Are you Offended by the word CHRISTmas?

Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by Errant Venture
I just want to add ... I wish someone would say 'Happy Kwanza' to me! I don't follow whatever religion says that, but it sounds cool enough, and no one's ever said that to me

Happy Kwanza, everyone!
Kwanzaa is not associated with any particular religion. It's a Pan-African remembrance celebration created by an activist in the 1960's. It's also a pretty exclusively African-American holiday, as I've never heard of anyone in other countries celebrating it.

As for the whole "offensive Christmas" thing, I think it's all silly. Wishing someone "Happy Holidays" does not exclude Christmas, because the word is the shortening of "holy days", and traditionally refers to the entire feast of Christmas (all 12 days of it). The word "Xmas" does not take the "Christ out of Christmas", because X is how the Western alphabet writes "Chi", making it an abbreviation of "Christos". So "Xmas" is "Chi-mass", and it should be obvious who you're referring to.
12/09/2011
Contributor: Hallmar82 Hallmar82
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!
12/09/2011
Contributor: Sir Sir
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.
12/09/2011
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by bayosgirl
I have noticed lately that often, when the word Christmas is used, the speaker will be corrected by someone to use the word "holiday." I don't understand why this is a big deal. Even people who are not Christians celebrate the holiday, ... more
What offends me is when nasty Christians (not meant to include all Christians, I love a great many of you guys ) insist on not taking Christ out of the holiday and then spend themselves into insane debt. The Holy Day is a celebration of your saviors birth not a day to "prove" how much you love your family and friends by giving them un-needed and over priced gifts! In my very vocal and silly family there have even been tears and yelling over getting a gift less expensive than they gave or not getting EXACTLY what they asked for! To my mind if you act this way you are celebrating Xmas (as in taking Christ out of the equation not the Greek word for Christ) anyhow.

The name of the holiday is not offensive to me in any way and I don't mind spelling it out or capitalizing the first letter. I love attending church with my Christian loved ones and friends. Still I really hate being blasted by Christmas carols the day after Halloween....
12/09/2011
Contributor: Pink Jewel Pink Jewel
I am a Christian and I am not offended by "Christmas"
12/10/2011
Contributor: GRRRRR GRRRRR
Christmas all the way
12/10/2011
Contributor: CS2012 CS2012
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.
12/15/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
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.
12/16/2011
Contributor: mom&wife08 mom&wife08
Quote:
Originally posted by bayosgirl
I have noticed lately that often, when the word Christmas is used, the speaker will be corrected by someone to use the word "holiday." I don't understand why this is a big deal. Even people who are not Christians celebrate the holiday, ... more
no way am i offended. i am a Christian and we celebrate CHRISTMAS not a holiday
12/16/2011
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Freue Weihnachten!
12/16/2011
Contributor: Lucky21 Lucky21
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.
12/16/2011
Contributor: Kitka Kitka
Quote:
Originally posted by Squeaky
I grew up in a non-religious family, we called it Christmas. We celebrated it anyway because it's fun. Yay, family and presents!
This is pretty much how it was for me as well. The word Christmas doesn't bother me at all because we called it that anyway.
12/16/2011
Contributor: LAndJ LAndJ
Quote:
Originally posted by Vanille
I'm not religious at all, so it doesn't bother me one bit.
Same. I'm non-religious. I work in a church right now there's no obligation towards religion though since I'm just in the nursery to watch the kids during the service.
12/16/2011
Contributor: MeliPixie MeliPixie
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
12/16/2011
Contributor: yeoshua yeoshua
Quote:
Originally posted by Tessa Taboo
For me, the answer to that question can be summed up here. ... more
Hats off to Tessa Taboo for being a very wise woman. Related to the included link (which you all should definitely check out) Tessa (I think we are on a first name basis...) is very sensative to the customs, traditions and feelings of a variety of people.

As a Jewish man, I am sick and tired of being wished a merry Christmas everywhere I go during this season. When I respond by telling people that my family and I are Jewish, some of the most offensive things people have said to me include, but are in no way limited to:

Well, what do you celebrate? (...do I need to celebrate anything, just because you are? Don't think so...)

Oh, that's right--Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas (...uh...no...why would a Jewish person celebrate the life of someone that we do not consider the Messiah?)

Do you get presents every night of Hanukkah--can I be Jewish so I get alot of presents?

Christmas isn't a religious day (UH...yes, even I know it was not established so that you could have an excuse to spend too much money and eat too much food...)

Christmas has nothing to do with Christ. (DUH....Christ...CHRIS Tmas)

Do Jews hate Christ? (I love this one...no, we do not even discuss Christ to tell you the truth. I am sure that Jesus Christ was a very nice man, but that is what he was, a man. He is not my messiah.)

I could go on, but why bother. You probably don't get it anyway. Hanukkah begins this year, and each and every year, on the 25th day of Kislev. Kislev is the current month in the Hebrew calander and this year it corresponds to December 22nd. And please, because it is the 25th day of the month of Kislev, please do not ask if it because Christmas is December 25th.

