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Post by sandy on Nov 20, 2006 11:09:10 GMT -5
Last year some retailers thought that it wasn't politically correct to use the word Christmas in their stores. I was a bit upset. This year some of the same stores are having problems deciding if it's correct or not. I was one of the ones last year that thought that not having Christmas in Christmas was wrong. Now I have had a year to think about it and have decided that it's ok for retailers to not use the words. To me Christmas has become too commercial and a lot of the meaning has gone out of the words Merry Christmas. Maybe this will put some meaning back into the words. What say you?
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Post by Juana Cookie on Nov 20, 2006 17:28:55 GMT -5
I say that words are words, and that actions speak louder. I know a lot of people who act offended by the omission of the word "Christmas" from the holiday season, and yet, they don't conduct themselves in a manner taught by the teachings of Jesus, on a day-to-day basis.
I don't deal a lot with retailers, this time of year (or any time of year, that I can avoid it!). I think the true gift...the true meaning of Christmas...is to give of oneself, and not to bow down to the almighty retailer. (This not only applies to Christmas, but to ALL gift-giving occasions!) So most of the gifts that I give, are handmade/homemade. My father's favorite gift was always "coupon books", that I made. A coupon for each month of the year, and then a few "bonus" coupons, that he could use ANY time. The coupons were redeemable for cookies! *LOL* Of course, if you're not a cook, you can always give coupons for baby-sitting, or lawn mowing, or car washing...or any other task that the person getting the gift, may not like to do.
Christmas HAS become too commercial...but we have no-one to blame for that, but ourselves. If you want to put the REAL meaning of Christmas, back into Christmas, instead of buying a gift...MAKE one...or if you don't have the time, make a donation to the person's favorite charity, in their name, instead of buying a gift. Or, if you MUST buy a gift, buy something that the proceeds are donated to a charity.
My giving list, this year, includes homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, knitted gifts, and cookbooks that all the proceeds go to helping elderly and low income cancer patients afford medications, treatments, etc., that they might otherwise not be able to get. I've also made 150 knit dolls, to donate to a children's charity, and I always make a contribution to the above cancer patient charity, as a gift to the staff of the oncology/hematology office that cares for me.
So I don't worry about whether I say "Happy Holidays", "Seasons Greetings" or "Merry Christmas"! What matters, are not the words that come out of my mouth, but the love and the giving that is in my heart, when I say them.
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Post by Mark on Nov 21, 2006 0:13:05 GMT -5
I'm in agreement with you both. When I say 'Merry Christmas' you can bet I mean it, and the reason people know I mean it is because I live it all year long. I'm not handy, I can't make things, but I give in other ways with things I can do. I would always rather give than receive - that makes me happy.
On the other hand, I don't care what the stores say, per se, but I really don't see why they can't say the names of the holidays, whether its Hannukah, Christmas or both - the reason being that there would be no holiday without the religious significance involved. The very word, 'holiday' is derived from 'Holy Day', after all - look in any dictionary. Therefore, they should say "Commercial Day Gifts" or the equivalent thereof, and not 'Holiday Gifts', or else put the words back in that give the holidays their original significance.
Anyway, that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.... ;D
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Post by Fluffy on Nov 21, 2006 12:38:29 GMT -5
The trouble is the powers-that-be bend over backwards not to offend people of a specific
religion, and they end up pleasing no-one. I wish they would just leave well alone and let
people, of whatever race and creed, enjoy Christmas as they please.
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Post by Mark on Nov 21, 2006 19:18:13 GMT -5
Exactly, Fluffy. Let people call it what they want, just don't deprive or dictate in the process. It is Christmas and it is Hannukah, it is Kwanzaa, it is several things. Hindus just celebrated Diwali and I don't remember anyone giving 'Holiday Greetings'. No, indeed not, Diwali was mentioned by name. Ramadan was celebrated earlier this year by muslims without its name being dropped, and on and on. So, in my opinion, retailers should make reference to any holiday by name, even if more than one occurs simultaneously, and not lump them altogether. We have holidays all year long, each with a diffferent name. Let's do away with generic 'holidays' - isn't that why we have 'weekends'?
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Post by Marcia on Dec 12, 2006 16:20:26 GMT -5
I'm an outsider here, but my feeling is that Christmas isn't about spending money at Walmart but about what you do with the holiday at home, church or inside your heart. It doesn't offend me for someone to say Merry Christmas, but it does offend me to dictate it as the only holiday that counts.
