Comments on: Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?? http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/ www.thefaithclub.com Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:40:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: muslimah http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-413 Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:43:37 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-413 I orginially wrote my above post under the "Santa on the housetop topic" before I posted though i realized that this topic would be more suitable. However, now after reading this I realized that some of my comments are redundant. I apologize. However, after reading this I do have a few different sentiments. I'll try to keep it brief. In response to Ravenwerks: I think saying as-salaamu alaikum to someone can't be compared to Merry Christmas. As-salaamu alaikum just means peace be unto you. and it is my understanding that even Christian Arabs use the phrase. Christmas on the other hand pertains solely to Christians (in theory at least) So I can see how some people might be offended. I don't get particularly offended but when a stranger wishes me Merry Christmas I have to assume either they weren't really thinking or they really don't know anything about Islam. Since I am noticeably muslim (because I wear hijab). I orginially wrote my above post under the “Santa on the housetop topic” before I posted though i realized that this topic would be more suitable. However, now after reading this I realized that some of my comments are redundant. I apologize. However, after reading this I do have a few different sentiments. I’ll try to keep it brief.

In response to Ravenwerks:
I think saying as-salaamu alaikum to someone can’t be compared to Merry Christmas. As-salaamu alaikum just means peace be unto you. and it is my understanding that even Christian Arabs use the phrase. Christmas on the other hand pertains solely to Christians (in theory at least) So I can see how some people might be offended.

I don’t get particularly offended but when a stranger wishes me Merry Christmas I have to assume either they weren’t really thinking or they really don’t know anything about Islam. Since I am noticeably muslim (because I wear hijab).

]]> by: gary http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-383 Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:29:17 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-383 For someone you do not know, I do not think either is approptiate. I am Jewish, and I have finally settled into smiling and nodding to someone who says Merry Christmas to me in December. If you respect your friends, you should send a card that corresponds to their religion, ie send a Christian a Christmas card and send a Jew a Channukah card in December. Allow them to keep their tradition and avoid trying to blend holidays. I am not sure what would be appropriate to send a Muslem in December since the Muslem holidays follow an strictly lunar calendar and their holidays vary geatly from year to year. I suppose it would be best to send a Muslem a card on their holidays when they occur and not just send a card in December because of Christians and Jews have a holiday then. Note that the Jewish holidays follow a lunar calendar, but it is adjusted every few years to stay more insync with the solar calendar so Channukah usually falls in December. I suppose a New Years card is good for anyone in the USA. For someone you do not know, I do not think either is approptiate. I am Jewish, and I have finally settled into smiling and nodding to someone who says Merry Christmas to me in December.

If you respect your friends, you should send a card that corresponds to their religion, ie send a Christian a Christmas card and send a Jew a Channukah card in December. Allow them to keep their tradition and avoid trying to blend holidays.

I am not sure what would be appropriate to send a Muslem in December since the Muslem holidays follow an strictly lunar calendar and their holidays vary geatly from year to year. I suppose it would be best to send a Muslem a card on their holidays when they occur and not just send a card in December because of Christians and Jews have a holiday then.

Note that the Jewish holidays follow a lunar calendar, but it is adjusted every few years to stay more insync with the solar calendar so Channukah usually falls in December.

I suppose a New Years card is good for anyone in the USA.

]]> by: Cytocop http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-334 Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:01:06 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-334 I'm Jewish, and I'm not offended when strangers such as checkout clerks wish me a "Merry Christmas." Sometimes even people who know me forget themselves and wish me a Merry Christmas. I don't consider an innocent friendly holiday greeting as an attack on my religious faith or my religious freedom. I’m Jewish, and I’m not offended when strangers such as checkout clerks wish me a “Merry Christmas.” Sometimes even people who know me forget themselves and wish me a Merry Christmas. I don’t consider an innocent friendly holiday greeting as an attack on my religious faith or my religious freedom.

]]> by: JudeL http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-331 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:20:45 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-331 I agree partially with you Ravenwerks. I have traveled the world on missions and been greeted in many languages. I believe it is the spirit of the greeting that is important. When I wish someone a Merry Christmas it is wishing them joy, happiness, goodwill, etc. It is what I understand. Happy holidays to me is like saying "gesundheit" (spg?) when someone sneezes. It has no real meaning. If I say "God bless you" it is more meaningful to me. We need to get over the semantics of religion. I am not offended when soneone offers, "Happy Chanukah"...I am happy that someone cares enough to wish me well. "Happy Kwansaa" is to me a welcome greeting. Come on folks...quit being so defensive about words..and be happy that someone cares enough to extend a greeting to you! I agree partially with you Ravenwerks.

I have traveled the world on missions and been greeted in many languages. I believe it is the spirit of the greeting that is important.

When I wish someone a Merry Christmas it is wishing them joy, happiness, goodwill, etc. It is what I understand. Happy holidays to me is like saying “gesundheit” (spg?) when someone sneezes. It has no real meaning. If I say “God bless you” it is more meaningful to me.

We need to get over the semantics of religion. I am not offended when soneone offers, “Happy Chanukah”…I am happy that someone cares enough to wish me well. “Happy Kwansaa” is to me a welcome greeting.

Come on folks…quit being so defensive about words..and be happy that someone cares enough to extend a greeting to you!

]]> by: Ravenwerks http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-326 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 05:44:57 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-326 I think any greeting that is given with a positive intention should be acknowledged that way. You wouldn't be offended if someone greeted you with "Namaste" in a Hindu city or home, or with "Assalam o Alaikum" in an Islamic part of the world, so how could you possibly be offended when wished a Merry Christmas in the U.S? The only people who would be offended by such a thing is a Scrooge of any religious tradition. :-) I think any greeting that is given with a positive intention should be acknowledged that way.

You wouldn’t be offended if someone greeted you with “Namaste” in a Hindu city or home, or with “Assalam o Alaikum” in an Islamic part of the world, so how could you possibly be offended when wished a Merry Christmas in the U.S?

The only people who would be offended by such a thing is a Scrooge of any religious tradition. :-)

]]> by: quiltcycler http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-325 Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:57:22 +0000 http://www.thefaithclub.com/blog/2006/12/20/merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/#comment-325 Having grown up internationally, traveling through my entire youth, I have always said and written "Happy Holidays" to others and yet, my family celebrates Christmas with a bang. I think it is a choice of regocnition and respect for others. Saying or writing a greeting acknowledging only one faith, almost seems ignorant. I mean to say that it appears the person is unaware that there is so much religious diversity. Having grown up internationally, traveling through my entire youth, I have always said and written “Happy Holidays” to others and yet, my family celebrates Christmas with a bang. I think it is a choice of regocnition and respect for others. Saying or writing a greeting acknowledging only one faith, almost seems ignorant. I mean to say that it appears the person is unaware that there is so much religious diversity.

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