Sunday, December 13, 2015

A Seasonal Question & My Answer


Assume for a moment that you are a Christian (and if you actually are one, even better for the purposes of this.) When someone says "Happy Holidays!" to you, what is your response?

Assume for a moment that you are NOT a Christian (and, again, even better for this if you really aren't.) When you know you are dealing with a Christian, do you write or say "Christmas" in full or do you abbreviate it via use of an "X", as in "Xmas"? What if you know that doing so may piss off the Christian with whom you're dealing? Do you still do so?


I explore this subject in my latest Boston Herald column. I hope you'll go to the Boston Herald website and read it, then comment if you feel the urge.

Thanks!

Soon, with more better stuff.

12 comments:

Shammickite said...

I write the whole word Christmas, not Xmas. And I say Happy Christmas.... which is what I said when growing up in UK, whereas here in N America the favoured seasonal greeting is Merry Christmas. And if someone says Happy Holidays, that's fine, let's all be happy. We can all enjoy holidays, whatever they are called. But I do object to a Christmas tree being called a Holiday tree. The decorated tree is a Christmas tradition and yes, we enjoy it whatever the celebration, but please don't change the name.

joeh said...

To paraphrase a famous Massachusetts blogger, "Hammer...nail...head!"

Ami said...

I am an atheist.
I love Christmas music, presents, trees and the kindness the season seems to bring out in all but the nastiest people. Some of whom are Christian, some Atheist, some Buddhist...

My religion in a nutshell? "Try not to be an asshole."

And if someone wishes me a Happy Kwanzaa or any one of the myriad of holidays celebrated during this season, I smile. Sincerely. And say, "Thank you! You too!"

messymimi said...

Agreed. The word holiday is an abbreviation of holy day, and i hope whatever your holy day is, even if it's just Tuesday, is a good one!

Absolut Ruiness said...

I wouldn't mind saying or being wished "Happy Times ahead!!". Even though I always wish "Merry Christmas", I dont think anybody should take offense on an innocent mistake like Xmas or Christmas. the intention is conveying good wishes and should be accepted as such. Its useless to wish anything, good or bad, to such people who get offended so easily. They take offence at nothing at all. HAPPY TIMES AHEAD TO YOU JIM, THE AWESOME!!

The Broad said...

I totally agree with you, Jim. Underlying all the greetings is the message of 'Peace and goodwill to all men' -- however you say it. xo

Daryl said...

learned a long time ago that Xmas was not well received by my gentile friends ... and ON Christmas i wish EVERYONE a Merry ... rest of the season its Happy Holidays 'cause its a combo thing ... during Hanukkah EVERYONE gets wished a Happy Hanukkah .. because thats how i roll

Craig said...

Actually, I took a theology class during my college years, and I was taken aback, at first, that the professor commonly used 'X' as shorthand for 'Christ' - 'Christian' was 'Xn', etc, based on the Greek letter 'chi', which is the first letter of 'Christ' in Greek (and it made note-taking a whole lot less tedious). So, whereas I don't tend to use 'Xmas' myself, just because most folks tend to take it as a kind of 'taking Christ out of Christmas' thing, I'll often smile wryly, and occasionally remark on the theological sophistication of the writer. . .

And, you know, 'try not to be an asshole' may not rise quite to the level of the Golden Rule as a moral/ethical standard, but it works reasonably well in lots of contexts. . .

The Geezers said...

Raised a Lutheran, I now consider myself a Buddhist. I generally return whatever greeting the other offers, as its all the same, really.

Ruby said...

Interesting blog Jim. I'm a Hindu and have always felt joy and spirit of the season at this time of the year, although I don't celebrate Christmas. I wish whatever I feel at that time happy holidays or merry Christmas. To my christian friends Merry Xmas or Christmas. In India, I've notice a few people give a confused look when I wish happy holidays!

Maggie May said...

I agree with you. Don't like Happy holidays! Don't like Xmas!
However......... we seem to be a very tolerant society in Britain so we seem to look for the true meaning of it all and accept graciously. (Maybe we're all getting brainwashed into doing so!)
Wishing you A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Maggie x

Hilary said...

Like most here, I agree. I am never offended by, and usually grateful for whatever kindness anyone chooses to wish me. Since I've always celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah with my kids, I tend to just go with the flow.

Other family members who only celebrate the latter tend to say something like "Thank you.. it's Hanukkah for me but Merry Christmas to you!" or elaborate about their own celebrations when asked something like "Are you all set for Christmas?" But of course that's more than a kind wish.. it's an assumption and in that instance, I see nothing wrong with expressing how you celebrate different things, even if thanking them would be quicker and easier.

If I know someone celebrates Christmas, I'll wish them "Merry Christmas." If I'm uncertain, I'll more likely say something like "Have a great holiday."

So.. Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jim.
X (I'll save the use of Xs for hugs)