Are we to give up saying Merry Christmas for the "correct term" happy holidays....it sure seems that way from all the advertisements I have seen of late....

How do you feel about the change?

It's not the end of the world but give me a break, all of a sudden we are to forget saying Merry Christmas? Who dreams up these things anyway?

This is not an attack on anyone who wishes to say Happy holidays instead of Merry Chistmas, but what I am wondering is this, will we someday be "incorrect" to say Merry Christmas?

If I know a person's culture/religion, I wish them Happy Chanukah or Ramadan or Bodhi Day or Yule or Christmas or Kwanzaa or whatever. If I don't know, I say Happy Holidays. It's more inclusive, like "Merry Everything" is.

Today I say, Merry Christmas, Nathen!!!!

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Ceashel on Dec 25, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Happy Holidays is shorter than saying, "Happy whatever celebration your particular culture/religion assigns to the Winter Soltice time of year." Like creation stories, we've all got one, so that's how I view it. And Happy Everything to you all. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

LOL, pat! that may be long, but i think it would be fun to say to people just to see their reaction. mostly i just follow what ceashel said.

I agree with ya. They are moving away too much from Merry Christmas. I usually say merry Christmas & happy Hannukah & figure it covers everyone... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

During the past year and a half I know I've certainly come up with more questions than answers about faith, religion and culture. Like the others have said, if I know for sure which holiday a person celebrates, I wish them greeting for that particular holiday, but our world is certainly getting smaller by the day, and I agree that "Happy Holidays is more inclusive.

Nathan, I sure hope you had a Merry Christmas! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

When one says "Merry Everything" or "Happy Everything" and assuming everything means "EVERYTHING", I can't help but to think everything is including everything both good and bad. There's some things of everything that aren't so merry or happy. I would find it hard to say Merry Everything or Happy Everything to a woman who just found out she has breast cancer or to someone who just lost a loved one or the person who's just lost their job or going through a divorce, etc., etc.. you get the picture. No offense to those who do say it, I was simply just sitting around thinking about this for lack of anything better to do and I was just kinda hoping that somebody could explain their interpretation of everything because everything to me means things both good and bad.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Levi on Dec 26, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Well, it could mean Everything...wishing a person the unusual but desirable ability to find joy in all the things that happen in life, even the ones we view as terrible, much as Todd used to say, "I count it all joy!". Only it was equally clear that he didn't always, but he was trying. I don't think it really goes that deep for most of us, though. We generally say it around this time of year and I'd think it means, "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, a Good Ramadan, a Merry Winter Solstice, Good Yule, and best wishes for any celebrations that might be underway but have escaped our notice up to this point."

What Pat said is what I've taken it to mean, and I don't hear(see) it/don't say it anywhere but here.

I thought people were saying "MARRY every thing" and so I did and it was really a mess and I'm divorced now. So it was "Merry Everything"? Boy do I feel like an idiot.

Happy holidays.

Just the other day I happened to tune my TV in to Tommy of Rugrats fame, who was asking ,"What is this (and it's two words, mind you) Christmaschannukah Kwanzaawintersolstice all about, anyway?"

As with all life's tougher questions, Anjelica had the answer: <u>"It's about the presents!"</u> (Chuckie, of course, had a different take on it, but what do babies know, anyway...?)

However, as far as your question, Nathen -- I hope there never comes a time when we become so PC that we have to get generic about the holidays. For myself, I generally try to wish people happiness for the holiday of their persuasion, and will use the generic term for large group wishes -- but have been known to deliberately wish non-Christians a Merry Christmas as well. After all, I do want them to have one, even if they don't believe the same things that I do.

And on this fourth day of Christmas, here's hoping you're all having one, too. (How 'bout that storm on Christmas Day in the morning? Wow!) And while we're at it, hope your New Year is better in every way. Love to you all!

Oh, yeah: and if anyone has written or posted, and I haven't answered, I haven't been ignoring them deliberately. I don't get online every day (and have discovered that Hotmail accounts disappear if one doesn't check them frequently enough. Ehem). For future reference, if I don't answer, it's because I didn't see the post or e-mail. Honest. I really appreciate hearing from you guys, and will try to make sure my settings for here are such that I get my messages.

Happy (belated) Christmas!! And a very Merry New Year!!!

<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>

Belated nuthin'! It's still Christmas. There's days of it to go yet. Days. So ...

Happy 9th day of Christmas, everybody!<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/tiedye.gif" width=17 height=17>

Traditionally, the twelfth day of Christmas is the Feast of the Epiphany ("Little Christmas") which celebrates the arrival of the Magi with gifts for the Christ Child.

I have taken that to mean that this is really the proper day to exchange gifts... and (here's the ulterior motive) my kids and grandkids are all available, having visited with their father and with in-laws, out-laws and everyone else - so there is no conflict, and I get the day with all of my progeny! (It also helps that I can do my Christmas shopping when everything is on sale!)

So... this Sunday (closest weekend day to Jan 6) I'll be making a big dinner, and we'll sing carols by the tree, and all have a GREAT TIME - with no stress to be somewhere else!

Excellent idea, Wyld. If you don't mind, I'll pass this on to my sister who might find this a useful solution to her rather complicated family setup.