What do you call Christmas?

freshpopcorn

I always call it Christmas. Be it in writing or conversation.
I don't mind somebody writing X-mas on a small gift tag/card however the one world that I can't stand is Chrimbo.

efb

Winter Solstice.

Loughc

I call it Christmas. I rarely shorten it to Xmas and I hate it when people refer it to the holidays. Ah no my holidays are usually during the summer. The word Christ does not offend me nor does any other religious name or type.

washiskin

I always say Christmas. For some reason Xmas really grates on me.
As for "The Holidays" political correctness :rolleyes:

Toto Wolfcastle

I hate Xmas and Chrimbo!

Don't mind the holidays so much because presumably it serves a purpose when you're greeting a bunch of people who celebrate different holidays. Obviously not a fan of it being used at times when Christmas is more appropriate.

dirkmeister

It's Christmas for me, I don't really mind x-mas.
The holidays really bugs me!

Teyla Emmagan

Always Christmas. "Crimbo" is a horrible word and "the holidays" is ridiculous.

Posy

I always call it Christmas.

I don't like 'xmas' but would occasionally use it in a text message because everything is abbreviated in texts. I have edited thread titles here to make 'xmas' 'Christmas' because it grates on me.

I do not specifically mind the expression 'the holiday season' because it reminds me of the Budweiser Christmas ad with the horses in the snow and the famous CocaCola ad! But I don't think anybody should call it 'holidays' unless they're American.

Chrimbo is just awful. I hate that song 'Proper Crimbo' by Bo Selecta. Uuuuurgh.

washiskin

When I hear people utter crimbo, I swear I have to stop myself administering slaps. :mad:;)

Glitzgirl

washiskin wrote: »

When I hear people utter crimbo, I swear I have to stop myself administering slaps. :mad:;)

Love this answer !

I don't mean to be offensive here but I thought it was an American thing to refer to christmas as the holidays. As for crimbo I have never in my life heard a single person refer to christmas as crimbo ! Do people actually say that !?! Although I have been known to shorten the name to Xmas when I'm writing a quick list or text if I'm in a hurry! Oops !

Flippyfloppy

That's weird, I don't mind when people use any expression, it's never occurred to me before. I guess I must be really really really nice and easygoing. Hope I haven't been offending any of you in real life using Xmas on your presents!

scream

Glitzgirl wrote:

I don't mean to be offensive here but I thought it was an American thing to refer to christmas as the holidays. As for crimbo I have never in my life heard a single person refer to christmas as crimbo ! Do people actually say that !?! Although I have been known to shorten the name to Xmas when I'm writing a quick list or text if I'm in a hurry! Oops !

My brother's a nightmare for referring to it as 'crimbo', entirely due to that God-awful song of course. I've never heard it used here in Ireland though. Having said that, beyond my brother and a friend from years back, it's not something I've heard used too much. It's always just been Christmas to me. Like most of you here, the only one that actually bugs me is 'The Holidays'.

Glitzgirl

scream wrote: »

My brother's a nightmare for referring to it as 'crimbo', entirely due to that God-awful song of course. I've never heard it used here in Ireland though. Having said that, beyond my brother and a friend from years back, it's not something I've heard used too much. It's always just been Christmas to me. Like most of you here, the only one that actually bugs me is 'The Holidays'.

I have to say I noticed that when I was in new York last year. People at tills and waitresses etc would all say happy holidays or if I said merry Christmas you would just get this look like and a happy holidays reply ! Drove me nuts! I think if I ever heard anyone saying crimbo my mouth would possibly drop open in shock ha !

Spanish Eyes

We say Happy Christmas in this house, but "Merry Christmas" is creeping in and I hate it!

Toto Wolfcastle

Glitzgirl wrote: »

I have to say I noticed that when I was in new York last year. People at tills and waitresses etc would all say happy holidays or if I said merry Christmas you would just get this look like and a happy holidays reply ! Drove me nuts! I think if I ever heard anyone saying crimbo my mouth would possibly drop open in shock ha !

But I suppose it makes perfect sense over there. Over here most people celebrate Christmas so it's fair enough they we say merry Christmas, but in America the population is so much more diverse and the person at the till doesn't know what the person they're serving celebrates. It's an appropriate term for such a diverse country.

galljga1

Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival that the christian cult stole and made their own.

Glitzgirl

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

But I suppose it makes perfect sense over there. Over here most people celebrate Christmas so it's fair enough they we say merry Christmas, but in America the population is so much more diverse and the person at the till doesn't know what the person they're serving celebrates. It's an appropriate term for such a diverse country.

Agreed. But when your not used to hearing it it just sounds odd !

December2012

I love the inclusiveness of Happy Holidays!

scream

galljga1 wrote:

Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival that the christian cult stole and made their own.

I used to play a great PbP game called Saturnalia, and when I say PbP I really mean PbP. I used to actually have to post it, you know, in an actual envelope and everything. I recently found it again online. Couldn't believe it still exists. Anyway, this has nothing at all to do with the topic in hand so...

