Which phrase do you use with other people?

11/22/2005 11:37:43 AM

Merry Christmas.

11/22/2005 11:43:19 AM

Merry fucking Christmas towel head

11/22/2005 11:44:28 AM

Depends on the who I'm talking to.

And what I'm talking about.

11/22/2005 11:53:58 AM

If its not Christmas day, I just say good day.

11/22/2005 11:54:40 AM

Merry Christmas, if they are offended by it they can fuck off. If someone came up to me and said Happy Hannukah or Happy Ramadan (I know that Ramadan is over now) it wouldn't bother me in the least bit.

11/22/2005 11:54:50 AM

i don't usually say either, actually, unless I'm at a christmas situation. If I'm around someone whose religion I'm not sure of, which I'm usually not on christmas (since I'm usually with my family), I guess I'd say happy holidays or just respond to whatever they say to me.

I accidentally said marry christmas to a jewish friend, and he smiled and said merry christmas to me back. When I realized what he'd done, I thought it was pretty nice of him.

just don't say merry xmas to jerry falwell or one of his followers, or they'll sue you
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/11/20/MNGVDFRH081.DTL

[Edited on November 22, 2005 at 12:08 PM. Reason : .]

11/22/2005 12:07:02 PM

Merry Christmas.

11/22/2005 12:08:59 PM

Quote :

"Merry fucking Christmas towel head"

11/22/2005 12:10:00 PM

^ si si

11/22/2005 12:11:52 PM

I'm not Christian and yet I say Merry Christmas to people, and thats what I usually get back too. I hate the "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings" BS.

11/22/2005 12:14:15 PM

I mean, if it's just used as an expression or pleasantry, whatever.

If somebody gets offended, it's fucking stupid.

But still, there's a little thing called politeness.

11/22/2005 12:25:44 PM

Merry Christmas, since more people get offended by not hearing it than vice versa.

[Edited on November 22, 2005 at 12:32 PM. Reason : ]

11/22/2005 12:32:14 PM

Quote :

"I accidentally said marry christmas to a jewish friend, and he smiled and said merry christmas to me back. When I realized what he'd done, I thought it was pretty nice of him."

wait wait wait...you mean someone wasn't offended by saying Merry Christmas??!!!

11/22/2005 12:32:22 PM

so you mean to tell me

you would walk up to an orthodox jewish rabbi, with his prayer shawls and yamulke on, and tell him merry christmas

11/22/2005 12:32:50 PM

Merry Christmas.

Even if they're not Christian, the the day has a special name. Whether they care about the name or not, no reason they shouldn't be merry.

11/22/2005 12:34:19 PM

So you can only say "Merry Christmas" on December 25th.

11/22/2005 12:39:16 PM

Quote :

" wait wait wait...you mean someone wasn't offended by saying Merry Christmas??!"

uh, no. why would they be? that would be fucking stupid. What's offensive (well, actually, illegal) is when government entities do it. Also, I can totally understand why someone would recommend businesses not saying merry christmas, because it could drive away non-christian customers. It would be silly, in my opinion, to be offended by it, but obviously people sometimes are.

11/22/2005 1:25:09 PM

I only say any of it on the holiday for which it applies. "Merry Christmas" on Christmas day, and perhaps Christmas Eve and "Happy *insert holiday name*" on said holiday.

11/22/2005 1:25:31 PM

If I know you're Christian, I'll say "Merry Christmas"

If I don't know your religious affiliation, I say "Happy Holidays"

11/22/2005 1:52:55 PM

I typically say "Happy Holidays" to someone I don't know all that well, mainly because I grew up celebrating Hanukkah. If I know the person and their religious beliefs, then I'll modify it.

With that said, I grew up hearing "Merry Christmas" - I'm not offended by it, and I don't correct people when they wish me a Merry Christmas, I simply smile and say, "Merry Christmas to you, too!" No point in getting huffy about it, it's the thought that counts. If they care to, they'll figure it out when they ask me how my Christmas was after the holiday and I reply with, "Same old same old - movie and Chinese food. How about you?" Otherwise, it doesn't matter to me.

[Edited on November 22, 2005 at 1:57 PM. Reason : .]

11/22/2005 1:53:25 PM

Quote :

"Same old same old - movie and Chinese food. How about you?"

Millions of Jews.

Always the same Christmas.

11/22/2005 2:02:39 PM

I use them all interchangeably without much respect to the audience (expect for sometimes I intentionally use whichever one ppl are the least familiar with just for a change of pace). The underlying sentiment is the same in them all, and since its not a conversion attempt I don't see a problem with one over another. Its not like I'm wishing seasons greetings on strangers... and friends don't really care which is used.

11/22/2005 2:17:43 PM

Happy Festivus

11/22/2005 2:29:22 PM

for the rest of us

11/22/2005 2:29:48 PM

I don't really say either except if I'm calling a friend or family member on the day or close to.

Along similar lines was a public school in NY that didn't allow the use of "Christmas tree" and instead they had to call it something like "Holiday tree" or similarly stupid name considering that's the holiday it's for.

11/22/2005 3:24:14 PM

happy christmas

11/22/2005 3:32:40 PM

i prefer "bah humbug."

