Political correctness is filtering its way into our lives to the point that we have to censor ourselves less we offend someone. People who work in retail, among others, are told they must replace "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays" when interacting with customers.
During the month of December, I celebrate Christmas, not the holidays. I have never wrapped holiday gifts, don't hang holiday lights, never put up a holiday tree. I don't prepare and serve a holiday dinner and I have never read "Twas The Night Before the Holiday". My family and I celebrate Christmas.
If I happen to wish someone a "Merry Christmas", and they don't celebrate like I do, why be offended? I don't go around wishing people "Merry Christmas" just to tick them off, and it shouldn't be taken that way.
When other people celebrate a religious holiday according to their beliefs, I don't get offended. In fact, I admire that they have devotion to their religion. If someone were to wish me "Happy Hanukkah", I wouldn't feel insulted, even though it is not my faith. And if someone has no spiritual beliefs, why not at least be at peace with Christians who are celebrating joy and happiness, without getting all worked up?
I, for one, will not be wishing anybody "Happy Holidays", this year as I celebrate Christmas. If, by chance, you don't celebrate Christmas, a simple "thank you" will suffice for me wishing you peace and goodwill. Please just smile back, nod politely and we can go our separate ways.
Merry Christmas!
3 comments:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The fact that you don't share the beliefs behind a particular festival doesn't stop it from being an acceptable way of describing a particular time of year. I'm a non believer but there's a particular time called Hannukah, a time called Ramadan,a time called Easter etc and it doesn't offend my sensibilities in the least to be wished Merry Christmas. However, wish someone from the UK 'Happy holiday' and you will get a very strange look. To us, 'holidays' means going to the beach in the summer or (for the well-off) going skiing in winter: we never say 'vacation'. Please keep saying 'Merry Christmas' for the sake of us poor Brits or we'll be totally confused!
carolinaheartstrings- Thank you!
bbsmum- I love learning new things about the UK. Please continue to share :)
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