Catholics are ruining Christmas...

[SHIT-TANK]

I am not a religious person, but I was raised catholic and I do enjoy the holidays. The gifts, the family gatherings and the food I don't know I'm just a sucker for the whole thing. But today something very odd happened to me.

I was in school and talking to one of my friends, she was leaving for the holidays to vist her extended family in Puerto Rico and is going to be gone for at least 8 - 10 weeks. As we wrapped our conversation I said " Hey, if I don't see ya happy holidays" she then got very upset with me and went on about how it's "Merry Christmas" and not "this happy holidays bullshit". This surprised me I really had no idea what I did to offend her so much.

After asking some of my other friends who are catholic, they agree that they hate the "happy holidays" phrase and some even claimed that it's "ruining Christmas".

To anybody in America who thinks that the phrase "Happy Holidays" is ruining Christmas, consider this.

Alot of different faiths have holy days comming up this time of year, and isn't America considered to be the "melting pot" of culture? I beleive it's very presumptuous of anybody to just say "Merry Christmas" to every person they meet during the holiday season. Anybody could be apart of any faith and I just don't think it's polite or courteous just to assume. I will say that either side of the argument needs to calm down, it's really not that big of a deal. My real point is the whole "ruining Christmas" aspect.

A phrase has not ruined Christmas, the commercialzation of a scared religious day has. Lets face it Christmas is not about the birth of Jesus anymore it's about buying stuff, hell this year were using it as a economic stimulus. My point is this, in other religions you don't see exploitation of their holy days. Catholics have let one of their most scared days of worship be turned into a giant commercial.

Thoughs?

[SolInvictus]

the thing is, more than just Christmas is celebrated as Christian holidays during the...ummm, holidays...

last time i checked Catholics like New Years and that happens to fall into the same time period people go away on.

[marchohare]

At 11/21/08 07:50 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: ...she then got very upset with me and went on about how it's "Merry Christmas" and not "this happy holidays bullshit". This surprised me I really had no idea what I did to offend her so much.

After asking some of my other friends who are catholic, they agree that they hate the "happy holidays" phrase and some even claimed that it's "ruining Christmas".

It's intolerant, provincial, ethnocentric poops like them who ruin the holidays, along with those retailers you mentioned. Next time you see her, ask her if she had a happy Consumermas.

All of the above ruined Chrismas. They make Baby Jesus cry.

[ChickenReaper]

I'm Catholic and I don't think happy holidays is bad. That's just like non-religious people taking a group and labeling them

[W31RD0]

There is only one thing that can ruin Christmas, and that is christians. If they simply continue to believe what they believe, then it does not matter how anyone else chooses to define the holidays.

Its the same reason that I do not think christians should get all butthurt about gay marriage. If they want to keep the sanctity of marriage intact, then it is up to themselves to promote a loving and healthy marital relationship.

[SHIT-TANK]

At 11/21/08 08:23 PM, W31RD0 wrote: There is only one thing that can ruin Christmas, and that is christians. If they simply continue to believe what they believe, then it does not matter how anyone else chooses to define the holidays.

Its the same reason that I do not think christians should get all butthurt about gay marriage. If they want to keep the sanctity of marriage intact, then it is up to themselves to promote a loving and healthy marital relationship.

Well my point was I say "happy holidays" because I don't want to shit on anybody beliefs, but the paradox is that ultimately it's the catholics shitting on their own beliefs.

[Imperator]

I'd ask them why they hate it.

Because for me, the only issue I have with the phrase is it being the "PC" phrase. Thus, if I say Merry Christmas it makes me look like the insensitive jackoff.

From that standpoint, I would agree with the "No, fuck you. Merry Christmas, I'm not saying 'happy fuck holidays', so sue me" stance.

[Tomass2010]

Hmph,

People shouldn't bitch and moan because you said "holidays"

its polite to say that because you just don't know who celebrates what

The whole runining christmas thing?

Yeah, yeah christmas is straight up FUCKED because someone says holidays

*sigh* People run around and think that they're ways and belifs are superior to everyone else's and they are just plain rude.

So to sum this all up

I think its just a polite jesture and people really shouldn't bitch about it

but thats just me

[AapoJoki]

She should be grateful that you wished her anything at all.

[Imperator]

At 11/21/08 08:37 PM, Tomass2010 wrote: Hmph,

People shouldn't bitch and moan because you said "holidays"

Actually it's quite the opposite. People have bitched and moaned at me because I said "Christmas".

