Season's Greetings, Happy Christmas, Merry Christmas, Nollaig Shona Dhuit etc

LordSutch

What will be your choice of greeting this Christmas?

You can see from the link below, things were gettin a bit 'dicey' here back in 2009 when HH might have taken over as the seasonal greeting! what with some Irish people openly beginning to utter the dreaded 'Happy Holidays' in public :cool:

From 2009 >>> http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=63437676&postcount=1

Thankfully since then it looks like the oh so American "Happy Holidays" has been headed off, defeated, & totally rejected in both Ireland & Britain as an alternative form of Christmas greeting. 'Hurrah I hear you cry'

So what's your choice of greeting this Yuletide Season?

See attached Poll.

darkpagandeath

Junkyard Tom

I find it incredibly offensive that religious spookers try to hijack Winter Solstice to push thier superstitions. Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon not a celebration of religious fairy tales. Having said that I think Santa is a boss, he brought me some amazing gifts as a child.

Tom Mann Centuria

Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas, both are fine.

Atari Jaguar

I imagine it's not widely used here considering most people in Ireland (up until a short while ago at least) were Christian or atheist. In recent years there's been more muslims and Romas over here but I don't think we'll see ourselves banned from having a Christmas tree put up in Dublin City centre or anything to that extreme. All things considered for Americans at least you could have people who are, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist etc it makes sense to have a blanket term that can incorporate all religions. A Muslim family can celebrate "the holidays" without feeling a bit stupid calling it Christmas considering the no more believe in Jesus than the man on the moon. Besides if it caught on here and became the norm that instead of "Happy Christmas" it was Happy Holidays I'd refuse to accept the change and carry on with saying Happy/Merry Christmas.

Just don't say Crimbo. Then I fcuking cringo.

darkpagandeath

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

I imagine it's not widely used here considering most people in Ireland (up until a short while ago at least) were Christian or atheist. In recent years there's been more muslims and Romas over here but I don't think we'll see ourselves banned from having a Christmas tree put up in Dublin City centre or anything to that extreme. All things considered for Americans at least you could have people who are, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist etc it makes sense to have a blanket term that can incorporate all religions. A Muslim family can celebrate "the holidays" without feeling a bit stupid calling it Christmas considering the no more believe in Jesus than the man on the moon. Besides if it caught on here and became the norm that instead of "Happy Christmas" it was Happy Holidays I'd refuse to accept the change and carry on with saying Happy/Merry Christmas.

Just don't say Crimbo. Then I fcuking cringo.

They recognise all prophets . Where do you think Islam comes from ?

Stigura

Deedsie wrote: »

Any Irish person that says Merry Christmas watches too much U.S. television.

It's Happy Christmas this side of the Atlantic.

" We wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year. " Isn't that where it comes from?


I'm the guy who first voted 'other'. I have nothing to do with xmass (Or Chinese new year. Ramma lamma ding dong. Or any other 'religious' bollox)

I'm more closer allied with Junkyard Tom, on this: It's about a natural thing. Seasonal.

That today is to be the shortest day of the year matters, epically, to me. " God "? God can go f**k themselves. I need the light.

TOss Sweep

Deedsie wrote: »

Any Irish person that says Merry Christmas watches too much U.S. television.

It's Happy Christmas this side of the Atlantic.

Oh yeah? Our family had no TV in the 80s growing up but used both Happy and Merry Christmas and in fact have a Santa poster that says Merry Christmas that has been in the family since the 70s. None of our family had ever been to the US in their lifetime up until the 2000s and obviously as I said we had no tv.

Junkyard Tom

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I find it incredibly offensive that religious spookers try to hijack Winter Solstice to push thier superstitions. Winter solstice is an astrological phenomenon not a celebration of religious fairy tales...

So it's astrology and not some made up stuff?

Barry Badrinath

Merry Baby Jesus Day.

whoopsadoodles

Deedsie wrote: »

Fascinating.

The common seasonal greeting in Ireland and Britain still remains Happy Christmas.

"Merry" over here became synonyms with over indulgence with alcohol among certain sections of society.. The Victorians stopped saying Merry and replaced it with Happy Christmas instead as "Merry" had class dividing meaning.

I'm happy with Happy Christmas anyway :-)

People who say Merry just remind me of people who say Awesome or refer to various things "sucking" if they are not enthused by them. E.g. American Football sucks

.

So what you're saying is.....Merry Christmas is around since pre Victorian times!

Deedsie

Deedsie wrote: »

Any Irish person that says Merry Christmas watches too much U.S. television.

It's Happy Christmas this side of the Atlantic.

I'd say a lot more Irish people have sang along to "Merry Christmas" lyrics by British bands like Slade and Shakin Stevens...

Zubeneschamali

“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!”

― Dave Barry

Peregrinus

Between the Reformation and the nineteenth century, Christmas wasn't actually a big deal in most of the English-speaking world - it was considered a bit, well, too Catholic. It revived as a significant popular holiday in the mid-nineteenth century in both Britain and the US; some people give credit for this largely to Charles Dickens, who was insanely popular in both countries, and who of course is the author of that revolting morality tale, A Christmas Carol. Prince Albert, who brought German Christmas customs to the UK and made them fashionable, was also involved in the revival of Christmas as a major holiday.

At the time "Merry Christmas" was the standard greeting on both sides of the Atlantic, but almost immediately there was a trend towards "Happy Christmas" in the UK, for the reason Deedsie points out - "merry" was considered too suggestive of shameless alcoholic debauch.

"Happy Christmas" never really took off in the US, and is still rarely heard there. Evidently, "merry" doesn't have the same alcoholic connotations in the US (or, if it does, they don't care). It did take off in Britain, but only to a limited extent. Even in British English, it has always taken second place to "Merry Christmas". So it's not really an Americanism; "Happy Christmas" occurs almost exclusively on this side of the Atlantic, but "Merry Christmas" is found on both sides.