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Post by Mark on Dec 12, 2006 16:34:53 GMT -5
Gracious! You could never be an outsider here, Marcia. And not everybody ignores the other holidays, or didn't you notice? Didn't you receive the holiday ecard I made and sent to everybody?
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Post by Marcia on Dec 12, 2006 16:46:55 GMT -5
I didn't mean an outsider here...I meant as someone who has an opinion about a holiday I don't celebrate. I guess I didn't make that clear. We've just become so PC that nobody can say or do anything without it becoming a federal case. And, yes I got you card, thanks.
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Post by Mark on Dec 12, 2006 17:11:18 GMT -5
Well, good, you're not the only MOT... ;D OH, and BTW, welcome back! Good to see you around again.
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Post by Marcia on Dec 12, 2006 18:44:08 GMT -5
What is a MOT?
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Post by Mark on Dec 12, 2006 19:23:12 GMT -5
Sorry, guess you've been away from NY (primarily LI) too long. Let's just say you're not the only person who is a member here who is of other than the persuasion that celebrates Christmas.
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Post by Maria on Dec 13, 2006 23:05:28 GMT -5
I also don't know what MOT stands for. Just never heard it before.
I sometimes say Enjoy the Holidays, or Happy Holidays because I feel it not only takes in Christmas (which I celebrate), includes my Jewish friends, but also New Years Eve -- at least at this time of the year.
But I also say' have a good holiday' when people are vacationing or it is a date to celebrate like July 4.
That being said, have a wonderful time with your families and friends and let's pray for world peace. :-)
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Post by Dabbit on Dec 15, 2006 10:15:53 GMT -5
This subject gets my goat, but I won't get started it's the season of good will!
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Post by Mark on Dec 15, 2006 16:01:26 GMT -5
LOL....MOT is just a slang term, which literally means 'Member Of (the) Tribe'.
A reminder, today begins Chanukah. But whichever holiday you celebrate, may it be the happiest ever.
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Post by woodentop on Dec 18, 2006 15:31:08 GMT -5
Last year some retailers thought that it wasn't politically correct to use the word Christmas in their stores. I was a bit upset. This year some of the same stores are having problems deciding if it's correct or not. I was one of the ones last year that thought that not having Christmas in Christmas was wrong. Now I have had a year to think about it and have decided that it's ok for retailers to not use the words. To me Christmas has become too commercial and a lot of the meaning has gone out of the words Merry Christmas. Maybe this will put some meaning back into the words. What say you? Well I am Jewish but I certainly celebrate Christmas as well as Hanukah!  |
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Post by Mark on Dec 18, 2006 20:51:35 GMT -5
There you go - that's the spirit!  |
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Post by Marcia on Dec 21, 2006 14:29:31 GMT -5
So, I have another question. There is an ad for Kohl's in today's newspaper, and the headline is something about Christmas Power Shopping Hours. Why isn't that more insulting than someone saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? I think that makes a mockery of Christmas. Is it only about shopping these days? Thoughts???
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Post by Mark on Dec 21, 2006 15:00:35 GMT -5
I have no idea, Marcia. Personally, I'm not insulted by words or their omission. One can say Happy Holidays, Happy Diwali, Happy Chanukah, Happy Ramadan, Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas or whatever. Every culture, every religion has its rights, none of which are superior to others, all having equal rights under the laws of the U.S. anyway. What matters is the season, a season where we should reflect on this life, this earth and our relationship with each other. As Jo put it so eloquently, "What matters, are not the words that come out of my mouth, but the love and the giving that is in my heart, when I say them." Well put, Jo, well put indeed!
As for "Christmas Power Shopping Hours", bah humbug! That is crass commercialism of the worst sort in my opinion.
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Post by sandy on Dec 21, 2006 15:42:21 GMT -5
Some retailers go to any length to sell. Sort of like the idiot used car salesman. Not everyone has good taste anymore.
I think that not calling it Christmas hit a sore note because the retailers were afraid they would insult or upset a very few people and gave absolutely no consideration for the majority of their customers. It just seemed to be the straw that broke the majority's back.
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Post by Mark on Dec 21, 2006 15:47:43 GMT -5
That could be true, and probably is. I just could never figure out why people were offended by the omission.
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