That's great that you celebrate Christmas and that is a perfect use of the word. It becomes offensive when someone pushes it onto others. Thank you for not pushing your celebratory spirit on others. YAY!!!!

Ms. Kendra30752:

You should be proud that you are one of the few who acknoledge Christmas as having a conection to Christianity. I support you and anyone else using the word Christmas. I just want to say (again and again and again), and this certainly does not apply to you, the word Christmas has no meaning to me. The use of the word has meaning and it is offensive to me to be wished a "Merry Christmas". If you want to tell me more about your family and their celebration of Christmas, that is not at all offensive. To expect me, as some responders obviously do, to share in your joy, is offensive.

Are you also annoyed because in public schools children are marked "absent" for not attending school on some of the holiest days of the Jewish religion yet all public schools are closed for Christmas? This may sound insignificant, but it prevents many children from getting an award for perfect attendance--which to a young child is pretty important these days. Does it bother you that families who adhere to the Jehova's Witness faith are christian but do not celebrate Christmas are not recognized? Most JW families I have known keep their children home when there are going to be "parties" in class--they do not support Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween....does it bother you that these children know they are missing a party? It is tough to explain that to a young child. All he/she knows is that the other kids have cake and balloons and they are home, alone, missing their school buddies.

Would it be "...b...s..." if there were absolutely no mention of Christmas and the only celebration was for Hanukkah? If you know any Jewish people, ask them how many Christmas Carols they were forced to learn in public shcools. How many songs for Hanukkah do you know? Do you even know when Hanukkah is and what it commemerates? Didn't think so.

Enjoy Christmas and my sincere good wishes for your right to use the word. But please do be more caring of others. A future with children who learn to disrespect other's faith and traditions that differ from our own will turn into a pretty scary world...or are we there now?

Ms. toxie m,

Do you have the impression that Hanukkah is a "...Jewish equivalent..." of Christmas. I am saddened by that thought and hope you take a few minutes to learn about the meaning of Hanukkah (which, although it gets much fanfare, is a fairly insignificant Jewish celebration). It is still a fun celebration.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, once said, "First you are oppressed and then you learn to oppress yourself." Pretty deep, huh? You do have the right to choose not to celebrate anything, including my birthday (which is always a great day...) but by not being offended when you are greeted with a "happy whatever" and silently ...quietly hatin'..." you are placing yourself in an oppressed position. Be proud of your feelings/convictions, whatever they may be and please, stop oppressing yourself. It seems that others have done a good job for you.

Ms. Storm,

First, I am happy that I do not wear panties so they are not in a wad (which you'll have to explain that to me, but that is another post). I agree with you--everyone should celebrate their own holidays (or not). Frankly, call it a Christmas tree or a holiday tree--it is still a Christmas tree--what other faith uses a decorated tree as a symbol? Oh, I think that would be NONE.

Defeating the message of the season? BINGO. That shows how egotistical and forceful Christmas is. The message of Christmas, if I understand it, is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. That is no message to me, but I am fine if that is your message. Just stop assuming and stop trying to make it my message. Are you even interested in what my religious celebrations are? Can you even GUESS when some of my days are? How about Sukkot? Any idea what/when/how? Yup. Thought so.

What would your world be like if you were suddenly surrounded by everything Jewish and hardly anything Christian. I bet you are getting goosebumps just thinking about that one.

A little consideration please. Keep Christmas, but keep me out of it if you will.

PS

Your phrase, "... you're no longer allowed to celebrate Christmas without also celebrating every other religious observance or at least recognizing it in line with Christmas..." screams that you think Christmas is superior to all other religious days. Am I the only one scared by this thinking?

You are right, EastCoast36. It is Christmas. Well, it is a Merry Christmas for those who celebrate it. For the rest of the world, it is just another day.

Ahhh...Stormy...here you are again. High five--hope you learn something today.

MrWishyWashy--

Not at all offensive and very true. A Merry Christmas to you, your family and friends.

katytheredpanda--

Why say anything if you don't know what to say? Silence is much better than offense. When is the last time you gave a person a greeting for Ramadan--you don't know who celebrates Ramadan any more than you know who celebrates Christmas (assuming they are not an acquaintance of yours).

Oh, Eucaly, how you disappoint me. Aren't the people that are "...silly or woefully uneducated..." the people who are taking what should be a meaningful day of faith and creating an excuse to be greedy? If you are a practicing Christian and are content that others have taken a special day and in reality mock it's significance, I suggest a talk with your spiritual leader (minister, pastor, priest...).

But what holiday and how do you know if they celebrate anything? How about have a nice day if you need a greeting for a stranger?

But dear The Curious Couple--do you want to be greeted with a Merry Christmas? Isn't that something we should reserve for the observant Christians? Am I the only one urked when any faith allows their holy days to be mocked and not respected?

Here is the deal on Kwanza, according to Wikipedia:

"Kwanzaa is a week long celebration held in the United States honoring universal African-American heritage and culture, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles and culminates in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–1967."

The key point is that it is a created festival celebrating the "African-American" culture and family. It should be respected and enjoyed by those wishing to honor these important values.

Exactly. And I am saying, don't say Merry Christmas to me and a host of others who have no affiliation with Christmas.

Period.

YAY!!!! This proves that there are some intelligent folks on EF!!!

YAY!!!! This proves that there are some intelligent folks on EF!!!

Reuters news post:

HEADLINES

WHAT???? WHAT???? Sarahbear, are you serious? Call the Pope, call the head of every Christian faith and tell them that although Jesus Christ was (supposedly) born on December 25th that CHRISTmas was not started for that reason. WHAT??? WHAAT????? I am speachless.

No sir, I meant that I see others as taking Hanukkah to be the Christmas equivalent. That's why I get pissed off that when I say thanks but no thanks to "Merry Christmas" I'm handed a "Happy Hanukkah" instead, as if they're interchangeable and now they've given me the right one. You know?

I know all about Hanukkah, do not fear. I went to Hebrew school and all that In my house we don't do a hell of a lot for Hanukkah (we've got candles going maybe half the nights, we're often not even home) and that makes it feel even more silly for Christians to be wishing me Happy Hanukkah. I mean, thanks, I guess, but I'm barely even celebrating it. It comes back to that "not equivalent" thing.

I'm not sure that it's true that I feel offended, but nor do I really feel oppressed. I don't want to have to get into a long conversation about majority assumptions every time someone wishes me a Merry Christmas (which, I may add, hasn't happened a single time yet this year, despite all the heavy discussions like these going on). I realize that I'm not helping the issue by staying quiet, but I also don't feel like I'm so hardcore about this as to be causing a fuss in the name of those-who-do-not-Chris tmas. I just choose to sit the whole thing out, if possible.

Love your blog post. Agree!

i do have a problem with christmas now being a materialistic holiday and people especially children not knowing why we have christmas in the first place .that bothers the heck outa me! how can you celebrate if you dont no or dont care why your actually celebrating!

BUT...would you wish a Jewish person a Merry Christmas? I hope not.

How sad that people's religious convictions are "dumb sh*t" to you. Sad and disrespectful. So you share Ms. Creamiesweet's expressed lack of care about other's feelings?