UGH!
12/16/2011
Contributor: (k)InkyIvy (k)InkyIvy
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.
12/16/2011
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
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.
12/16/2011
Contributor: Nazaress Nazaress
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.
12/16/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
Quote:
Originally posted by yeoshua
Hats off to Tessa Taboo for being a very wise woman. Related to the included link (which you all should definitely check out) Tessa (I think we are on a first name basis...) is very sensative to the customs, traditions and feelings of a variety of ... more
I don't really see those as out and out offensive. Just people being uninformed. Do you have better examples?
12/17/2011
Contributor: Kat Shanahan Kat Shanahan
Quote:
Originally posted by Errant Venture
I don't really see those as out and out offensive. Just people being uninformed. Do you have better examples?
...You don't see anything offensive about a Jewish person being asked if Jews hate Christ? Seriously? It might not be *intentionally* offensive, but I can certainly see how someone of the Jewish faith would find it offensive. Holy shit.
12/17/2011
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by Kat Shanahan
...You don't see anything offensive about a Jewish person being asked if Jews hate Christ? Seriously? It might not be *intentionally* offensive, but I can certainly see how someone of the Jewish faith would find it offensive. Holy shit.
Agreed. Ignorance can totally be offensive, there doesn't have to be any mean intention behind it.

When my mom lived in Ohio way back when, a friend/acquaintance of hers who had never met a Jew before asked her if she could see her horns. Honestly. These people were so ignorant that they actually believed that Jews had horns. Um, seriously offensive.
12/17/2011
Contributor: toxie m toxie m
Quote:
Originally posted by yeoshua
Hats off to Tessa Taboo for being a very wise woman. Related to the included link (which you all should definitely check out) Tessa (I think we are on a first name basis...) is very sensative to the customs, traditions and feelings of a variety of ... more
Yeah, as I said in my post, it's the assumptions that really get me. I was telling a coworker about how I was caught off-guard by a customer at work asking me if I was ready for Christmas (I've managed to avoid the question until now, somehow, and I had no snappy reply ready) and how I stumbled on how to answer. She said, "Well, just say, 'Thanks, but I celebrate Hanukkah.'" In my mind, this is absolutely the wrong answer because it perpetuates the idea that Hanukkah is "the other Christmas option". My coworker absolutely didn't understand why I took her suggestion to be unreasonable. Hanukkah is not 'that thing Jews do at Christmastime' and it shouldn't even be part of the Christmas discussion. Ugh.
12/17/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
Quote:
Originally posted by Kat Shanahan
...You don't see anything offensive about a Jewish person being asked if Jews hate Christ? Seriously? It might not be *intentionally* offensive, but I can certainly see how someone of the Jewish faith would find it offensive. Holy shit.
yeah, seriously.
12/17/2011
Contributor: MR Chickhabit MR Chickhabit
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.
12/17/2011
Contributor: SaMiKaY SaMiKaY
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.
12/17/2011
Contributor: hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by toxie m
Agreed. Ignorance can totally be offensive, there doesn't have to be any mean intention behind it.

When my mom lived in Ohio way back when, a friend/acquaintance of hers who had never met a Jew before asked her if she could see her horns. ... more
Well, thanks to a mistranslation of the Bible, some versions used to say that Moses had horns, and that's why Michelangelo sculpted him that way. Maybe that's where she got the idea?

I have several Jewish friends, some of whom celebrate Hanukkah, some of whom don't. Though since they share Haman taschen with me, I always make sure to wish them a Happy Purim
12/17/2011
Contributor: Sweet-Justice Sweet-Justice
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
12/17/2011
Contributor: null null
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.
12/17/2011
Contributor: Kat Shanahan Kat Shanahan
Quote:
Originally posted by MR Chickhabit
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 ... more
"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?"

I fought with myself over whether or not to respond to this, but in the end I simply couldn't let this go by without sharing my opinion on it.

The 'sticks and stones' attitude is, simply put, complete and utter bullshit. Always has been, and always will be. Yes, we were taught this as children, but that doesn't mean it's valid...and in my personal opinion, this is not something that should ever be taught to children.

Do you really think that 'what is said to us is simply words'? Try talking to an African-American who has had racist epithets slung at them. Or a parent who has had a child commit suicide because of bullying. Or a person in the LGBT community who has experienced homophobia or transphobia. Do you think that 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' is going to make any difference whatsoever to their experiences?

Words are not 'just words'. They have meanings behind them, often loaded meanings. Just because the people who speak them may not know (or care) what effect their words have on another person, that doesn't mean that the person to whom they are directed doesn't have the right to be hurt or offended.

I know that you probably were applying this to the "Merry Christmas"/"Happy Holidays" debate and didn't think of the wider implications of the 'sticks and stones' mentality, but the situations that I have brought up are the ones where that crap is preached the most. "So he called you a f*g. Big deal! Get over it, it's only a word." "N***er only has power if you give it power! Relax, it's nothing to get offended over." That kind of shit.

I'm sorry if this came off as brusque, or rude. I just absolutely despise this idea that has been instilled in us that 'words are just words' and that we shouldn't be offended by *anything* that's said to us. That's the kind of attitude that has let homophobia, bullying, and racism run rampant without any kind of meaningful resolution.
12/18/2011
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
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?
12/18/2011