Do you say "Merry Christmas"?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Our entire family says MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I'm all for multiculturalism, but that does not mean we have to make our own Canadian traditions subordinate to traditions from other countries. Being strictly PC makes me want to gag, btw, which is probably true for a lot of other people. If people are offended by our saying Merry Christmas, then that's their problem since greeting fellow Canadians with a hearty "Merry Christmas!" is a long-standing Canadian tradition. If others want to greet each other with other sayings fine. If I'm traveling in another country while they're celebrating their own religious holidays, great, I'll use their traditional greetings. If I'm in their country, I'll be respectful of their traditions. That's not PC, that's just being polite.

I agree with AquaAddict and would be delighted if someone from another faith or culture greets my "Merry Christmas" with their own traditional greeting. Allowing the PC Police to impose a generic "Happy Holiday" on me, though, just won't fly. If my daughters' school imposed a ban on Merry Christmas at school, I'd make it a point to walk through the hallways and greet every teacher and administrator with a hearty "Merry Christmas" just to take a stand on this issue. I'd rather they teach the kids to be proud of their own cultural traditions and greet each other with either a "Merry Christmas" to acknowledge Canadian traditions or their own "Happy Hannukah", etc. rather than impose a PC "Happy Holidays" on everyone.

Here in Canada:

• If someone greets me with a "Happy Holidays",
• then I'll likely ask, "To which holiday are you referring to?"
• to which they will probably respond, "Christmas",
• and I'll come back with a "Merry Christmas to you, then!"

For myself and my family, we greet all of you with a hearty "Merry Christmas!"

Anthony, Irene, Felicia & Isabella

[WarDog]

Poll reopened.

Merry Christmas!

[mrhasan]

Despite being from a different faith, I greet with "Merry Christmas and happy holidays" (whenever greeting is expected)....that covers both ends and I don't get into trouble.

To whom it may concern:

Merry Christmas & happy holidays fellow reefers

[Delphinus]

Do you people actually know anyone who told you they were offended by you saying "Merry Christmas" or are you just sensitive to the issue when someone uses a different greeting?

Here's the thing (maybe I live a sheltered existence but I kinda doubt it) I've never known anyone to be offended by the phrase. But on the flip side I know a LOT of people who seem to feel defensive about this or at least needing to emphasize that it "should" be "Merry Christmas".

Say Merry Christmas if it makes you happy. But if someone uses a different greeting to you .. maybe just be happy that they made the effort to say something nice to you. Isn't that more along the spirit of the season anyhow?

[Dearth]

I do not have religious bone in my body nor believe in any faiths however with that being said there is nothing wrong with saying "Merry Christmas" it's just words after all

For me Christmas has been and always will be for the kids for them it's a magical time of the year it's adults that ruin it for everybody else IMO

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Do you people actually know anyone who told you they were offended by you saying "Merry Christmas" or are you just sensitive to the issue when someone uses a different greeting?

My post was in response to Kien's posting about how his "kids school is one of those highly politically correct schools that have banned "Christmas"." To me that's just wrong. I'd be one of those crazy parents who protests this sort of PC heavy handedness if it happened at my kids' school. Fortunately, the admin and teachers at Brantford Elementary are not PC Nazis.

Anthony

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Do you people actually know anyone who told you they were offended by you saying "Merry Christmas" or are you just sensitive to the issue when someone uses a different greeting?

Yep, more than once.

[Reef Pilot]

You know, I can't actually remember seeing anyone being offended by either Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I am sure it happens, though. I will use either depending on whom I am addressing (even though I am not known to be a PC kind of guy).

But having worked in retail most of my life, I understand the fine line that front line people have to straddle sometimes with this subject. And in many cases, their employers instruct them to say Happy Holidays, so they have no choice. So hopefully no one gets offended by them just trying to do their jobs as best they can.

And wonder if this subject will always come up this time of year,... over and over and over.... Maybe we are all too sensitive..., or just don't have something better to do than comment on this subject (like me, haha).

[gregzz4]

My family has been in North America for 7 generations, and in Canada for 5.

Merry Christmas is a way of life.
If you don't like it, go stuff yourself.
This is CANADA and we celebrate CHRISTMAS

I'm not a xenophobe, but you better get used to it , or I will become one ...

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Maybe we are all too sensitive...

I think you hit the nail on the head right there! With all this politically correct hoopla, and human rights it's made people ultra sensitive. I wish we could go back to the 90s.