"Happy Christmas" is characteristically Irish, though, in the sense that it has always been much more popular in Ireland than "Merry Christmas". To the extent that Hiberno-English is influenced by British English, it tends to be influenced by middle-class and upper-class varieties of British English, and this is where "Happy Christmas" particularly flourished. "Happy Christmas" was, and I think still is, the dominant greeting in Ireland - the only country in the Anglosphere, so far as I know, where this is true. It's a safe bet that the Santa poster with "Merry Christmas" on it that TOss Sweep's family had in the 1970s came from the UK.

mzungu

A Happy Christmas usually does the trick.

LordSutch

Atari Jaguar wrote: »

Just don't say Crimbo.

Agreed, I hate it too!

Glenster

Urgh, Happy Christmas is so UK.

Get a hold of yourselves people.

Merry FTW!

5rtytry56

Other: "Happy Gob$hite Christmas" - I stole this phrase from a Market in Rathmines.

I say Merry Christmas.

And you can blame Slade.

LordSutch

I suspect Merry was around long before Noddy

Capt'n Midnight

Yuletide Felicitations.

Grandeeod

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I find it incredibly offensive that religious spookers try to hijack Winter Solstice to push thier superstitions. Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon not a celebration of religious fairy tales. Having said that I think Santa is a boss, he brought me some amazing gifts as a child.

I fully believe that you appreciate the irony in your own post.

Zubeneschamali

"Merry" is OK I suppose, not my favourite.

I prefer Gandalf Christmas.

OldGoat

I find that "Howaya" works well enough.

Also, isn't "Merry Christmas" et al a farewell rather than a greeting?

The flying mouse

Merry or Happy Christmas will do me & the same to you all :-)

KERSPLAT!

Happy Baby Cheeses Day

bodice ripper

Satisfactory Saturnalia

LordSutch

Happy Christmas in Polish = Wesołych Świąt

Olishi4

An old friend of mine who has since passed away had a tattoo that was meant to say "Mam and Dad RIP" but when he was out once, someone translated it and told him that it really said "Happy Holidays".

He was joking with me and said "not even Happy Christmas ffs, Happy Fcuking Holidays?"

whoopsadoodles

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Happy Baby Cheeses Day

And they allll came to see the baby cheeses.

KERSPLAT!

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

And they allll came to see the baby cheeses.

http://s4.b3ta.com/host/creative/78125/1414189810/BabyCheezus.jpg

During the week I say things like "have a nice day". At the end of the week I say things like "Have a nice weekend". Which is likely what I will say to all my work mates when I leave work tomorrow for the long weekend.

I have never seen to modify that in response to seasons or festivals or anything. I have no recollection therefore of saying "Merry Christmas" to anyone or any of the other suggested substitutes for it.

The only exception I can think of is "Happy New Year" which no one has taken exception to yet. Though I admit the number of Chinese and Jewish people I know is limited.

kunst nugget

I'd say 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Christmas'. If some took offence to it, I'd tell them to go eat a cold cum sandwich. It be like me getting offended by someone saying 'Ramadan mubarak' to me. Honestly, if you don't celebrate it don't be offended that others do and take the greeting in the spirit it was intended.

jamesbere

Go suck a lemon

Atari Jaguar

[Deleted User] wrote: »

During the week I say things like "have a nice day". At the end of the week I say things like "Have a nice weekend". Which is likely what I will say to all my work mates when I leave work tomorrow for the long weekend.

I have never seen to modify that in response to seasons or festivals or anything. I have no recollection therefore of saying "Merry Christmas" to anyone or any of the other suggested substitutes for it.

The only exception I can think of is "Happy New Year" which no one has taken exception to yet. Though I admit the number of Chinese and Jewish people I know is limited.

Bah humbug!

Zubeneschamali

Deleted User wrote: »

The only exception I can think of is "Happy New Year" which no one has taken exception to yet.

I've never heard of anyone in Ireland taking exception to Happy Christmas, either.

LordSutch

Really glad that votes for 'happy holidays' is still in single figures )

I never realised the snobbery between Happy Christmas Vs Merry Christmas.
To me they're interchangable.

PS:Gotta love post No 30

nice_guy80

Happy Festivus?

Comhrá

As the title says. which do you prefer?

Uriel.

Who gives a ****. It's all the same.

Have a happy merry Christmas op

Barry Badrinath

Nollaig Shona

The flying mouse

Ah jaysus another crazy thread ...


Have a merry happy Christmas Op

Nollaig Shona.

Skommando

It doesn't really matter, but Merry Christmas seems to fit the season better, with a Happy New Year !

RobbingBandit

Merry Christmas I'm a traditionalist, what ever the duck that's supposed to mean I'm unsure of.

Atlantic Dawn

Happy as the term Merry to me implies getting slaughtered drunk.

The_Valeyard

Didn't we have this thread last week?

Míshásta

RobbingBandit wrote: »

Merry Christmas I'm a traditionalist, what ever the duck that's supposed to mean I'm unsure of.

Well, you can't be an Irish traditionalist. "Happy Christmas" was the popular way of saying it, even if "Merry Christmas" was on the cards. However I seem to hear "Merry Christmas" more often among young people. Probably due to media exposure and the general trend to copy from our American and English friends.

So "Happy Christmas" or whatever you're having yourself.

Grianstad Sona Dhuit

mad muffin

Savoury satan claws.

lawred2

tippman1 wrote: »

As the title says. which do you prefer?

What's the difference?

Míshásta

lawred2 wrote: »

What's the difference?

Between St. Stephen's Day and Boxing Day?