It’s a little early isn’t it? Other than that, no, not controversial. I prefer Happy Holidays from late November to mid December. Then Merry Christmas the week before, followed by Happy Holidays until January 1st, then Happy New Year for about a week. Then it’s back to the grunt of acknowledgment that I give in reply for eleven months.

There’s a whole method to these things.

I also think people should just use the greeting that fits them. Happy Kwanzaa, Holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, whatever. Be happy with my greeting, and I’ll take whatever you give me.

I don’t think it’s controversial–however, if you know they’re not Christian, it might not be in the best taste.

Likewise, wishing someone “Happy Holidays” (like many businesses do) should not be controversial.

“Merry Christmas”–no problemo
Mass e-mail solicitation–maybe. I don’t know the general practice in your field, but I wouldn’t love to receive one.

Like queuno, it aways makes me laugh that the only acknowledgments of Christmas in my workplace come from my Jewish colleagues; they give everyone Christmas cards, for heavens sake! Over-achievers.

Here is my conundrum: I am pretty sure that my daughter’s classroom teacher is Jewish. I plan to send in holiday gifts for all of her teachers, and I generally wouldn’t do so until the last day before the break, but Hannukah is now–should I send in her teacher’s gift early?

how about happy black friday? or would that offend, um…some people?

you could do a check box, with holidays, christmas, hannukah, kwaanza, etc.

I just got an email from a business contact in Singapore wishing me “Best wishes for the festive season!” which I appreciated. I think it’s friendly and human to wish people well (even business acquaintances who celebrate different holidays than you) if you’re sincere in wishing them well. If your message was intended as “I wish you well only if you’re in my in-group,” then, duh, it’s not friendly to those outside your group.

I say “God bless you” often to my customers. I’m careful about it; I don’t want to offend anyone. But I’ve never been met with a negative response, nor have I ever been chastised for it by my bosses. I have had people audibly cry when I say it. I get so many people calling in whose lives are in turmoil. My voice sounds much younger than I actually am and I care about them, so they often bare their souls. I think it’s heartbreaking to think of somebody telling a total stranger their anguish, but I purposely invoke God’s blessings on them. It’s the best I can do in those situations.

My granddaughter’s teacher had this thing on his wall that said something like “everybody you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”

If a Jewish businessman wished me “Happy Hannukah” I would take it in the spirit in which it was intended and be grateful. It’s all about saying “I care about you and want good things in your life.”

Anne,
How dare you say since you would “it in the spirit in which it was intended and be grateful” and thereby imply others must do the same.

Ron,
Are you thick-headed? If you really care about someone, then why would you say something that might (or does) offend them (even if you think they shouldn’t be offended)? Or are you just saying that they really shouldn’t be offended….

Ron, Are you really calling some people’s true and honest offense to Christmas greetings trivial? That’s just rubbing salt on a open wound…quite insensitive.

In the local newspaper, a week or so ago, I saw Kwanzaa and Eid Al-Adha on the sales flyer of a national retail chain. I forget which one. Can’t blame them. Trying to cover all the bases, getting people to spend money.

Hi,

First Tom: First, let me say I have no problem with Christmas or spread good cheer. It makes me glad that most people, and assume everyone at this forum, are little nicer during the holidays. All I am saying is that I don’t like it when people go out of there way to say Merry Christmas to everyone to make the point that they can and everyone should be fine with it and if they’re not then it’s their problem. Of course, if Merry Christmas is said and someone is offended unintentionally then I hope the offended understand, but I know personally that when offended (especially on a topic as sensitive as religion) that is is hard to forgive the unintentional offense. Now-a-days, with the subtle as well as sometimes outright attack on Christmas in public I feel that a lot of people have reacted by making clear that they will say Merry Christmas to every Tom, Dick and Harry just because they can. Sometimes it seems as a counterattack. I am not implying you were doing this. I just want to defend those that are truly offend and declare that we don’t need to establish a counter attack by telling everyone Merry Christmas. Discretion and sensitivity seems more appropriate to me.

Anngb: I’m not sure why you ask what else offends me. I have not been offended by anything at this forum…yet. While you’re correct saying I don’t like anyone telling me what to think, I also don’t like anyone comparing me to George Wallace…especially on a mormon blog. Pretty low and I don’t think anyone here would think appropriate either especially since you don’t know anything about me. I’m not offended that you’re not offended. And you’re not being offended has no affect whatsoever to whether I am offended or not offended, and I hope you’re not offended that you’re not being being offended doesn’t make me offended. Really, whether you’re offended or not offended does not matter much to me. With that said, I never intended to rip anyone for saying Merry Christmas. I only wanted to defend those that are offended (I’m not one) and say sensitivity is more important to me than me feeling good because I expressed a holiday greeting. There are many ways to show someone I care about them during the holidays without saying Merry Christmas.

[...] jjohnsen, commenting on bbell’s post “Today I wished all my customers a Merry Christmas” at Mormon Mentality (on holiday greetings): I prefer Happy Holidays from late November to mid December. Then Merry Christmas the week before, followed by Happy Holidays until January 1st, then Happy New Year for about a week. Then it’s back to the grunt of acknowledgment that I give in reply for eleven months. [...]