And whenever someone does bitch about me saying Merry Christmas, I give them the same reply:

"Ok fine. Then fuck you, your family, and all your relatives. I hope on Dec 25th you lose your house, your car, your money, and become a vegetable in some tragic accident, forced to live out your days in excruciating pain and misery. Did you prefer that to Merry Christmas?"

[Der-Lowe]

At 11/21/08 07:50 PM, SHIT-TANK wrote: I am not a religious person, but I was raised catholic and I do enjoy the holidays. The gifts, the family gatherings and the food I don't know I'm just a sucker for the whole thing. But today something very odd happened to me.

I was in school and talking to one of my friends, she was leaving for the holidays to vist her extended family in Puerto Rico and is going to be gone for at least 8 - 10 weeks. As we wrapped our conversation I said " Hey, if I don't see ya happy holidays" she then got very upset with me and went on about how it's "Merry Christmas" and not "this happy holidays bullshit". This surprised me I really had no idea what I did to offend her so much.

You were politically correct. I hate that as well.

After asking some of my other friends who are catholic, they agree that they hate the "happy holidays" phrase and some even claimed that it's "ruining Christmas".

To anybody in America who thinks that the phrase "Happy Holidays" is ruining Christmas, consider this.

Alot of different faiths have holy days comming up this time of year, and isn't America considered to be the "melting pot" of culture? I beleive it's very presumptuous of anybody to just say "Merry Christmas" to every person they meet during the holiday season.

If they're Christians, then why not? If I'm Jewish, can't I say "happy Hanukkah!" to others? It's a mere polite thing to say. I'm not going to go "OMG UR NOT RESPECTING MAH BELIEFF!!!" on them.
Even if I WERE trying to convert them, it's in my religion to spread my faith, to save as much souls as possible.

Anybody could be apart of any faith and I just don't think it's polite or courteous just to assume. I will say that either side of the argument needs to calm down, it's really not that big of a deal. My real point is the whole "ruining Christmas" aspect.
A phrase has not ruined Christmas, the commercialzation of a scared religious day has.

Lack of faith has ruined Christmas.

[AapoJoki]

Here's what I like to say to people on Christmas-time:

"Hello!"

Does that offend someone?

[physicsman09]

Or you can be the better man and just drop it, it's not that big of a deal.

I'm Catholic, and frankly I don't care if you say "Happy Kwanza" to me. As long as you maintain a level of respect for all religions and their respective holiday, then I've got no problem with people saying "Merry *insert holiday*."\

Just don't come out and say "OMG GUYZ CATHOLICS R RUINING CHRISTMAS BCUZ OF THIS ONE PERSON WHO SAID DIS!"

Don't put all of us in the same boat as Extremists.

[marchohare]

At 11/21/08 09:43 PM, Der-Lowe wrote: If I'm Jewish, can't I say "happy Hanukkah!" to others?

You should be able to, just as I should be able to wish them a happy Winter Solstice, and my hopes for them to get laid many times at the bonfire festivities.

Jeez, it's almost December! Time to start building my Stone Circle!

[W31RD0]

While I think I can see why one may respect the feelings of others by saying "Happy Holidays". Either way however, I don't think it is the kind of thing that really needs the grief. There are a lot of things that deserve more outrage than this.

[DarkMana]

"holiday" = "holy day"

I fail to see how "Happy Holidays" is more politically correct than "Merry Christmas." Both have religious implications.

[redzone]

What is the big deal. Christmas is the only holiday that doesnt have anything to do with religion. Well it did, but not anymore.

[homor]

you gotta forgive us for feeling abit paranoid, people have been trying to eat christmas since sanit nick was born.

[SirLebowski]

Happy Holidays doesn't ruin it for me because the time is festive in general. It doesn't matter what you call it.

What's happening now is just a backlash for the political correctness that was thick in the air last year.

[Korriken]

At 11/21/08 09:46 PM, AapoJoki wrote: Here's what I like to say to people on Christmas-time:

"Hello!"

Does that offend someone?

OH MY GOD I am so offended you would DARE say "HELLO!" you just said HELL on a HOLY DAY! YOU FOOL! Your ignorance may be offensive to me, however, I can fix that. Next time, you say "Hail!" or "Greetings!" or just "greets!" or even "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUU UUUP!!!" but you DO NOT SAY HELL ON A HOLY DAY!!!

j/k :P

Consumerism has ruined Christmas. Political correctness has ruined Christmas. The holiday was originally to celebrate the coming of the savior in the Christian religion. It might not be the exact day he was born, but then again they didn't have birth certificates back then, and I doubt that Joseph and Mary were carrying a calendar. There was some gift giving, then the gifts went from simple trinkets to the consumerism you see today.

