Wal-Mart: We're not afraid to say Merry Christmas

cnn.com ^ | 11/9/06

[peggybac]

No. 1 retailer has decided to abandon its generic 'Happy Holidays' greeting in favor of 'Merry Christmas.' NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart has told its employees that it's OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" this holiday season instead of the generic "Happy Holidays." CNN confirmed that Wal-Mart will announce Thursday that it plans to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in products and around its stores this holiday season. The announcement comes a year after religious groups such as The American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted retailers including Wal-Mart last holiday season for excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores. "We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today in a separate report. "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often." Besides resurrecting its Christmas pitch, the retailer is also determined to be the leader in this year's holiday price wars. The November-December holiday shopping period is a critical time for merchants since it can account for as much as 50 percent of their profits and sales. To that end, Wal-Mart was the first out of the gate to chop prices on toys and electronics much ahead of its competitors like Target (Charts), Toys 'R Us, Costco (Charts) and others. To support its Christmas deals, the report said Wal-Mart will launch TV ads next week that trumpet "Christmas." It's changing the name of its seasonal decorations department to "The Christmas Shop" from "The Holiday Shop." Moreover, Wal-Mart stores will play Christmas carols throughout the holiday period and about 60 percent more merchandise will be labeled as "Christmas" rather than "holiday" items, the paper said.

[Stone Mountain]

NO! It's the exclusion of what many believe in and support, Jesus Christ the very reason for the season!

Well, for one, many others don't happen to be Christian. But I don't understand how saying "Happy Holidays" excludes Christians any more than it excludes Jews or secularists.

The anti Christian people are the ones that started this "xmas" and "happy holiday" as a slap in the face of every Christian!

Actually, Xmas is a traditional Chrisitian spelling - with the X representing the cross. Not secular and certainly not anti-Christian. As far as "happy holidays" being a slap in the face of every Christian, aren't we the site that takes liberals to task for taking offense where none is intended? If you don't know the religious beliefs of the person you are talking to, I don't see that assuming they are a Christian is the most polite thing. Basically, you are saying that any non-religious expression that wishes you good cheer in December is offensive to you? Wow.

We have simply decided that if a Store does not want to recognize Jesus Christ, we will not shop there.

That's fine. Nothing wrong with that. I just don't understand the vitriol towards people who want to wish everyone, Christians and non-Christians alike good tidings for the holidays.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I almost always shop at Walmart in the evenings. It is such a nice experience if you don't mind the stocking activities. That may be why I don't share the complaints of other Walmart shoppers in regards to dirty, overfilled stores.

[kevao]

I say we go with: Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

[Xenalyte]

What you said! I'm hoping to get good sleep Saturday night - after working outside all day, I'd better! ;)

[Quick1]

The anti Christian people are the ones that started this "xmas" and "happy holiday" as a slap in the face of every Christian!

The X is actually standing for a Greek character which stands for the cross. Pretty anti-Christian if you ask me.

If saying Happy Holidays is anti-Christian, is it also anti-Semetic when we don't say Happy Hannukah?

[Stone Mountain]

When that holiday season is centered around Christmas, when that holiday season is the one that puts most retailers in the black financially, when, dammit, it's been our Christmas for centuries...it is not too much to expect them to acknowledge the reason for the season financial success they undergo from Nov. to the end of December.

Channukah has been around for less time? And many of the Christmas symbols originate from the Pagan religion which has been around longer too. But really, who cares whose been around in the past. Right now, there are people in our country with diverse beliefs - I don't see that any of them inherently deserve any less courtesy than Christians. If you are a business, doesn't it make sense to want to include all of your customers in wishing them well for the holiday season? And I'll say it again - aren't we the site that takes Liberals to task for taking offense where none is intended? Is it so wrong for a store or a person to want to include good tidings for all people, not just Christians?

[antiRepublicrat]

If you don't know the religious beliefs of the person you are talking to, I don't see that assuming they are a Christian is the most polite thing.

A pagan friend loves people saying "Merry Christmas" to him, since we're all celebrating what is a pagan holiday at its roots anyway.

I, as an atheist, simply don't care to be offended. I know the positive intent behind a simple "Merry Christmas" or "Have a blessed day" and take it at that. I'd have to be a world-class a$$h0le to respond with "How dare you say Merry Christmas to me. I am not a Christian!"

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"I believe I may be shopping at Wal-Mart this Christmas!!"

now, if only we can work on that trade deficit with china that has us building up their military.

[Domandred]

I shop at our local grocery for produce and meats (WinCo) because their produce, meats, and deli are 100% better then Walmart and pretty much the same price.

For everything else I shop at Walmart because the prices are the same as the local grocery, but the Walmart is about 4 miles closer.

Overall it's actually cheaper to shop for groceries at Winco, but Walmart wins for closeness.

Everything else I shop at Walmart first. Hardware, small appliances, movies, games, clothes, etc etc etc. Walmart first, if they don't have it then I go somewhere else.

The only issue I ever have at Walmart is that they put the slow cashier school dropouts in the express lanes and they have horrible shopping cart management.

