You write: Merry/Happy Christmas, and everyone gets offended because you’re leaving a group out of the holiday spirit.
I even got a tweet saying:
I wish we had a Santa in Africa.
Now that’s just passive-aggressive.
Just tell me directly: “Hey, what about Kwanzaa? Where is your Happy/Merry Kwanzaa tweet?”
What do you want me to do?
Say “Happy Kwanzaa/Hannukkah/Christmas/Chrismukkahza?”
So I thought — maybe this person has a point, however passive aggressive it is: Heck, maybe I am being insensitive.
Then I switched to saying Happy Holidays!!!!
But NOW, the others get pissed off at you and say:
It’s December 25th, it’s CHRISTMAS TODAY.
ON THIS DAY.
It is NOT Happy “HOLIDAYS”
ARRRG!!!!!
I am not even religious by any means, and I am just trying to be supportive and partake in the residual feelings of joy in something I don’t even really celebrate.
But this headache of trying to figure out what to say without offending people over something I feel is SO TRIVIAL, is annoying.
So you know what?
I am not wishing anyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays, Merry Chrismukkah, Happy Chrismuhzaa any more.
It is now:
Happy Festivus to the rest of us!!!!!
I’m officially as neutral as Switzerland on this PC-minefield of a holiday matter.
Air all your grievances.
Get mad at me in your comments about how I am not putting up with this holiday sensitivity any longer.
Get mad at me for not being as sensitive as I could possibly be because it’s starting to get silly even in my head.
Or how about that my opinion of people who try to claim that they’re always politically correct are liars.
It’s impossible.
We have our own personal biases, opinions and experiences and I am not trying to tell anyone to do anything illegal. I am just stating my opinion.
Or how about that I am a horrible enabler on Twitter, getting all of you to succumb to the devilish delights of pizza, Mini Eggs, butter fudge, shopping on Etsy …[insert temptation here]… 
Or that I post too many pictures of delicious meals and enable people to go out and stuff themselves.
Or.. or.. whatever else you can think of!
LET IT ALL OUT!
And thus, Festivus shall begin:
Have a good one.
- Weeding out the lazy ones
- What did you want to be when you were little?
- Collecting friends like Pokemon
- Making new friends is very difficult.
- Losing readership wouldn’t be the end of my world.
Juicy Gina
on Dec 25th, 2009
@ 7:54 PM:
Hey don't worry what others say about saying Merry Christmas! Say what YOU feel and don't try to say something just to please others. You will effectively be missing someone anyway you say it anyway. They had a spot on the news about this and some people were saying that by saying "Merry Christmas" you are including people who would otherwise be excluded. I was saying "happy holidays" at work because it's "politically correct' but I have and always will say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Have a good one FB!
@27andfrugal
on Dec 25th, 2009
@ 8:16 PM:
I say "Happy Holidays" in December. This takes care of everything including New Years. But on December 25th, I feel it's appropriate to say "Merry Christmas".
I also think there's a little bit of oversensitivity here. I mean, I'm not offended if someone wishes me a "Happy Easter" even though it's not a holiday I celebrate in any way.
Kin
on Dec 25th, 2009
@ 8:21 PM:
lol, I hear you! and F political correctness.
Happy day!!!
WendyB
on Dec 25th, 2009
@ 11:13 PM:
Oh, fuck people and their fucking uptightness. I was raised Jewish and have been hearing "Merry Christmas" for a week now and I haven't shot anyone over it yet. T
Julie
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 12:06 AM:
Ugh! I hate the "HOLIDAYS". I've never celebrated anything, but still my very Catholic friend sends me a very detailed email telling me how I should celebrate Christmas and embrace the Lord in my heart and blah blah blah. That made me so mad because I've told him countless times to stop bugging me about the religion thing.
Holidays are not the greatest thing out there for me, but cheers to those who celebrate. Just don't expect me to wish you merry whatever because I don't even know which holidays are celebrated.
sarah
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 1:47 AM:
That always pissed me off that people got offended if you wished them a happy holiday that they did not happen to observe. Someone is wishing you a happy day – be grateful, say thanks, and get over yourself! I've always been happy to hear people tell me to enjoy Hannukah, or have a great Solstice (which I have heard around here…its a mix of everything). They sent me good wishes, and I thanked them.
So good wishes to all, no matter what you celebrate. And if that makes you upset…well, go deal with your issues somewhere else.
Dont let them ruin your fun!
L.A. Daze
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 12:30 AM:
Heh, I just say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, a good time to all! As long as the holiday cheer is there, it's all good!
MERRY CHRISTMAS babe!
Francesca
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 8:11 AM:
Kwanzaa is a made up holiday so no need to feel bad about not mentioning that one. It doesn't exist in Africa and those that celebrate on the 25th are in the real Christmas camp.
I'm with you. Its not Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings, its Merry Christmas! So tired of the PC nonsense relating to it.
suzie
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 12:48 PM:
i don't celebrate christmas but i still say merry christmas!!
MoneyReasons
on Dec 26th, 2009
@ 4:25 PM:
Hmmm, interesting…
When you have kids, I bet you'll go a different way. But for now, for you at your current stage, is sounds like a pretty good way to go for you!!!
I went with "Merry Christmas" because that is my tradtion (and I feel comfortable with it). If others don't like it, I figure it's like this: My blog is personal and includes my ideas and influences, I'm not a state-run pc information board. I don't post bible quotes though, I respect that not everybody that reads blogs are christians either…
To be honesty, I'd love to hear different holiday traditions that the other commenters practice at this time of year (Jewish, Africans and all the rest including Pagans!). As long as they don't try to preach to the other commenters or write something negative. (as the popular saying is these days, "There will always be Haters").