As you were then!

acon2119

I dont like the word Crimbo at all. I also dislike St Patricks day being referred to as Paddy's day, I think it degrades our unique Irish day.

donegal_man

Don't mind Xmas too much but crimbo does my head in. My brother in law always says it just to see me grind my teeth.

the dark phantom

Greedfest

Loughc

the dark phantom wrote: »

Greedfest

Hey dark Phantom posts like this aren't allowed here, this is a happy forum, take a day off and have a read of our charter! Thanks

Sam Kade

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

But I suppose it makes perfect sense over there. Over here most people celebrate Christmas so it's fair enough they we say merry Christmas, but in America the population is so much more diverse and the person at the till doesn't know what the person they're serving celebrates. It's an appropriate term for such a diverse country.

But if they don't have a religion what exactly are they celebrating?

northgirl

Don't know if it's used anywhere else in Ireland but it's commonly referred to as "The Christmas" in Cork - makes me lol and cringe in equal measure

Loughc

northgirl wrote: »

Don't know if it's used anywhere else in Ireland but it's commonly referred to as "The Christmas" in Cork - makes me lol and cringe in equal measure

I've never heard of that one before haha! It's like an Irish Mammy thing to do, my Mam puts The infront of everything, The Facebook, The Youtube haha.

Sam Kade

northgirl wrote: »

Don't know if it's used anywhere else in Ireland but it's commonly referred to as "The Christmas" in Cork - makes me lol and cringe in equal measure

I'm living in Cork all my life and never heard of it called the Christmas.

Toto Wolfcastle

Sam Kade wrote: »

But if they don't have a religion what exactly are they celebrating?

I didn't mention people who don't have a religion.

Sam Kade

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

I didn't mention people who don't have a religion.

but in America the population is so much more diverse and the person at the till doesn't know what the person they're serving celebrates.

So they are all celebrating religion? Why is the person at the till confused then?

Toto Wolfcastle

Sam Kade wrote: »

but in America the population is so much more diverse and the person at the till doesn't know what the person they're serving celebrates.

So they are all celebrating religion? Why is the person at the till confused then?

Maybe the person is celebrating Hanukkah? Or Kwanzaa? Happy Holidays means that everyone is included.

northgirl

Loughc wrote: »

I've never heard of that one before haha! It's like an Irish Mammy thing to do, my Mam puts The infront of everything, The Facebook, The Youtube haha.

Ha ha, my mam calls anything she knows very little about (ie. the internet or her iPad) a diddly aye!

johnny osbourne

Terrontress

I'll have to admit, my knowledge of the States at Christmas is limited to New York City, and they do Christmas brilliantly. Massive trees, Santas everywhere, shops selling tree baubles, ice rinks at the Rockefeller, egg nog, Christmas Jumpers, Elf, National Lampoons, but then they don't say the word. I can't understand it.

The Adversary

Festivus for the rest of us.

Posy

northgirl wrote: »

Don't know if it's used anywhere else in Ireland but it's commonly referred to as "The Christmas" in Cork

I occasionally say "the Christmas."
As in "Mark is going home for the Christmas" because it's an abbreviation of "the Christmas (holidays)."
That's the only time I would use 'the' though.

I like that Irish people generally add an extra 's' to Stephen's Day too.
Like "are the sales starting on Stephens's day?" :pac:

fancy pigeon

Hearing crimbo makes me lose a little faith in humanity each time...!

Christmas does me fine

December2012

Sam Kade wrote: »

But if they don't have a religion what exactly are they celebrating?

The he season of goodwill, time off with family and friends, a time for reflection and appreciation of all the good in life, a time to make plans, get out in nature, huddle up and watch movies, enjoy the non religious traditions.

There is plenty to celebrate and look forward to without being religious for the non religious.

And plenty for those who are religious and not just Christians

Sam Kade

December2012 wrote: »

The he season of goodwill, time off with family and friends, a time for reflection and appreciation of all the good in life, a time to make plans, get out in nature, huddle up and watch movies, enjoy the non religious traditions.

There is plenty to celebrate and look forward to without being religious for the non religious.

And plenty for those who are religious and not just Christians

That sounds like a Cliff Richard song

washiskin

northgirl wrote: »

Don't know if it's used anywhere else in Ireland but it's commonly referred to as "The Christmas" in Cork - makes me lol and cringe in equal measure

Every time I hear that phrase I think of our much missed former neighbor, Mrs. Tully. She never called it anything else. When I was about 7, my Dad had a fairly badly paid job so for a present, he decided to bring her in a barrow load of sticks on Christmas Day.
Off he went at about 12.30, telling my Mam he's be back in 3/4 of an hour for the dinner. 1.30 came, no sign. My sis & I were sent in to get him as my younger sister was a toddler. We were ushered in and put sitting on the sofa with a beaker of squash and a biscuit each. Dad looked kind of funny and wasn't talking right either.
2.30 came and my mother arrived with a face like thunder; Mrs Tully was sitting with a bottle of Sherry in one hand and a glass in the other, every time Dad (who was a pioneer until that day) took a sip of his, she topped it up and by now he was very drunk.
After trying to exchange pleasantries politely, Dad was frog marched home, where upon sitting down at the table declared the turkey was moving and decided to head straight to bed. Needless to say my Mother was like a weasel for the rest of the day.

johnny osbourne

free drink

Haznat

Crimbo isn't correct. It's "the Crimbo" and is widely used in most parts of Dublin.