Do you say Happy Christmas?

faceman

Im a miserable git most of the time. Im going to be one of those old farts on the bus when im a pensioner who will talk out loud about how good it was in my day and how young people havent a clue blah blah. Its something I look forward to.

But for Christmas week every year, I always say Happy Christmas to everyone that I converse or transact with in a shop, butcher pub etc etc.

Its quite liberating. It often turns a dull conversation into a moment of joy for the receiver of my verbal climax. Ive turned frowns into upside down frowns. Ive made aul wans fancy me. And probably some of the blokes too.

The funny thing though are the people who dont expect to hear it, and give an awkward stutter before saying "er um, and to you Christmas happy to you to".

So what about you? Are you a giver or receiver? Do you receive a happy christmas well?

Oh and before I click the submit new thread button:
Yeah me ma loves when you say happy christmas
And yeah she loves your oral climax.
:rolleyes:

Podge2k7

Yep I say it!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

When it's said to me I do, but I feel awkward saying it most of the time, is that odd? I am not a scrooge or anygthing, I just think it's a bit cheesy sometimes.

Berty

I said Happy Christmas this morning even though I normally always say Merry BUT

I was reading Wikipedia which said Happy is the phrase normall used and Merry is a suitable alternative. I for one thought it was the other way round.

faceman

Jett Bitter Rule wrote: »

When it's said to me I do, but I feel awkward saying it most of the time, is that odd? I am not a scrooge or anygthing, I just think it's a bit cheesy sometimes.

I feel cheesy saying merry Christmas so i say happy instead. Weird!

Silenceisbliss

I say happy haloween...keeps people on their toes.

Marcus.Aurelius

Admittedly no.

I just seem to forget it.

javaboy

Berty wrote: »

I said Happy Christmas this morning even though I normally always say Merry BUT

I was reading Wikipedia which said Happy is the phrase normall used and Merry is a suitable alternative. I for one thought it was the other way round.

Either is acceptable but a word of warning. If you're going to follow it up with wishing them a good new year too, make sure you say merry Christmas and not happy. Nothing makes you sound like a moron like saying "Happy Christmas and a eh... Happy New Year".

the drifter

nope im a miserable git 24/7...someone said happy christmas to me on friday night....i punched him in the face and stole his wallet...

Ruu_Old

Absolutely, it puts people in a good mood most of the time and also in a world where people are afraid to "offend" others. The bus driver to one of the regular passengers when she said Happy Holidays. "No, no, no Happy Christmas!" Hurray for non-pcnessssssssss.

SpookyDoll

I dont say it first as I am a conscientious objector to Xmas, yes a Grinch and Xmas hater!

Although, my principles run shallow so if someone says it to me first I will say it back to them.........just to be civil like.

r3nu4l

Berty wrote: »

I said Happy Christmas this morning even though I normally always say Merry BUT

I was reading Wikipedia which said Happy is the phrase normall used and Merry is a suitable alternative. I for one thought it was the other way round.

I believe it was Charles Dickens who first brought 'Merry Christmas', as opposed to 'Happy Christmas' into popular use.

I always say Happy Christmas but yes, if I'm also wishing people a Happy New Year, then it's Merry Christmas first

javaboy

SpookyDoll wrote: »

I dont say it first as I am a conscientious objector to Xmas, yes a Grinch and Xmas hater!

Although, my principles run shallow so if someone says it to me first I will say it back to them.........just to be civil like.

That's one conscientious objector.

SpookyDoll

javaboy wrote: »

That's one conscientious objector.

lol well I am shallow as a puddle I do admit.

Silenceisbliss

the drifter wrote: »

nope im a miserable git 24/7...someone said happy christmas to me on friday night....i punched him in the face and stole his wallet...

that was a bit harsh, what you should do is reply:

"happy.....really? your happy about spending all your hard earned money on meaningless presents for family and friends which they will inevitably only use for a day or two and throw in the back of their wardrobe. and after having spent all that money on presents for others, you're happy about probably getting a pair of socks in return.

yeah, happy christmas

AnonoBoy

The correct way to say 'Merry Christmas' is to combine with a kind of belly laugh and deepen your voice so you sound like Santa.