11/22/2005 3:39:29 PM

Kwanza nigga

11/22/2005 5:49:06 PM

Happy Festivus!




gather around the pole for the feats of strength!!!

11/22/2005 5:55:14 PM

If it's within a few days of christmas, Merry Christmas.

Otherwise I'll wish a Merry Christmas OR Happy Holidays (esp if i won't see them for a while.. so i can cover Christmas and New Years)

11/22/2005 6:21:08 PM

Quote :

"uh, no. why would they be? that would be fucking stupid. What's offensive (well, actually, illegal) is when government entities do it. Also, I can totally understand why someone would recommend businesses not saying merry christmas, because it could drive away non-christian customers. It would be silly, in my opinion, to be offended by it, but obviously people sometimes are."

DG, you would just love it where I work in state government... before every department function everyone is told to bow their heads and a prayer/blessing is said with plenty of praise for Jesus.

11/23/2005 9:04:46 AM

I heard there is no Christmas,
In the silly Middle East..
No trees, no snow, no Santa Claus,
They have different religious beliefs...
They believe in Muhammad,
And not in our holiday...
And so every December,
I go to the Middle East and say...

Hey there Mr Muslim, Merry Fucking Christmas
Put down that book, The Koran
And hear some holiday wishes
Incase you haven't noticed,
It's Jesus's Birthday
So get off your heathen Muslim ass
And fucking celebrate.

There is no holiday season in India,
I've heard..
They don't hang up their stockings,
And that is just absurd..
They've never read a Christmas story,
They don't know what Rudolph is about...
And that's why in December,
I'll go to India and shout...

Hey there Mr Hinduist, Merry Fucking Christmas
Drink eggnog, and eat some beef
and pass it to the missus
Incase you haven't noticed,
It's Jesus's birthday
So get off your heathen Hindu ass,
And fucking celebrate.

Now I heard that in Japan,
Everyone just lives in sin...
They pray to several gods,
And put needles in their skin...
On December twenty-fifth,
all they do is eat a cake...
and that is why I'll go to Japan,
and walk around and say...

Hey there Mr Shintoist, Merry Fucking Christmas
God is gonna kick your ass You infidelic pagan scum.
Incase you haven't noticed,
There's festive things to do
So lets all rejoice for Jesus
and Merry Fucking Christmas to you.

On Christmas Day, I travel round the world and say..
Taoists, Korishnas, Buddists
and all you atheists too..
Merry Fucking Christmas to you.
Thank you, Mr Hat..

11/23/2005 10:22:11 AM

Merry Christmas of course!

11/23/2005 10:46:10 AM

Quote :

"Happy Festivus! gather around the pole for the feats of strength!!!"

seriously i say "happy holidays" to ppl that i don't know unless they say "merry christmas" to me first...

11/23/2005 10:49:52 AM

now that I look at my calendar, Hanukkah starts at sundown on Dec. 25th, so now I can substitute latkes for chinese food this year.

Merry Chrismakwanzukkah to all!

11/23/2005 10:55:19 AM

I say "Happy Yule N Shit"

11/23/2005 11:35:41 AM

i'm not christian and it doesn't bother me if someone says "merry christmas" to me

am i really gonna be an ass and force them to change what they said...seriously
its not right to turn a pleasant greeting into one of either an argument, embarassment, or hassle
its the thought that counts, someone wanted to wish me something nice for once, and i thank them for it

[Edited on November 23, 2005 at 1:05 PM. Reason : .]

11/23/2005 1:05:01 PM

I prefer this:

Quote :

"Seasons Greetings Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2000, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical disability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee. Legal Disclaimer: By accepting this agreement, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. Sincerely, (Name withheld by request of author for legal, social, and cultural considerations.) "

11/23/2005 1:21:45 PM

Merry fucking Christmas towel head

or

Happy Winter-een-mas

11/23/2005 1:25:08 PM

Merry X-mas

You guys are using a primitive pronunciation, sort of like the way some people say "ask" instead of "axe".

11/23/2005 3:41:06 PM

Jesus doesn't believe in Christmas trees.

11/23/2005 4:17:00 PM

i SAY merry christmas
but i usually get xmas cards that say happy holidays bc one of my uncles (by marriage) is jewish

11/23/2005 4:21:49 PM

i say merry christmas and my roomie is jewish

Quote :

"You guys are using a primitive pronunciation, sort of like the way some people say "ask" instead of "axe". "

just say black dude, come on

[Edited on November 24, 2005 at 1:49 AM. Reason : .]

11/24/2005 1:49:17 AM

WHAT YOU MEAN YOU PEOPLE

11/24/2005 2:13:17 AM

happy holocaust!

11/24/2005 2:14:59 AM

Happy Holidays because not everyone celebrates christmas, DURRRR

11/24/2005 2:16:58 AM

Merry Christmas, with anyone

11/24/2005 3:23:54 AM

Happy Winter Break.

11/24/2005 8:59:04 PM

Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings...something rather innocuous, so I don't have to put any thought into whether or not they'd be offended.

11/25/2005 10:21:04 AM