[Athens]

I dunno about most of you but I am getting sick of this PC crap.

Local Jews, Muslims, Asians and East Indians to name a few don’t have a problem with calling it a Christmas Tree or Christmas Dinner. People like me who are Anti Religion call it for what it is so why do white authority figures in power AKA government officials and store managers push to remove the term Christmas from everything to be PC. Enough of this Holiday Tree, Holiday Dinner, Holiday Gifts BS and call it for what it is. It’s called a Christmas Tree, it’s called a Christmas Dinner ots called CHRISTMAS. We don't ask Jews to change the name of their stuff to be PC or Muslims to change the names of their holidays and items to be PC. So why do we do this to ourselves?

I honestly get more Christmas spirit from a East Indian store from a guy who does not even celebrate it. I asked him, why do you put up a Merry Christmas sign and put up Christmas lights if you are not even Christian and he said because he wants to be respectful to the people of his adopted land. Who is it that’s offended by the Term again cuz its not the people politicians claim it to be.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and for those that it applies Happy Hanukkah and to the rest Have a good December. This is being correct.

[besson3c]

I agree that it's dumb to invent new so-called non-offensive language to refer to things that are commonly associated with Christmas. The only possible explanation I have is, how would people react to stores and other public settings publicly celebrating non-Christian holidays? I'd have no problem with it, I'm assuming you wouldn't either, but I'm sure that there are those that think that when you're in America it is somehow inappropriate to promote non-Christian holidays this way. Therefore, I suppose this is the origin of this language - to attempt to put the different religious holidays on a level playing field. Of course, this may also be the origin or a partial origin to the so-called War on Christmas (WoC) that we seem to have every year?

To that I say that those who have a problem with demonstrations or celebrations of non-Christian holidays need to get over it, this is the only solution.

[Athens]

Actually here in Vancouver we do celebrate other religions events. The east Indians have a party that's easily the second biggest religious event in the city. Then there is Chinese new years. No one is offended by it and all races and cultures and ppl from different religious back grounds attend. Seriously this offended idea seems to be made up. It's a excuse some one came up with when this all started.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

Actually here in Vancouver we do celebrate other religions events. The east Indians have a party that's easily the second biggest religious event in the city. Then there is Chinese new years. No one is offended by it and all races and cultures and ppl from different religious back grounds attend. Seriously this offended idea seems to be made up. It's a excuse some one came up with when this all started.

It's made up in Vancouver and other cities, but in parts of the American south? Not so much... The place I'm living in now is about 30 miles outside of one of the original homes of the KKK. I'd definitely not want to take any chances there.

[olePigeon]

Christmas (like most Christian holidays) was invented to coincide with Saturnalia in an attempt to stamp out non-Christian holidays and "pagan" beliefs.

Christmas has become so commercialized and ambiguous that many, many non-Christians celebrate "Christmas" simply as a holiday with no religious connotations. It doesn't bother me if people want to call it Christmas or Christmas Trees.

While the holiday has been Christianized, the majority of Christmas "traditions" originated from pre-Christian holidays. By participating in these traditions of tree decorating, gift giving, and lighting, millions of Christians are unknowingly participating in ritualistic paganism.

Pendulum swings both ways, my friends.

[turtle777]

I, for one, are offended by Hanukkah and Menorahs.

Let's call it Festival of Holiday and nine-branched Holiday candelabrum.

-t

[ghporter]

I have friends who range the gamut from extremely serious Christians to extremely serious NOT Christians of several varieties. I send them all Christmas cards, though not with particularly religious messages; I'm just not that religious. I tend to recognize their particular beliefs in what I write, or which cards I select, though.

The thing with turning things into "Generic Holiday Greetings" is that some people actually look for ways to be offended, and will be extremely loud about it when they find those ways. And here's a news flash for some folks: "Christianity is NOT THE ONLY RELIGION OUT THERE!!!" Gasp! Yes, it's true. Further, it's not the only religion with mid-winter holidays! Imagine that!