Otherwise you just come across like a weirdo.

the drifter

Silenceisbliss wrote: »

that was a bit harsh, what you should do is reply:

"happy.....really? your happy about spending all your hard earned money on meaningless presents for family and friends which they will inevitably only use for a day or two and throw in the back of their wardrobe. and after having spent all that money on presents for others, you're happy about probably getting a pair of socks in return.

yeah, happy christmas

Harshness is what its all about really...in the time it took you to say the above to said individual i profited to the tune of €120 of his hard earned cash...there is logic to my madness...

GirlInterrupted

Since I'm not a Christian, and a lot of the people in my life aren't either, I say Happy Holidays, it covers so much more, is pleasant, non-specific and inoffensive.

trout

I don't say Happy Christmas, or Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays or anything like it.
I also pretend not to hear people say it to me.

I keep thinking if I ignore Christmas HARD enough ... it will all go away.

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

bloodedrose

I totally do! I am a sickening beam of christmas joy. I say Happy Christmas to taaxi-drivers, the woman in Tescos who stands beside the serve-yourself checkout dealys, people who hold doors open, my next door neighbour who hates me.. (got a fierce look of the filthies for it too)

Happy Christmas!!

Piste

GirlInterrupted wrote: »

Since I'm not a Christian, and a lot of the people in my life aren't either, I say Happy Holidays, it covers so much more, is pleasant, non-specific and inoffensive.

Why on earth would Happy Christmas offend anyone?! It would be a really nasty person to take you wishing them a happy time as an insult!

I was working last Christmas Eve and I said Happy Christmas to every customer I spoke too, it was really nice! I try to say it as much as possible.

GirlInterrupted

Piste wrote: »

Why on earth would Happy Christmas offend anyone?! It would be a really nasty person to take you wishing them a happy time as an insult!

I was working last Christmas Eve and I said Happy Christmas to every customer I spoke too, it was really nice! I try to say it as much as possible.

Its not that it would offend anyone, its just irrelevant to me and to many that I know. Its more inclusive to say happy holidays, since it takes in other festivals such as Hanukkah as well. Happy Christmas is christian specific.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Silenceisbliss wrote: »

that was a bit harsh, what you should do is reply:

"happy.....really? your happy about spending all your hard earned money on meaningless presents for family and friends which they will inevitably only use for a day or two and throw in the back of their wardrobe. and after having spent all that money on presents for others, you're happy about probably getting a pair of socks in return.

yeah, happy christmas

Any presents we recieve in our family we use. Mainly because we say what we want and what we need. We don't buy crap that we don't use, seems like such a waste.

bloodedrose

Piste wrote: »

Why on earth would Happy Christmas offend anyone?! It would be a really nasty person to take you wishing them a happy time as an insult!

One of the guys I work with is Islamic, I said Happy Christmas to him today, he stared back at me, said "That is a christian holiday, I am not christian, you know that, why say these things to me" in a real irritated tone.
Stared at the heathen ginger (me) for about 30 seconds, and I stood there, horror-struck, trying to think of a way to run away....
And then laughed his ass off, he's been doing that to people for the last 10 days

chopperbyrne

No, I say "Merry Christmas!".

Happy is for new years, birthdays, etc, etc.

Piste

bloodedrose wrote: »

One of the guys I work with is Islamic, I said Happy Christmas to him today, he stared back at me, said "That is a christian holiday, I am not christian, you know that, why say these things to me" in a real irritated tone.
Stared at the heathen ginger (me) for about 30 seconds, and I stood there, horror-struck, trying to think of a way to run away....
And then laughed his ass off, he's been doing that to people for the last 10 days

Heh I would be so angry if someone said that to me seriously. I just wouldn't bother including them in any more important cultural festivals after that.

