The origin of the word "holiday" comes from Holy Day, that is, the Holy Days celebrated back in ye olden days (unlike the 4th of July). If you're offended by any religious day of celebration then make sure you work 9 to 5 on every single "holiday" that offends you and don't dare wish anyone happiness or buy anyone any presents. Leave the holidays to all those selfish gift-giving, boorish carol-singing, Christians...like me!

I am not a Christian whatsoever, and I've never been bothered by it. In fact, I do not feel that Christmas is a Christian holiday, it's too universal for that.

I am a Christian and I am not offended by "Christmas"

Christmas all the way

I am not offended by Christmas but I am offended by xmas. When people say xmas they are excluding Christ from Chirstmas which is offensive to me. After all Jesus is the reason for the season.

Fan, scroll up to the top of the page. Hyacinth points out (as have others in the thread, but pointing to her is easier) that Xmas is a Christian thing.

Freue Weihnachten!

I really don't care one way or the other. I usually say Happy Holidays when I am greeting people, save Merry Christmas to those who say it first. I do love saying Happy New Years though.

I am Pagan, and I celebrate Yule with my younger sister and our friends a few days before Christmas and we say "happy Yule" or "Blessed Yule." But we celebrate CHRISTMAS with our family, and we say "Merry Christmas." This happy holidays stuff is BS. If you're Jewish and I unknowingly wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Yule, then feel free to wish me a Happy Hanukkah. If you're African and celebrate it, wish me a Happy Kwanzaa. If you're an atheist then don't be a brat and say "Uhm, I'm not a Christian," be nice and thank me for the positive energy I just sent your way!

...Merry Christmas, everyone! XD

I am not really religious in any way, but I have no issues with the word Christmas.
I do, though, find it rude when you say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" and some jackass decides to tell you what THEY feel YOU should say. It's the same as someone saying "Have a nice day!" and you respond with "It's evening. Tell me to have a nice evening." That person has no obligation to send well-wishes your way, and it's just flat out rude to tell them how to be nice.
As for the whole christmas vs. holidays thing... Everyone has their own beliefs. I don't think people should make a big deal out of how it's said.

For people who don't like being wished a Merry Whatever, maybe consider it like the classic exchange between Pooh Bear and Eeyore?

"Pooh scratched his head, being a little puzzled by all this.
"But is it really your birthday?" he asked.
"It is."
"Oh! Well, Many happy returns of the day, Eeyore."
"And many happy returns to you, Pooh Bear."
"But it isn't my birthday."
"No, it's mine."
"But you said 'Many happy returns' -- "
"Well, why not? You don't always want to be miserable on my birthday, do you?"
"Oh, I see," said Pooh."

If you don't celebrate Christmas, may you have a nice December 25th anyway, and a nice whatever you celebrate during the winter season.

Actually, Christmas isn't a Christian holiday. Not really. Here's what I posted on Facebook:

"I keep seeing these posts about how "Jesus is sad" because people celebrate Christmas for Santa instead of him. News flash: Christmas isn't even about Jesus or anything Christian at all. Christmas, or as it was originally called, "Saturnalia" was a week long Roman pagan holiday that lasted from December 17-25. Its main focus included choosing a target who would serve as the "Lord of Misrule", a proposed enemy of the Roman people. This person would be force-fed, among other things, and at the end of the celebration, they would be sacrificed to combat "the forces of darkness". The Roman courts were closed at this time and no one could be punished for damaging property...or people. This lovely little holiday also included amongst its celebrations: rampant intoxication, public nudity, RAPE, and the consuming of human-shaped biscuits. Christianity wanted to take Saturnalia and make it a Christian holiday so that they could hopefully take the pagans along with it. The problem was, there was nothing about Saturnalia that was Christian at all. To fix this, Christian leaders declared the concluding day, December 25th, the birthday of Jesus. The funniest thing of all is that Puritans BANNED Christmas and it wasn't celebrated in Massachusetts for quite some time because of its pagan origins.

Before you get your panties in a bunch, I believe in God. But I also believe in knowledge and the freedom that we are supposed to have as Americans. So instead of spouting off ignorant crap about how people should celebrate this holiday the way YOU want them to (even though you're doing it wrong in the first place), why don't you educate yourselves a bit first and be open to the possibility that what you're being taught isn't the God-honest truth."

I think Christmas should be called Christmas because, today at least, it IS Christmas. But I don't think we should say to everyone "Merry Christmas" because Christmas is NOT the only holiday. You should say "Happy Holidays". If you know for a fact that someone celebrates Christmas, go ahead and say that but if not, be respectful of other cultures.

when did "sticks and stones" become inapplicable? aren't we taught as children that what is said to us is simply words? why get "offended" ever?

and if you do get "offended" why build it up to such a huge thing?

"I was offended" So what?

adults can really act like children sometimes.

I grew up in a VERY traditional Christian household. If we said anything but Merry Christmas we got in trouble.

Now, I do not label myself as a Christan, but I still say Merry Christmas.

I celebrate Christmas, so I say Christmas, if the other person doesn't I would think they would tell me, then I would say the appropriate holiday greeting for them

I'm not religious and I don't mind people calling it Christmas. I also don't mind it being called x-mas or Saturnalia or Festivus. What I do mind is people getting their panties in a wad about calling it or not calling it something on principle.

I don't care. I think most people don't. It's just a small minority on either side that are all vocal and getting their panties in a wad over something really stupidly insignificant. Dec 25 is Christmas, and the entire season is the holidays, so what's wrong with being wished well over it, no matter what your faith?