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December 24, 2005
Brief holiday thought:
Not infrequently at work I am wished, or wish, a merry Christmas. Now, Christmas isn’t a holy day to me, but it certainly is a holiday. And, all things considered I’d rather have a merry one than not. In that spirit, I will sometimes tell my customers that I wish for them to have a happy Chanukah. Because 1 Merry day followed by 7 happy ones (Chanukah and Christmas overlap this year) sounds like a damned good week to me. And since the whole thing drops off in time for New Years—like I said, a good week...
What’s odd is the reaction I get. Everyone assumes that I am being “PC”. Sample Dialogue.
Me: “Merry Christmas. And, even if you don’t celebrate it: Happy Chanukah”
Customer: (Bemused smile and wry grin) “yes, same to you. We wouldn’t want to be unPC”.
Um? I don’t think I’ve offended anyone. But I find it rather strange that they’re not just accepting that they can have a happy 7 day period which happens to fall on someone else’s holy days. I mean, I do it every year on 25 December, and whenever Easter falls*. And since the actual date of Christmas is arbitrary, there isn’t any special attachment to the date itself. Millions of Orthodox Christians celebrate it on 7 January and don’t have any problems...
Well, whatever. May your next year be a happy one. Even the days that are holy to someone who is not you...
*The first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equino. Yup. Not Pagan there. No Ma'am!
Posted by Andrew at December 24, 2005 08:59 AM
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Comments
Heh, yes, I've experienced this too. Strangely, it seems to be an increasing phenomenon. People are getting offended if you try to be respectful and/or simply trying to wish them a good holiday season. I tend to vary my greeting without any particular method, from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" with even a "Joyous Kwanza" thrown in now and then.
I actually had someone yell at me for wishing them "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." She was angry that I was "being so PC," and that I "wasn't respecting Christmas." I was so surprised I didn't know what to say, other than to apologize and mutter "Merry Christmas" before walking away.
I will never understand why people must think so exclusionary. Like you, I am confused that people can't just accept a well wish when it is offered, however it is offered. When did kindness become a concept that has to be specific to time of year or religious preference?
Posted by: StarFiend at December 24, 2005 05:33 PM