Sharpshooter

"Merry Christmas" , everybody , and a "Happy New Year".:pac:

Zebra3

As a non-Christian I find it offensive for anyone to wish me a Happy/Merry Christmas.

Why would anyone say it to a stranger without having any idea of their religious or, lack of, beliefs?

Talk about insulting.

Tea-a-Maria

It's never bothered me whether people say 'merry' or 'happy'.One of my friends insists on merry,so much so that he insisted I change it when I wrote Happy Christmas in the window!Personally,I love it when people wish me a merry/happy Christmas.I made it a personal aim of mine to say it to all my friends before I came home from college.:)

Piste

Zebra3 wrote: »

As a non-Christian I find it offensive for anyone to wish me a Happy/Merry Christmas.

Why would anyone say it to a stranger without having any idea of their religious or, lack of, beliefs?

Talk about insulting.

Because it's so much more than a religious festival these days, it's a cultural holiday in the west. I probably wouldn't say it in the Middle East, but in a country and culture where it's pretty impossible to escape Christmas and this time of year is synonymous with the Christmas Holidays I think it's perfectly acceptable to wish anyone a Happy Christmas. I'd be delighted if I were in a Jewish/Muslim country and they wished me a "Happy [Insert Festival Name]". I would see it as them wishing that I have a happy time and enjoy myself, and not a suggestion that I subscrube to any religion.

I have absolutely no religious bliefs myself but I absolutely love Christmas.

Zebra3

Piste wrote: »

Because it's so much more than a religious festival these days, it's a cultural holiday in the west.

It's about the birth of some bloke about 2,000 years ago who has a load of fairytales attached to him. That's it.

Do you find people getting hammered and swapping gifts cultural? :rolleyes:

stovelid

Most of the time, yes.

Piste

There's way more to Christmas than the Religious origins, so many customs and traditions which are secular are associated with Christmas. I don't get hammered at Christmas and don't see it as an essential quality of Christmas really, but yes swapping gifts is an essential part of Christmas and part of our culture, so yes it is a cultural occasion.

amcalester

I say Merry Christmas and save Happy for the New Year.



PS. I'm no christian I just like the feelgood factor attributed to christmas

Bijoux

I love saying Happy Christmas, I say it to everyone I meet at work, to the taxi driver, to anyone who serves me in a shop....everybody!

Personally I wouldnt be offended if somebody said something like 'Happy Hanukkah' to me, they're just celebrating an occasion based around the religious beliefs they chose, it's not an insult, and it doesnt mean they presume you share the same faith.
I was raised a Catholic, I no longer believe in God, but I still love the atmosphere around Christmas time, and all the cheesiness of it all (the non religious side, that is)

And it's just dawned on me that I never say 'Merry Christmas'...dont know why! :cool:

The_B_Man

I say "Happy Jesus Day".

faceman

Zebra3 wrote: »

It's about the birth of some bloke about 2,000 years ago who has a load of fairytales attached to him. That's it.

Do you find people getting hammered and swapping gifts cultural? :rolleyes:

*tears up Zebra3's Christmas card and burns his present*

Christmas is so much more than that now, other atheists and the likes wouldnt participate in anything Christmassy. Its a time of year when people seem to come together, people's spirits raise and its a great time for family. Pubs close and most workplaces shut. Many families who dont often get to sit at the dinner table together do for that one day of the year. No other occasion throughout the year achieves the same regardless of one's religion.

Puddleduck

I say merry christmas so I can save the happy for happy new year. Otherwise I look like an eejit saying 'Happy Christmas and Happy new year'

I dont feel christmassy at all. I dont even feel like its december.

WithCheesePlease

Nope

Might say "yeah, you too" or something to that effect / affect (never know which one!) back to someone that says it to me though. That's about as good as it gets.

cmcsoft

Yep I always do, it's not hard to be nice!