Responding to Holiday Greetings
 

Gah. It's that time of year again when clerks, cashiers, waiters, doctor's office staff, etc. are going to start wishing me a merry Christmas. I shouldn't let it bother me but sometimes it does because, hey! I'm not Christian. Do I go around wishing people a happy Hanukkah or blessed Diwali or whatever?

If I'm getting a haircut and am trapped when the barber asks what I'm doing for the holidays, I'll usually just say I don't celebrate Christmas and hope he shuts it. But I do realize it's pretty churlish and rude to snap at cashiers who are just making passing small talk while working the register and not even looking up at me.

My wife tells me I should consider "merry Christmas" to be a non-sectarian greeting, but I'm not convinced. I guess it's the assumptions that bother me. Don't hang your religious beliefs on me, okay? I promise not to put mine on you.

Most of the folks wishing you a Merry Christmas are not intending to convey a religious connotation. They are simply telling you to "Enjoy the end of year gluttony and commercial greed fueled burden of mindless gift giving."

I don't celebrate holidays as any day I want I can celebrate. Many people are happy and excited when this time of year comes around. Truthfully I would rather be around happy people and I don't care of they wish me a happy or a merry anything as long as it isn't a go to he**, lol. It's all in good spirit so I go with the flow. What ever you wish me….MC, HC, HK, or happy holidays I just respond the same and go on my way. I'm happy if you're happy:)


I actually have more of a problem with the "merry christmas" for all of December. I don't tell people Happy Valentine's day for all of February. I consider Thanksgiving through New Year's one big holiday season…so Happy Holidays works for all:) and that is non secular.

I've noticed completely the opposite. It seems that all of the sales clerks, etc say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I am Christian, but lived my whole life in a predominately Jewish community. My Children were the only Gentiles in the schools. I loved that they were able to share their beliefs with their friends and visa versa. Around my house the kids sang Hanukah songs as much as Christmas songs.
Instead of having it bother you, why not just respond with Happy Holidays? I'm sure that if the clerk, etc knew that you are not Christian; they would wish you a happy whatever you are. These are friendly greetings and not meant to offend anyone.

Excellent suggestion Gerryann - a reply of Happy Holidays is friendly and appropriate for the season.

I agree.

They mean kindness. Try to take it kindly or wish them a Happy whatever you do. The biggest Jewish feast is not celebrated at this time of the year if I remember correctly from my friends. Christmas is the most celebrated Christian holiday but that doesn't mean it's religious to all. If given in a kind way, take it in a kind way. I wish my friend Ruthie was still here to wish me shalom.

It isn't a bad thing to be happy about a tradition you love and that causes you to bubble over to others. I am sure that clerk was thinking of the surprises he had for his children or the fact that his mom and dad were coming to visit. Happy is a good thing.

A simple thank you works if you don't want to respond with a happy holidays. Most clerks have no choice in the matter. Company policy dictates they wish customers a happy holiday. They are not supposed to say merry Xmas, but some do out of their own beliefs or to stick their tongues out at corporate.

Ignore the words and enjoy the sentiment.

Agree. It's a joyous time of year....no matter what you are!

Haha! Thanks, Chicken. I may start responding with, "Merry mindless gift-giving and angry, divisive debates over nativity scenes in town squares to you, too!"

Oddly enough, it doesn't bother me at Easter or when someone says "God bless you" or tells me to "Have blessed day in The Villages!" At least then I know they're doing it on purpose, out of a sense of Christian testimony or whatever. I guess I just find Christmas to be suffocating in general.

Even if the customer is wearing an abaya? ;)

Yup. Even if the customer is wearing nada. :loco:

Course, if you're male wearing an abaya, you might confuse the poor clerk to no end.

Wow.

Because so many people celebrate it, maybe it feels like you are left out. But no one means for you or anyone to be left out. It is important and beautiful and warm and lovely to a lot of us and not in a religious way for many, maybe most. It is TRADITION. It is a happy event, being repeated again, a time for families to gather, a time for dressing up and doing secret kind things for people you love. My Jewish sister in law always called it a National Holiday. Most Jews I know aren't religious. We can't all be the same or think the same but that doesn't mean we have to find fault.. Tradition is good.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...56422ECE4E06AF

Christmas is a national holiday. Maybe, just maybe they are saying to enjoy the holidays.

In my opinion these clerks, etc, are just doing their job - trying to make the multitude happy.

To me you have four choices:

1. If you do not celebrate, just say thank you and basically ignore them but be courteous about it.
2. If you celebrate in the same religion, say "Merry Christmas" back.
3. If you do celebrate in another religion, reply with your religion's response. I doubt if they will care.
4. Say nothing. Why ruin the clerks, etc day?

Lighten up. I do not think it matters.

Z

People who say "Merry Christmas" only mean well. People who say "Happy Holidays" only mean well.

No need for negative feelings toward either.