My thoughts on …
Did you know that the phrase “Happy Holidays” was started by Christians? Yes, that’s right folks, it was. In fact it dates back to the 1600’s in England. People were acknowledging the fact that there were more than one holiday. Like the fact that after Christmas, there was the celebration of the New Year. Plus there was the season of Advent, another very Christian custom, that this year begins on November 30th and ends December 24th. So right there we have more than one Christian holiday in December. And do you know what? Nobody has ever wished me a “Happy Advent”. How annoying is that?
Furthermore, let us remember that Christ was born a Jew. How many of us really believe he never celebrated Chanukah with his family? The tradition of Chanukah started over a hundred and fifty years before he was born, so I’m pretty sure he celebrated it more than once.
I’d also like to point out that it was Jesus who taught us to love our neighbors, be tolerant, kind and to not judge others or take offense should someone do something we feel is mean.
So in the spirit of his teachings, I find the phrase “Happy Holidays” just as sweet and respectful of my Catholic upbringing as the words “Merry Christmas”. To me, someone is simply trying to be respectful of whatever religion I happen to follow, without giving me the third degree about my faith and beliefs.
With this in mind I wish to conclude this entry by saying, “Happy Thanksgiving”
“Happy Advent”,
“Happy Chanukah”
“Have a wonderful Eid al-Adha” (for my Muslim friends)
“Happy Yule”
“Happy Kwanzaa”
“Merry Christmas”
“Happy New Year”
,,
Or to put it simply “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” whatever they are.
Musings Of Two Creative Minds 
I never feel insulted by well wishes of any kind. Nor do I feel it is disrespectful. I will say Merry Christmas to the Christian, Happy Chanukhah to the Jew and happy Holidays when I do not know which belief they practice. It’s just being friendly and human. If we all saw these wishes that way this world would be a happier place.
LikeLike
Amen, Yvonne.
LikeLike
I am fully with Yvonne. But I have to admit, after wishing a group of people Merry Christmas I had been corrected in a very impolite way by a Muslim girl that SHE doesn’t want me to address wishes this way and that I have to say “Happy Holidays” because SHE was insulted the way I talked…
I nearly kicked her across the Jordan. I told her that I first of all did not mean HER with my wishes, since she didn’t belong to the group of people I had been talking to – and that NOBODY had the right to tell me how and what way I am placing my Good Wishes to people…
Finally I had to end this and walked away before it would have ended really in a bad way…
LikeLike
I understand. This is another reason why I stick to generic all-inclusive phrases. Sometimes you can’t tell just by looking at a person what faith they follow or if they don’t follow any. Sorry you had the bad experience, but I have a feeling she had probably been yelled at by others for not using “Merry Christmas” and was taking it out on the next person who said it to her.
LikeLike
I’m Buddhist, but I wish everyone a happy holiday. If they prefer Christmas, or some other greeting, they can get if from someone else. I stick to generic, all-inclusive phrases because that way I include everyone.
LikeLike
That makes sense to me. Hope your holidays have been happy ones.
LikeLike