Some very dear friends are extremely devout Orthodox Christians; I wish them Merry Christmas (with the understanding that they are actually celebrating a religious holiday-which is on January 7). My wife's sister and her husband are quite devout Evangelicals; they get a Merry Christmas too. Neither family gets their collective drawers in a knot if someone says "Happy Holidays" to them, because they all understand that the greeting is intended to avoid offense. They also usually reply with "and a Merry Christmas to you, too!" It sort of breaks the ice.

[hyteckit]

I call it the pagan tree.

Please don't kill trees.

Besides, they are a fire hazard.

[andi*pandi]

Holiday Tree is absurd, but Holiday Party etc at work is ok by me, because it can be for all the holidays (Christmas, Hannukah, Festivus, New Years, etc), or none.

People don't want to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and be embarrassed if they don't celebrate, but personally if someone wished me a Happy Whatever and I didn't celebrate it, I'd just say thanks and move on.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

Holiday Tree is absurd, but Holiday Party etc at work is ok by me, because it can be for all the holidays (Christmas, Hannukah, Festivus, New Years, etc), or none.

People don't want to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and be embarrassed if they don't celebrate, but personally if someone wished me a Happy Whatever and I didn't celebrate it, I'd just say thanks and move on.

That's where I'm at with it. Holiday tree is silly, but at work I can understand a degree of ambiguity with respect for all.

[Doofy]

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

Disclaimer: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher who assumes no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit. Uncle Doof is not the original author of this Christmas message and accepts no liability, moral or otherwise, to offence taken by concerned parties. Authorship is neither acknowledged nor implied.

[Oisín]

^ I love that.

Originally Posted by turtle777 

I, for one, are offended by Hanukkah and Menorahs.

I, for one, are?

Make up your mind, man—how many are you?!

[turtle777]

I are Legion.

-t

[Athens]

Canadian Official National Holidays - Doing it from a Canadian Perspective because I don’t know all the US holidays but the point is the same. (it basically turned into a long rant too)

New Years Day (None religious)
Good Friday (Religious)
Easter Monday (Religious)
Victoria Day (Nationalism or Imperialist)
Canada Day (Nationalism)
Labour Day
Thanksgiving Day (Traditional)
Remembrance Day (Nationalism)
Christmas Day (Religious)
Boxing Day (Religious)

Additional Important Days which are not Official Holidays but celebrated as if they where

Valentine’s Day
Mothers Day
St Patrick’s Day
Father’s Day
Halloween

So about New Years Day, it’s based on the 1st day of the Gregorian calendar. There are other Calendars out there but as a Gregorian calendar country we officially celebrate this one. We allow those to celebrate their new years without hindrance but it’s not an official or celebrated event nationwide because our nation Gregorian based. Chinese New Year is one hell of a party in most major cities though and a fun event.

Good Friday is a Christian religious holiday. Canada is like it not founded by Christian Followers and officially is a Christian Country even if there are people living here that are not religious or follow another religion. The funny thing is Stores and Government don't try and change the name of Good Friday or East into something different like April Holidays, Holiday Eggs, April Holiday Dinner. It’s generally called Good Friday, Easter Eggs, and Easter Dinner. With all the religions out there I’m sure some other religion has a special event in April too. But this is a Christian COUNTRY

Victoria Day is celebrated as a holiday for the birthday of Queen Victoria. A lot of people don't believe in the monarch. I don't, but it’s a traditional holiday and messing with the traditions of a country is generally a bad thing. Overall you don’t see stores trying to call it May Holiday.

Canada Day, this is a no brainer. Every nation has a holiday celebrating the birth of the nation. We don't celebrate other nations birthdays just our own. So thank god that Stores don't try and rename this July Holiday Weekend. And with the close relationship between Canada and the US and the birthdays of our 2 nations being the same weekend most of the time, July 1st and July 4th I’m actually surprised some stores haven't tried calling it National Birthday Weekend or something along the lines. We do see 4th of July Sales up here too and I don’t see a problem with that.

Labour Day is a civic holiday in honor of workers and unions. I’m against unions but I don’t complain they have a special day to honor them. Its tradition.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada was originally referenced in Parliament as God and it was celebrated in churches. Over time it’s become mostly a secular holiday. In Parliament it’s proclaimed as: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October." Would be funny to start calling this October Thank You day and October Dinner.

