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"My husband and I amke it a point to say Merry Christmas, too. I also say Happy New year to my Jewish friends at Rosh Hoshona..."

I wish friends I know to be Christian a "Merry Christmas." I wish friends I know to be Jewish with "Happy Channukah."
I wish the two friends I know to be Buddhists with "Go in Peace."
I wish the Muslims I know with "Season's Greetings."

Everyone else get's a "Happy Holidays," since I have no idea what their beliefs might be. If they have a holiday this time of the year, then they get my good wishes. Here in the US...everyone pretty much celebrates January 1st as New Years Day. There's a holiday everyone can agree on, whatever their religion. Some celebrate another New Year, too, like the Chinese family who lives three doors down from me, but they also celebrate January 1st.

If someone makes any sort of holiday greeting to me, I return it the same way they offered it.

That all makes perfect sense to me, since I do sincerely hope they have a happy celebration of whatever holiday they celebrate.

However, if I wish someone "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" and they reply nastily with some retort regarding Christmas, I just walk on. That's their problem. I offered a warm greeting. They returned scorn. Tough.

If non-Christians want to wish me well referencing one of their Holy days, I thank them, and if it is at Christmas time I wish them a Merry Christmas.

Wishing someone a Merry Christmas isn't equivalent to a forced conversion.

I would agree with you that hostility is misplaced whether it be in the wisher or the wishie. However, as Christ's Mass is the only major religious holy day of the season (Hanukkah doesn't have nearly the same significance), why is it intolerant to treat it as a Christian holiday period? New Years isn't a Holy day, and it seems odd to be wishing someone a happy new year on December 1st.

I think it is a backlash against the extreme that some places are taking it. Like "holiday tree" there is only one major holiday that uses trees as part of their celebration at this time of the year. They are Christmas trees. Holiday tree is just silly.

On the other hand, this is the holiday season that begins with Thanksgiving and ends on January 2. Or for some people January 6th.

I wish people would learn to ease up a bit. They have become so determined to be "non-offencive" that they have become offensive.

But on the other hand the offended ones should be careful that they do not engage in the same behavior that offended them.

However, if I wish someone "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" and they reply nastily with some retort regarding Christmas, I just walk on.

And that is a prime example.

Of course I say the same about people who get in a huff over being wished Merry Christmas as well.