"Merry Christmas!"

I was in a store today and had a woman tell me, "Merry Christmas." The look on her face made me think that she was part of the group that has bought into this "war on Christmas" bullshit, so I thought maybe she was testing me.

I replied, "Thanks, but I'm Jewish."

She gave me a blank stare, looked away, and that was the end of that.

I think I'm going to do this each time I suspect someone is telling me to have a Merry Christmas just because they believe the war on Christmas nonsense.

After this episode, I called my closest friend of 23 years, who is Jewish, and told him what had happened. He couldn't stop laughing. And, by the way, this Jewish friend of mine puts up a tree and his family participates in gift giving on Christmas Day. Now, how's that for a war on Christmas!

Its when they snarl it in defiance that it annoys me. For these "persecuted Christians" its not about sincere good wishes (which I don't think too many people mind). Its about being right. So they snarl a defiant MERRY CHRISTMAS! to you, not out of a sincere holiday feeling but just to show you they are right..so there!

tree.

If that happends to me I will smile & respond - Yes, and a Happy Hannakua(sp?) to you too. Eventhough I'm not Jewish it is worth it to see the looks on their faces.

It's a "and a Happy Yule!" Then I frolic away leaving them to wonder.

Does that make me bad?

:) - you could also say merry fitzmas

I got a sign on the back of my car with Merry Fitzmas on it.

For a while I got into the habit of saying X-Mas instead of Christmas mainly for lazy reasons such as it was easier to type in emails and letters I sent. I did that until I was chastized by several family members for taking the Christ out of mas and that whole argument. Now I still do Christmas for family but I'll still send friends merry X-Mas, I don't see it as a big deal I believe the sentiment is the same regardless of how I type it to them.

I usually find myself in a mixture with my greetings now. I'm not very consistent, it can be Merry Christmas, Merry X-Mas, Or Happy Holidays.

Is that fundies also get upset about it, but it's been used for a lot longer than they think. X can be a symbol of Jesus (the cross). X's denoting kisses came from priests kissing the symbol of Jesus on their parchments, and crossing fingers for luck (essentially making an X or a cross) was meant as a quick way to pray to God for assistance without drawing attention to yourself from people hostile to Christianity.

But, yeah, you are bad and will undoubtedbly burn in hell for saying that. :)

TlalocW

And a happy holiday season as well and a happy new year. Hopefully it means vacation!

It is a terrible thing when wishing someone a Merry Christmas is issued like a call to arms. She seems to have quite an attitude if that was her intention. It was a good response on your part.

I have to admit if anyone wants to wish me a happy anything I will be glad to hear it. I can take any good will that comes my way if its given in a friendly spirit.

I mean that, sincerely. :)

I heard an elderly lady criticizing a younger lady recently for saying "Happy Holidays", telling her that she was "detracting from Christmas" or some such nonsense. I loved your response. I'm going to do it too, if I suspect that they're trying to be all "in your face" about Christmas.

Merry Christmas to me. They shouldn't make assumptions. I always tell them thanks, but I don't celebrate Christmas -- I'm Jewish. My husband always gets pissed at me when I do that. He thinks I should just say thank you and leave it at that, but I can't help myself.

You can usually tell when someone is being sincere or not. If someone wishes me a Merry Christmas I'll say it back and same with happy holiday's.

I think most people would have at least issued a light-hearted apology. She just looked away from you? Geez, some people...