Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Americans Divided on That, Too

We have heard for decades how retailers make their profits at the end of the year by cashing in on gift purchases. Well, one way to stop this nonsense over Christmas trees, and Merry Christmas greetings, and Manger scenes, is to stop the buying for one season, namely 2011 Christmas . Instead, have an open house for family and friends. Take your kids sledding, play table games, drink hot chocolate, toast marshmallows in the fireplace, go caroling. Decorate your home, but start on January 1 indocrinating your children into the idea that the next Christmas will be about the meaning of the holiday, and spend it building relationships with family, friends, neighbors, God.

Politcal correctness will destroy this country. Yes we are a melting pot, having said that it is still the Christmas Season. So MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all. And do not even tell me that people who are not Christian or of any faith tell their children it is not CHRISTMAS DAY but Holiday.........

Secular movie, "It's a Wonderful Life?" It starts out with prayers and includes an angel as a main character. Isn't that religious? By the way, "holiday" stands for "holy day" and "x-mass" was an early Christian symbol. Sorry, there's no way to escape religion in the season. You secular people are just going to have to accept that it's a religious holiday!

When you live in a country that's as diverse as ours one needs to practice tolerance towards others otherwise one should move to a country that espouses their religion, their politics and their morals.

The federal government is always worrying about traditions of minorities. But about the American Majority doesn't get much press till elrction time.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I usually use the more British, "Happy Christmas" for most of my greetings, but, then again, I am me. As far as the holidays, I greet as best by the time. Hanukkah (or however it is spelled) floats around the calendar as it is scheduled as a "lunar-solar holiday". I greet just before and during the holiday a "Happy Hanukkah" as long as it is discretely separate from Christmas. I wish a "Happy Christmas" between the two, and right after Christmas it's "Happy New Year". I am still uncertain about Kwanzaa, as it was started only in my generation. As I see it Kwanzaa is a secular holiday where the world (At least the Northern Hemisphere) is recognizing the short days and long nights. (It would be the equivalent of summer in the Southern Hemisphere). As I see it, we celebrate at this time of the year, "... these Festivals of Light, to light the darkness of these cold and dark days". May you and yours have a Blessed Season, whatever you celebrate.

Merry Holidays and a Happy New Year

I have several Jewish friends to whom I say Happy Holidays. All others I wish them A Merry Christmas. Simple.

I prefer Merry Christmas, though I do not believe in organized religion. I grew up decorating a Christmas tree and watching Santa say Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas. It is about tradition, not religion. A time to celebrate with friends and family, with the whole country. And, of course, open Christmas presents and sing Christmas Songs.

If someone says Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc, they are simply offering happiness and cheer in their own way, how could any of those be offensive?