And the non Christians are trying to finish off the religious aspect of the holiday by removing "Christ" from Christmas and just calling it Xmas, or just "Holiday" I say we fight back and turn Hannukah and Ramadan into consumerist holidays.... not sure how Ramadan would work though. ooh, make it about getting up before dawn and munching on some hunger pills!

[doom9125]

At 11/21/08 08:23 PM, W31RD0 wrote: There is only one thing that can ruin Christmas, and that is christians. If they simply continue to believe what they believe, then it does not matter how anyone else chooses to define the holidays.

You do know that christmas is a christian holiday.

[Buffalow]

As a Catholic, I find "Happy Holidays" unoffensive, but very unfair. Why should we have to sacrifice our holiday for another? I'll say Merry Christmas to whoever I want and if they get offended, screw them. By the way, Catholics didn't start the gift-giving as a way to sell out their holiday. It is actually a religious reason to give presents, maybe not the huge overspending that it is, but we're taught to sacrifice a little for other people on Christmas.

[FattyWhale]

I'll always say Merry Christmas. What other holidays are there? Hanuka and Kwanza?

Hanuka is for jews, and all the jews I know celebrate both hanuka and Christmas.

Kwanza is a made up holiday for blacks who want to act african.

[SolInvictus]

At 11/22/08 10:42 AM, Korriken wrote: OH MY GOD I am so offended you would DARE say "HELLO!" you just said HELL on a HOLY DAY!

you're laughing but a few years back a Texas man was petitioning to have the word "hello" banned because it contained the word "hell". everyones on crack.

[Earfetish]

People are just very touchy about any perceived slight against Christmas. Like if a town centre doesn't have a Christmas tree one year then everyone bemoans the death of Christmas at the sword of secularism. And 'happy holidays' is the epitome of it - it's a seasonal greeting without even mentioning the holiday.

Christmas is never going to die. Everyone likes Christmas. Youtube recommended me some Fox News videos recently where they're discussing some Humanist bus ad and they're all like 'atheists are trying to destroy Christmas because they're so miserable and lonely during Christmas' and it's like 'wtf no-one's trying to destroy Christmas and atheists celebrate it too'.

I don't see the problem with trying to have an inclusive festive period with menorahs and whatever and I also don't see the problem with approaching it through a Christian lens, calling it Christmas and wanting nativities and a church service; just enjoy it for yourself and don't worry about how other people are celebrating or the words they're using.

At this time of the year, can't we all just fucking get along? We can bemoan the death of Christmas when anyone stops celebrating it.

[SHIT-TANK]

At 11/22/08 01:32 PM, Earfetish wrote: At this time of the year, can't we all just fucking get along? We can bemoan the death of Christmas when anyone stops celebrating it.

Finally somebody read my entire post and understoond what I was saying.

[Korriken]

At 11/22/08 12:10 PM, SolInvictus wrote:

you're laughing but a few years back a Texas man was petitioning to have the word "hello" banned because it contained the word "hell". everyones on crack.

where do you think I got the idea from?

[RawrOutLoud]

Imo, Christmas has become commercial. I mean, everyone celebrates it. Any religion. I don't see anything wrong with traditionnaly celebrating, but I guess it doesn't happen very often anymore. Well, not around here, anyways.

As a matter of fact, I'm eating a candy cane as I type. T w T

I myself am an atheist. I don't celebrate Christmas religiously, but the gatherings with friends and presents make me happy. :]

OH AND, THE FOOOOOD. ESP. THE SWEETS. >:3

[Conspiracy3]

This is just one more reason that I hate holidays. So many people causing the emission of greenhouse gasses in their process of traveling long distances to see relatives. So many people being pleased for no logical reason. So many people receiving gifts rather than working for them like they should.

Personally I just ignore holidays. On thanksgiving I'm ordering a pizza. On Christmas, Hanukkah, Quanza, Holidays, or whatever it is called nowadays I will lock myself in this room and use my computer.

[LedgendGamer]

Keep in mind that holidays tend to inspire people to strengthen their bonds with one another, hence families traveling about to visit eachother.

However, I agree that holidays are becoming too commercialized.

I wonder if people who follow Judaism are as zealous as remembering Hanukkah as the people our OP mentioned are. (I think I got the religion/holiday correct, I might have made a mistake)

Also, remember that only some people are completely anal about the name you call the holiday. I'm Catholic and I'm perfectly fine with 'happy holidays'.