[Stone Mountain]

A pagan friend loves people saying "Merry Christmas" to him, since we're all celebrating what is a pagan holiday at its roots anyway. I, as an atheist, simply don't care to be offended. I know the positive intent behind a simple "Merry Christmas" or "Have a blessed day" and take it at that. I'd have to be a world-class a$$h0le to respond with "How dare you say Merry Christmas to me. I am not a Christian!"

I completely agree with this. As an athiest, when someone tells me "Bless You," I look upon it as if a fellow athiest tells me "Good Luck." Same with Merry Christmas - and actually, even as an athiest, I do celebrate Christmas in a secular gift-giving, tree-decorating sort of way. But you are certainly correct, you would have to be a world-class a$$h0le to respond with "How dare you say Merry Christmas to me.

Now, can I turn that around? Wouldn't someone have to also be a world-class a$$h0le to respond with "How dare you say Happy Holidays to me?"

[Domandred]

"How dare you say Merry Christmas to me. I am not a Christian!"

I actually had some retard say that to me once when I was working retail. I replied: I'm sorry. Have a Christmas.

[Irish Queen]

For the last few years when when greeted with a generic "Happy Holidays" On occasion I reply, "Which one? Eid? Winter Soltise, Hannanuk, or Chinese New Year?"

Or I give a little laugh and say, "Thanks for the greeting, but I don't celebrate Happy Holidays, I celebrate Christmas instead.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

How am I supposed to find a cheap, Chinese-made Festivus pole!!!???

I think Lowes carries them.

[Stone Mountain]

I replied: I'm sorry. Have a Christmas.

LOL!

[paratrooper82]

When did you become insulted by "Christmas?"

It is a Christian season celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I never wanted to exclude the Jewish People. Anyone can celebrate Christmas with us.

Why do I have to shop in a Store that refuses to recognize my religious beliefs? And, if they do, don't I have the right not to shop in that Store? Do I have go along with anti-religious zealots in order to get along? I still have the right of choice in America, and I chose not to shop any Store that refuses to recognize the birth of Christ during the season.

85% of America claims to believe in Jesus Christ, does the 85% of America have shop in stores that will insult Christians by not recognizing the birth of their Savior?

If you and others are so upset over the word Christmas, then start your own store, and don't use Christmas, that is all you will have to do, but, to demand that every Store in America stop using Happy Christmas in order to include 4% of the anti Christians is nonsense. They tried it and almost went out of business over it.

If you are upset over Christmas itself, then start your own holiday and celebrate anyway you want to. Did you ever think that maybe you are offending Christians by refusing to recognize Christ during the season? I guess that does not matter, so long as some Jewish person is not offended with Christ being used by the Store. Right?

Tolerance only means that Christians have to give up what they believe in order to get along with 4% of the anti Christians in America. You asked.

[ican'tbelieveit]

I do, at times, buy nicer cuts of meats at the regular grocery stores. And if I just need a gallon of milk, I run to the closest store.

And, the local Safeway was running a special, if you bought $50 in groceries, they gave you 10 cents off per gallon of gas. But someone sued, so all stores offering those types of discounts have to stop, supposedly.

[Stone Mountain]

For the last few years when when greeted with a generic "Happy Holidays" On occasion I reply, "Which one? Eid? Winter Soltise, Hannanuk, or Chinese New Year?" Or I give a little laugh and say, "Thanks for the greeting, but I don't celebrate Happy Holidays, I celebrate Christmas instead.

Why not just take the greeting in the spirit in which it was offered?

[Artemis Webb]

It's about Merry Damn Time !!

[OB1kNOb]

Perhaps Wal-Mart will now use the phrase Merry Christmas when sending December donations to the Gay Coalition. /s

[Stone Mountain]

When did you become insulted by "Christmas?"

I'm not. Nice straw man.

Why do I have to shop in a Store that refuses to recognize my religious beliefs? And, if they do, don't I have the right not to shop in that Store

Of course. As I mentioned earlier.

f you and others are so upset over the word Christmas, then start your own store,

Where are you getting this? I love Christmas. I even say Merry Christmas as my usual holiday greeting. I just don't understand the vitriol over people who would wish others "Happy Holidays." If you are complaining about people who are insulted by hearing the words Merry Christmas, isn't the other side of the coin people who are insulted by hearing the words Happy Holidays? If somone is saying it to be obnoxious, then you might have a case. But if someone is just saying it to wish others good tidings for the holidays, why be offended?

85% of America claims to believe in Jesus Christ, does the 85% of America have shop in stores that will insult Christians by not recognizing the birth of their Savior?

if you believe that a store, by not specifically mentioning your particular religion, insults you, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Again, why take offense where none is intended? Isn't that, well, a liberal thing?

Tolerance only means that Christians have to give up what they believe in order to get along with 4% of the anti Christians in America. You asked.

You don't have to get along with anyone. I'm not anti-Christmas, anti-Christian, nor do I mind if someone wishes me religious good tidings. I just don't understand why some people have such a hard time hearing a honest expression of well wishes for them, just because it doesn't happen to mention their specific religion.