Chinese Food, a Movie, and a Question about Christmas Greetings

December 25, 2009 · Filed Under Baum's Blog 

To those of you (like me) indulging in Chinese food and a movie today, enjoy!  To those of you celebrating Christmas with your Christian family and/or friends, enjoy!

Something has been on my mind lately, and I am curious what you all think.  At this time of year, lots of people say “Merry Christmas” without knowing whether the person they are saying it to actually celebrates the holiday.  This happens quite a bit in stores where friendly clerks wish their customers a Merry Christmas.

You may recall in 2005 and 2006 this was an issue in the news thanks to Wal-Mart.  The retailer went back and forth about whether it should ask its employees to say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” – and got criticized for each of those.

Given those two options, I’m definitely a fan of “Happy Holidays.”  It shows that the person speaking is sending warm wishes without making assumptions about the other person.  “Happy Holidays” speaks to diversity.  Of course, it’s more complicated though.  “Happy Holidays” suggests that everyone celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa which all fall at this time of year.  The reality is that not all people celebrate those holidays.  Thus, I tend to prefer “Happy Holiday season” or “Have a wonderful 2010″ or “Seasons Greetings” or “Have a good afternoon” etc.

When people wish me  a “Merry Christmas,” I tend to respond “Happy Holidays” – not hoping to make them feel bad about their statement – but hoping that it will help them recognize that different people have different traditions.

I am curious what you all think about this – how you greet people – and how you feel when you are greeted with “Merry Christmas.”

So, I wish all of you a wonderful end of 2009 and beginning of 2010!

Tags:

Comments

9 Responses to “Chinese Food, a Movie, and a Question about Christmas Greetings”

  1. Lauren Says:
    December 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    I agree with you Rabbi! I was actually listening to an NPR program called ‘Back Story’ today about historical perspectives on Christmas. They had Stephen Nissenbaum, author of The Battle for Christmas on. He was also making the case for Hanukkah being a holiday for children that kind of answered the Christmas dilemma for Jewish parents early in the 20th century. I actually found out about your website through that program today. It was enjoyable to be part of a Shabbat service at least virtually! Facebook disappeared on me as I was making a comment tho…oh well. Next time!

  2. David Schwartz Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 10:13 am

    I often tell the greater, Hanukkah. They reply “sorry, Happy Hanukkah” and I reply “Merry Christmas”

    The majority seems to do it’s best to forget the minority groups among them. I want to remind them we are here and queer – okay , not queer, but you get the point.

  3. Pat Chambers Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    This was the first year I knew that there was a “tradition” (note the quotation marks) for Jewish people to eat Chinese food and watch a movie!

    I do recall the part in the film “A Christmas Story” where the turkey is devoured by a next-door neighbor’s pack of dogs, causing the family to go out to a Chinese Restaurant to eat. The film to me is a favorite–but despite a certain channel broadcasting it for 24 hours around Christmas, I only watch it once!

    Maybe if I find a really good Chinese food place open in my area on Christmas day next year, I might indulge in this newly discovered “tradition”!!

  4. D'vorah Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    I agree with you. I had several clerks wish me a Merry Christmas and I don’t celebrate Christmas. There are many of us Jews who don’t celebrate. Guess I don’t look Jewish enough!! But I do like David, above does.

  5. Michael Edelson Says:
    December 27th, 2009 at 1:28 am

    Dear Rabbi,
    I also heard you on the NPR show, Back Story. I have to agree with you, happy holidays should be fine. In one case though I had to tell the jerk I am Jewish I celebrate Hanukkah and not Christmas. The guy, ringing the Salvation Army bell got angry because I first responded to his Merry Christman statement by saying Happy holidays. He stopped his ringing and wanted to fight me!!!! Now I am handicapped but I can take care of myself especially with my crutches he would have ended up hurting but I prefer not to fight if I truly don’t have to…for me, it sticks now at happy holidays…if they don’t like that they will not like the next phrase that comes out of my mouth more..
    Mike, a nice Jewish boy stranded in Lynchburg Va.

  6. Lisa Says:
    December 27th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    I’ve heard a lot more “happy holidays” lately but I think it’s important to take all greetings in the manner they are intended. I just don’t think (in my experience) that anyone who wishes me “Merry Christmas” is trying to maliciously bestow only Christian greetings of the season on me. It’s not as if they are saying… “if you are not christian, then NO joy for you.” If it is a clerk or a stranger on the street for that matter…and they say “merry christmas” I don’t think it’s necessary to stop and get into a philisophical discussion about what religion I am or how I celebrate.

    “Thank you and to you too” does just fine.

  7. LGreyhawke Says:
    December 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm

    I don’t feel that a hearty Merry Christmas greeting is insensitive or meant to slight me. I try to take it with all the joy and good will that I think the person means to impart. I answer back with a heartfelt Merry Christmas! Acknowleging their beliefs does not diminish mine. If they ask about my holiday plans THEN I elaborate that I am Jewish and celebrate Hannukah. I have had the good fortune to be met only with good wishes and smiles.

  8. Deborah W. Says:
    December 30th, 2009 at 12:54 am

    Hardly anyone will wish you “Merry Christmas” with hostile intent. I usually respond “and Happy New Year!”

    Strangers don’t want to know about your religion any more than they want your medical history when they say “How are you?”

  9. Peggy S Says:
    December 31st, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    I agree that the well-wishers mean no harm when they say “Merry Christmas”, but I also think it is an opportunity to sensitize people to the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Sometimes I respond, “I don’t celebrate Christmas, but, Merry Christmas to you!”

    I like to hear “Happy Holidays!” because it’s more diverse and how do we know which holiday is celebrated by the stranger.

    And today, I like saying “Happy New Year!” to everyone!

Leave a Reply