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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have never heard anyone ever object to someone wishing the a "Merry Christmas"?

234 replies

DrSeuss · 15/10/2017 16:34

Has anyone, ever, heard anyone of any faith or none object to this? Even Richard Dawkins says it! My Muslim friends wish me Merry Christmas, Mayim Bialik of Big Bang fame wishes her FB followers Merry Christmas despite being an Orthodox Jew!
Surely anyone with half a brain accepts that someone is offering you their good wishes and just returns them? Or, if someone says, "Well actually, I'm Jewish/Muslim/whatever and don't do Christmas.", surely you just say, "Sorry, I didn't realise, have a good holiday."

So why the big deal about the fact that we should/shouldn't say it?

It's just that well known American minority namely Evangelical Christians making a fuss about their "persecution", isn't it?

OP posts:
Nikephorus · 15/10/2017 19:30

I still think given name is better.
I'd assume that was my full name, after all that's what I was given. Technically-speaking you could also argue that "given name" was nickname as that was given to you (unless you chose it yourself).
One of my friends is Jewish & they get really shirty if colleagues give them Christmas cards. Confused

SentimentalLentil · 15/10/2017 19:36

moana could you wish them 'arse end of the year merriment to you'?

Moanyoldcow · 15/10/2017 19:52

I went to school in the 80s and 90s in a very diverse area. I had Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Christian friends. We all used to give each other Easter eggs, Christmas cards and presents and no one was ever offended.

I'm guessing they're all my age now doing the same wondering why people make a fuss about it.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 15/10/2017 19:58

moana could you wish them 'arse end of the year merriment to you'?

I quite like that.

I'm guessing they're all my age now doing the same wondering why people make a fuss about it

I don't make a fuss but equally I don't want to be complusorily opted into festivals and celebrations which mean nothing to me- do you what you like but leave me out of it.

Montacute · 15/10/2017 20:00

Besides Jehovah's Witnesses, there is actually a history of anti-Christmas celebrating in quite a few Protestant denominations.

When Oliver Cromwell was the big boss, he banned Christmas.

SenecaFalls · 15/10/2017 20:12

And Christmas was not a public holiday in Scotland until 1958.

StickThatInYourPipe · 15/10/2017 20:23

Defiantly nothing to do with Muslims in my experience! When I was at school one of my best friends was Muslim and her family used to go mad at Christmas and would get involved with the markets and the parties. Just as we all did with our friends celebrating Diwali or our group of 6 all fasting during the school day for moral support support tor the members of our 'gang' who followed Ramadan.

Everyone is too scared of offending anyone these days. Just say happy holidays if you are scared of offending but really, as long as your intent is good, Merry Christmas is fine!

WeAllHaveWings · 15/10/2017 20:23

I work frequently with our IT support in India and Philippines. Most emails and telephone conversations from them mention happy holidays or holiday season never Christmas.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 15/10/2017 20:27

I work frequently with our IT support in India and Philippines. Most emails and telephone conversations from them mention happy holidays or holiday season never Christmas

I can't see why anyone would object to that wording.

AngeloMysterioso · 15/10/2017 20:28

I went to sixth form college somewhere with a huge Muslim community and we weren't allowed to celebrate Christmas- we had to call it Winterfest. But when Eid came around there were Eid Mubarak banners all over the place!

carefreeeee · 15/10/2017 20:39

Muslims in our office wish everyone a happy Eid and bring in loads of food to celebrate. None of us have complained!

sashh · 15/10/2017 20:47

I'd prefer it wasn't said to me but as it is a nice thing to wish someone I don't object

I may adopt the 'Arse end of the year merriment to you' though.

ForalltheSaints · 15/10/2017 20:48

The only objection I have ever had is if it has been too early, such as in November.

OutComeTheWolves · 15/10/2017 20:59

Don't wish people happy Christmas.
Christmas has changed to winterval.
Don't sing baa baa black sheep in school.
Don't ask for a black coffee; ask for a coffee without milk.
You might offend the Muslims/black people/brown people etc etc.

