're unsure which of these holidays the person you're speaking to celebrates. Or if the only holiday they celebrate is some time off work :)

[ExasperatedAlmostAlways]

My dd who is six came out of school today and said the teachers told them one of the boys religion means he doesn't celebrate Xmas so they have to give him a card but not one that says merry Xmas but happy winter. I think we will see if we can get a happy holidays.

[BikeRunSki]

Not forgetting Thanksgiving and the solstice.

[TudorTrace]

I agree with you OP.

The whole video comes across as very 'let's tip toe around everyone so we don't cause offence, even though for most people this time of year is indeed solely about Christmas, especially the target audience' that's if I read it correctly and it is indeed a H&M ad

I'd say happy Hanukah to my Jewish cousins, the same way they would just say Merry Christmas to me. Happy holidays is more universal but it is one of those things that's to versatile for the British public, sorry.

[viioletsarentblue]

Yanbu it's Christmas ffs!

That would make a great MN Christmas Single.

[viioletsarentblue]

Yes, I would say Happy Hanukkah to someone.
I wouldn't say Happy Holiday to them.
It's Hanukka.

I know what I mean I think

[Jw35]

Yanbu it's Christmas ffs!

[viioletsarentblue]

It's Merry Christmas and I have no intention of ever writing Merry Holiday in a card or on a present.

Now, I'm off to hang up my Holiday Christmas Decorations and put up my Holiday Christmas Tree, whilst eating a piece of Holiday Christmas Cake.


And I'll have a couple of these as well