Comments on: You just can’t win. Yell at me in the comments.

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:23:35 +0000

(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.

By: Darrell

Darrell — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:30:31 +0000

*hands WendyB a flower*

By: Darrell

Darrell — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:29:42 +0000

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?

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:55:03 +0000

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!

By: @maritzainca

@maritzainca — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:56:50 +0000

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!

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:55:46 +0000

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.

By: FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:36:37 +0000

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.

By: E_Z

E_Z — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:54:55 +0000

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.

By: FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:28:51 +0000

I stand corrected!

Thanks for the info.

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:18:57 +0000

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?