I firmly believe that the people who come up with shit like this are trying to stir up racial tensions and small minded shits of the worst kind. Obviously I can't speak on behalf of all minorities right across the uk, but I have yet to meet a Muslim person or a black person who gives a shiny shit about the aforementioned issues. They're more concerned with you know the actual problems of racism still existing in 2017, intolerance and islamophobia.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 15/10/2017 21:05

Muslims in our office wish everyone a happy Eid and bring in loads of food to celebrate. None of us have complained!

I no more want to have a happy Eid, than I want a Happy Hanukkah or a Merry Christmas. These festivals mean nothing to me. I do not celebrate them and I do not want to be opted into them. Do what you want but do not impose them on people who are not interested.

crwox · 15/10/2017 21:07

I don't know anyone who has objected to this.
Someone has been offended when I said 'bless you' after they sneezed before though...

MaisyPops · 15/10/2017 21:15

The professionally offended exist in all walks of life.

E.g. I don't like anyone who isn't white so I'll share stories about Christmas being ruined and muslims banning the poppy because it supports my worldview as a victim of multiculturalism as an oppressed white person

E.g. I am atheist and am outraged that my child's school do the Christian nativity at Christmas because there should be no religion in school. T would be much better if it was a generic play about snowmen and Santa

E.g. I am a more evangelical Christian and feel like I am genuinely persecuted against because I can't go around shouting about how awful homosexuality or divorce are and people don't really care about my evangelising. I'm unhappy that I don't have a privileged position to spout my views so I'll feel like a victim.

E.g. I am a white man but not that educated. I think the world is stacked against men and white people because all this diversity nonsense is making the world discriminate against men.

I know all of those people.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 15/10/2017 21:20

It is nothing to do with being professionally offended. Celebrate whatever you want- don't just assume I want to be part of it.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 15/10/2017 21:29

Wishing you compliments of the season isn’t forcing you to be a part of it, Lass. Anymore than exhorting you to have a good day prevents you from continuing to be a grumpy old curmudgeon.

goose1964 · 15/10/2017 21:30

I often refer to Christmas as our non denominational mid winter festival. But Christmas is a lot easier and we do actually have a Nativity scene as part of our decoration.

MaisyPops · 15/10/2017 21:31

So don't join in. Simple.

I don't get people who get all 'nobody should bring cake in for any celebration to be nice because I don't want to be a part of it'.

You may not be one of them but professionally offended people do exist. They either exist in a state of permanent victimhood or can't be happy that someone else does something different or have different views and usually trot out 'they can think and do what they like in private but it should never be public'. It's a bit odd and miserable.

SenecaFalls · 15/10/2017 21:33

I admit to being a bit of a scrooge myself. I don't mind being wished Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas or whatever, but I do resent all of the expectations that many people have about what you're supposed to be doing about the holidays, especially if you are a woman.

bonfireheart · 15/10/2017 22:10

You sound so miserable Lass I think you'd be doing everyone a favour by not joining in.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 15/10/2017 22:30

You sound so miserable Lass I think you'd be doing everyone a favour by not joining in

I really enjoy the 2 week break I take at the end of the year, including the very lavish Hogmanay party at my house. I object to the compulsory assumptions and expectations about what I'm supposed to be doing or enjoying.

So don't join in. Simple

Not that simple though is it? As you can see from the responses on here. Not caring about Christmas seems to offend people.

Oh and I never said don't bring a cake in but what on earth is the point of wishing "Happy Eid" or similar to me? I have no religion. I don't celebrate this or any other religious festival.

You seem to be unable to distinguish between someone saying I have brought in a cake to celebrate Eid, my birthday, passing my driving test, etc. That is completely different from wishing someone "Happy Eid"

brasty · 15/10/2017 22:43

The only person I have ever heard objecting, was an American visiting me. I explained it was standard and we do not say happy holidays. She was perplexed but accepted it.