Either way, I hope you enjoy your Holiday season, and mainly try to keep positive outlook!
This is what it's all about for me, philanthropy and good will towards others…
Shelley
on Dec 27th, 2009
@ 4:13 PM:
Hmm…yes, I have sent Christmas emails to Muslim friends, not thinking. Season's Greetings? I just figure if someone wants to complain, they'll find something… Hope yours (whatever you call it) was good!
That Kind of Girl
on Dec 27th, 2009
@ 4:39 PM:
Good friggin' lord, are people really that touchy? I usually go with "happy holidays" early in the season, then starting on the 20th or so, start wishing people happy new year. But this is because my family is more about New Year's than Christmas.
Single Ma
on Dec 27th, 2009
@ 8:15 PM:
I hear ya FB, but you should call the holiday what you want. Can't please everybody.
FYI – Kwanzaa is not celebrated in Africa so I doubt if your twitter follower was being passive aggressive. It was created during the 1960s in the UNITED STATES as a way to help African-AMERICANS reconnect with their African culture and heritage.
Steph
on Dec 28th, 2009
@ 7:18 AM:
When I went to church on my old college campus, it was the last week before "holiday break". Afterward, people were chatting, and I was so surprised to hear "Merry Christmas", because I was so used to the ever-popular "Happy Holidays". You're actually allowed to say Merry Christmas to other Christians!
Also, having worked with a few Jehovah's Witnesses in the past, I've found out that even just saying "Happy Holidays" is frowned upon, since they don't celebrate holidays.
Whatever, my dad is Jewish, and he doesn't care what people say either. In fact, he even came with us to Christmas Eve mass! Whatever makes you happy.
Though one thought on the Santa in Africa comment someone made, it could be a reference to how poor many countries are in Africa? Like in "Do They Know It's Christmas", where they point out that there might not be any gifts for the extremely poor?
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Dec 28th, 2009
@ 10:28 AM:
I stand corrected!
Thanks for the info.
E_Z
on Dec 28th, 2009
@ 4:54 PM:
I always use Happy Holidays, unless your Jewish, than it's Chag Sameach ("ch" sound is like clearing flem from the back of your throat – chug sah'meh'ach) for fellow Channukah celebrators. I've always used it and I don't care if people get sensitive over it. Eff'em. Besides weather you celebrate or not, you still get a day off from work, which most people call a holiday even if it's Queen Victoria day or what-not.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Dec 28th, 2009
@ 6:36 PM:
I’m calling it Festivus unless I know they’re specifically celebrating a different holiday for example.
That’s a good point — it’s still a holiday because you get the time off.
Meg
on Dec 30th, 2009
@ 3:55 AM:
Ummm…aren't ALL holidays made up?! Why should it matter so much how many people celebrate it or for how long? If you care about someone, then you wish them well on holidays that are important to them.
If you know someone's celebrating Kwanzaa, then I think Happy Kwanzaa is very appropriate, just like if you know someone is celebrating Chanukah, then Happy Chanukah is appropriate.
I say Merry Christmas when it actually *is* Christmas (similarly for other holidays). Otherwise, I say Happy Holidays or "hi!" or "Same to you!" (if responding to someone else's greeting, of course). And if anyone has a problem with Happy HolidayS, then I tell them that if they don't want their New Year's to be happy then that's up to them, but I'm wishing them happy holidays all the same.
@maritzainca
on Dec 31st, 2009
@ 3:56 AM:
I know I'm really late to the game but I think people can be ridiculous! I think the sentiment is what counts! =D You're wishing people a happy *insert celebration here* and whether or not they celebrate it, you are doing it with good intentions. That's what really counts, IMO. I appreciated seeing your greetings and they made me smile. Thank you!! Good spirits are what make this time of year awesome. Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
Alexandra
on Dec 31st, 2009
@ 5:55 PM:
Seeing this on your blog has reminded me of a T shirt I saw on a website which said "A Festivus for the rest of us!". I am going to look for it and then buy it right now!
Darrell
on Jan 2nd, 2010
@ 3:29 AM:
Hey. I'm a little late too (trying to catch up on your posts) but I really get irritated when people get all weird about "holiday" greetings. You just can't please everybody, and there is a real danger in getting to PC. In my personal opinion, I celebrate Christmas (non-religious), so I wish people a Merry Christmas. Would I be offended if a Jewish person wished me a Happy Channukah, for example? Of course not. That's what they celebrate and if they wish me a Happy Channukah or Kwanzah or Festivus or Holiday or Happy Friggin' Wednesday, well…God/Jesus/Buddah/Allah bless them! It's the thought that counts, in my opinion.
People get waaaay too worked up about stuff like this. And has anybody ever noticed that the people who are the most "politically correct" in public (i.e. in the workplace) also tend to be the most racist/biased hypocrites in private? Or is that just a Vancouver Island thing?
Darrell
on Jan 2nd, 2010
@ 3:30 AM:
*hands WendyB a flower*
Rose
on Jan 18th, 2010
@ 3:23 AM:
(Yup, late on the commenting, but I'm going to!) Totally different in NZ. Everyone says "happy Christmas" no matter what their beliefs etc. Christians, Atheists, Muslims, Hindus, everyone. I guess here it's not seen so much as a Christian holiday, but a time to remember all the good there is in life and celebrate the one-ness the country has.
Fascinating, the total difference we seem to have a lot of the time.