Remembrance Day - a Day to honor our war dead. All our war dead including all races, religious, backgrounds who have served defending this country. Glad businesses don't try and use an alternative name to appease anti war groups who are opposed to it being celebrated.

Last but not least but the most important when it comes to being ruined by political correct idiots. Christmas Day. Again officially the government recognizes this day as Christmas Day not some other holiday. This is a Christian Country not a Jewish country. So officially it’s on the books as Christmas, and traditionally celebrated as Christmas and this officially a Christian Country. SO why is this holiday under attack? We don't see any other months being bastardized because of other religious holidays occurring in the same period. We only see it for Christmas.

We don’t have any other official holidays for Jews and Muslims and other religions on the books here so what makes being PC so important around December when we utterly ignore the other Religious holidays throughout the year except other Christian Holidays, which don't spark any controversy.

Unofficial Holidays

Valentine’s Day has its roots in Religion
St Patrick’s Day is a Catholic Holiday, it’s not an official holiday because this isn’t a Catholic country but you don’t see non Catholics or stores trying to change the name of it.

Halloween is traditionally tied to religion to and has different significances in different religions. The Anglican Church calls it All Saints Day; Protestants call it Reformation Day and so on. Mostly celebrated as a non Secular event today, it’s still Called Halloween out of tradition.
There are a ton of other religious holidays held here too that are not official like some for Sikhs and some for Asians. Could you imagine the outrage in the Sikh community if we started demanding they rename it to something more North American and or Sikh stores started to change it to be PC
The major point is this we are a land of many, different cultures different ethnic back grounds and different upbringing. People are free to celebrate whatever they want and not take part in whatever they want. But we have a set of traditions and officially we are a country that is Christian so official holidays are going to conflict with some people. But that ok because all over the world there are people who don’t fit in with the local nations customs. Changing traditions to try and suite every one is a mistake and just won’t work. It’s wrong to try and change a nation to your own beliefs at the cost of pissing over every one else’s.
Is it a Christmas Tree or a Holiday day tree. To all the other religions in December use a Tree. Is it just Christians and Jews? If it’s just the 2 I could live with Packaging with the Label Christmas Tree / Jewish whatever they call it Tree over Holiday Tree which is insulting to both.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Athens 

Last but not least but the most important when it comes to being ruined by political correct idiots. Christmas Day. Again officially the government recognizes this day as Christmas Day not some other holiday. This is a Christian Country not a Jewish country. So officially it’s on the books as Christmas, and traditionally celebrated as Christmas and this officially a Christian Country. SO why is this holiday under attack? We don't see any other months being bastardized because of other religious holidays occurring in the same period. We only see it for Christmas.

I'd tell you exactly why but the mods, who can't stand to hear the truth, would ban me again. Let's just say that, in the great scheme of things, a systematic onslaught is taking place.

[Athens]

It does appear that way.

[besson3c]

This may be completely unrelated, but is it just me or does it see like weird things are now being sacredized? For instance, baseball games (maybe other sporting events), and license plates...

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I'd tell you exactly why but the mods, who can't stand to hear the truth, would ban me again. Let's just say that, in the great scheme of things, a systematic onslaught is taking place.

Oh, the Muslims are kamikaze-bombing Christmas?

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Christmas (like most Christian holidays) was invented to coincide with Saturnalia in an attempt to stamp out non-Christian holidays and "pagan" beliefs.

This is false. Christians began celebrating Christmas on Saturnalia because it was already a holiday.

While the holiday has been Christianized, the majority of Christmas "traditions" originated from pre-Christian holidays. By participating in these traditions of tree decorating, gift giving, and lighting, millions of Christians are unknowingly participating in ritualistic paganism.

You sound like a Jehovah's Witness. I'm pretty sure "gift-giving" isn't a pagan concept. And trying to upset Christians by telling them their practices have pagan origins is pointless trolling. Every Christian I've ever met knows the origin of Xmas trees and angel wings and why Christmas Day is December 25th.

Are you now gonna tell us Jesus is just a re-branded Osiris?

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Athens 

This is a Christian Country not a Jewish country.

ha ha ha ha, uh, no.

[Laminar]

The Jews run everything.

[lpkmckenna]

Not quite what I meant.

[besson3c]

Baby Jesus was a Jew.