Posted on 11/08/2004 7:28:03 PM PST by carrier-aviator
Is anyone else as sick as I am of the one-for-one substitution of the word "Hoilday" for "Christmas," as in Holiday Party, Holiday Shopping, Holiday Season, the Baby's First "Holiday." Christmas is a federal holiday just like Veterans' Day or Thanksgiving. Why shouldn't we mention it?
Take the pledge: refuse to use the word "Holiday" when "Christmas" is correct. To your neighbors and fellow employees say MERRY CHRISTMAS, never Happy Holidays, and if they object simply tell them you are wishing them happiness on the upcoming federal holiday. If they object further, ask them if they'll be going to work on December 25th.
My other pet peeve? The "Winter Solstice" garbage. Sheesh. The faculty at the college where I currently work stopped organizing "Christmas" parties in December, but instead have "Winter Solstice" parties. Ugh!!
Ok, I appreciate what you're saying, and I agree. But you sound suspiciously like a person whose shopping is done, and is just trying to keep up the Christmas spirit until the stores get the wrapping paper in stock.
People like you really threaten my self-esteem! Please, go back, get more stocking stuffers.
AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!
(only kidding!)
When I am out and about on the streets during November and December, I have made it a practice to ask Salvation Army bell ringers what the "Salvation" means in the name of their organization. Only about 1/3 have a clue. I have a very well written tract that explains God's Gift of Eternal Life and have had opportunity to share Christ on numerous occasions with the ringers themselves as well as interested "religious" folk who are nearby.
Feliz (Joyeous) Navidad (Birth)!
I never have particularly cared, since Christmas is a man-made holiday.
That's ridiculous.
I agree with you. They shouldn't have their cake and eat it too.
If it bothers you, don't use it. But the fact is the origin of X-mas is not from the devil.
"X" is the Greek symbol for Christ.
I generally don't use it because people don't recognize that. Not because it "takes Christ out of Christmas."
Well my Irish mother wasn't Greek Orthodox...just plain old uneducated loving Christian Irish Catholic Mam.
My story was anecdotal.
And no, you are right...Greek or not, I won't use X-mas. Takes all of five seconds to write Christmas.
I started, several years ago, to say "Merry CHRISTMAS"! Usually, I get a surprised and joyful "Merry Christmas!" in return! If someone doesn't like my greeting, then that's their problem - not mine! :-) In Pittsburgh, they have "Sparkle Season" instead of "Christmas Season".
That's pathetic.
Check out this little article from Tongue Tied ( http://www.tonguetied.us )
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Organizers of a charity bazaar in Conifer, Colo. refused to allow a local woman to set up a booth at the event because the items she wanted to sell – CDs of Christmas hymns she recorded herself – were too Christian, reports the Canyon Courier.
Evergreen resident Donna Jack was told her music was inappropriate for the 27th annual Holiday Boutique put on by the Conifer Newcomers and Neighbors organization. (The name of the event was changed from ‘Christmas Boutique’ to ‘Holiday Boutique’ a couple years ago so it wouldn’t appear to be a Christian event.)
A committee member told Jack the music was nice but might be more appropriate for a church arts and crafts fair. Jack even volunteered to equip the booth with headphones so others wouldn’t be subjected to Christmas songs, but the organizers would not relent.
Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a nonworkday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).
Thursday, January 1... New Year's Day
Monday, January 19... Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16 *... Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 31... Memorial Day
Monday, July 5 **... Independence Day
Monday, September 6... Labor Day
Monday, October 11... Columbus Day
Thursday, November 11... Veterans Day
Thursday, November 25... Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 24 ***... Christmas Day
Friday, December 31 ****... New Year's Day 2005
* This holiday is designated as "Washington's Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.
** Independence Day, July 4, 2004, falls on Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, July 5, 2004, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.
*** December 25, 2004, (the legal public holiday for Christmas Day) falls on a Saturday. For most Federal employees, Friday, December 24, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).)
**** Friday, December 31, 2004 will be treated as a holiday for most Federal employees since January 1, 2005 falls on a Saturday. See holiday schedule for 2005.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you consistent with this practice for every holiday? Do you try to ascertain, say, someone's political persuasion before figuring out what to say on MLK day? Do you just say "happy Holiday" to your atheist friends at Thanksgiving, since they have no one to thank?
I'm not Jewish, but I have never been offended by anyone wishing me a Happy Hannuka. I don't have to share someone else's religious beliefs to feel good about them wishing me happiness, whatever the occasion. Courtesy is one thing; political correctness run amok is another.
The word "Christmas" is not necessarily Christian. Christmas was the first federal holiday, ordered during the Grant administration. So, if you are having a "Christmas Festival" you are having a festival dedicated to the law and Act of Congress passed in 1875. Now how could that be anything but secular! :-)
Right on! It won't make Maureen Dowd happy but, thank God, she will soon be institutionalized.
I don't. It's C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S-!!! I hope people place Manger Scenes everywhere this year and the ACLU can take a flying leap! We ALL need to take back our culture -- you know the one our country was founded on; not one recent immigrants would have forced upon us!
This "Happy Holiday" expression is, as Col. Potter (M*A*S*H) would say, is "horse hockey."
If the Jews wish me Happy H (no one can spell that word since it's been done at least 9 variations), then that's fine too.
Cheers.
Merry Christmas... and Pray to God for our kids in the United States military! ... and for our President, George W. Bush and Laura.
Ironically, the word "holiday" is a contraction of the phrase "holy day". Personally, I always make it a point to say "Merry Christmas" loud and clear to everybody, especially my kids' teachers.
She said to me as a child..'X-mas...X is the sign of the divil. Never, ever send me a card with X-mas on it!'
Hmmm... I'm part of an Irish Catholic American family... my mother always said the same thing about "X-mas": It's the sign of the divil! ;-)
Like you - to this day - I don't even use the word X-mas for an informal abbreviation, ie. when writing up a list of Christmas gifts, etc... I've been programmed not to use that word, LOL.
Nutmeg!!!
Everytime I see your username I think of Christmas.
Only my Mam (God rest her soul) ever used the spice was at Christmas...and then she'd use LOTS and LOTS of nutmeg! :-)
Warms me heart just thinking about it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.