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I thought people (even when Christians communicating with other Christians) say "Happy Holidays" because they are wishing "Happy Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years" at the same time?
But once TG has passed and if you're not a Christian then what do you say ? Christians start the day at midnight (hence midnight mass) thus New years is in 2014 which is a different year.
Forgive me for being obtuse. What's so wrong with wishing a Chrstian "Merry Chrstmas?"
Take one look at me, and it's pretty clear I hold no stock in yushke as anything other than a dead Yid.
Sometimes I just love theflipflop. You get a rep point.
As you know, I am Christian, and I found this hilarious.
I'm going to tell people at church that line on Sunday. Thanks. I believe "Yushke" had a great sense of humor while on earth that often gets lost in too much solemnity.
On the serious side, a few years ago in our regional paper (North Jersey), a rabbi did a nice Op-Ed on the subject. He said he takes his children into Manhattan to see the Fifth Avenue store windows every year. He felt that his family was strong enough and secure enough in their Jewish identity that they could look from the outside at the Christian traditions and celebrations at this time of year without participating in them in any way but as part of the culture in which they live. I wish I had saved it. It was very well written.
Not so! What about the New Year, Yule, Kwanzaa, Pancha Ganapati (Hindu), Bodhi Day (Buddhist), Yalda (Persians) and, most importantly, my birthday? :P Even in Christianity, there is more than just Christmas. In my opinion, some of the most interesting Christian celebrations are Saint's days, especially Saint Lucia's Day which is in mid-December.
Ever since I beat cancer, I've fallen in the camp of life is too short to not celebrate everyone's humanity. As part of that, I've enjoyed lots of different cultural celebrations - even religious ones (though of course only looking at it from the cultural side). Throughout the holiday season, I enjoy the lights, watch holiday movies (Love, Actually and Meet Me in St. Louis are essential), participate in my alma mater's traditional Messiah Sing, and this Christmas will be spending the day with my boyfriend's ex-Catholic priest grandfather for his celebrations. Then we'll go for Chinese food.
Good girl! And when is your birthday so we can all celebrate?
I like Holy Innocents Day, which is December 28 in the traditional liturgical calendar. It technically commemorates the story that Herod sent out soldiers to slaughter all the male children under 2 years of age in hopes of killing the "newborn king" he'd heard about. Although there is no historical evidence that this event actually occurred, for non-fundamentalists Christians, it is a day to remember innocent victims and people who have suffered because of injustice.
Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love and peace...(Book of Common Prayer)
But once TG has passed and if you're not a Christian then what do you say ? Christians start the day at midnight (hence midnight mass) thus New years is in 2014 which is a different year.
If someone said to me "Merry Christmas" I just say "Merry Christmas" back
Good girl! And when is your birthday so we can all celebrate?
I like Holy Innocents Day, which is December 28 in the traditional liturgical calendar. It technically commemorates the story that Herod sent out soldiers to slaughter all the male children under 2 years of age in hopes of killing the "newborn king" he'd heard about. Although there is no historical evidence that this event actually occurred, for non-fundamentalists Christians, it is a day to remember innocent victims and people who have suffered because of injustice.
Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love and peace...(Book of Common Prayer)
You also might want to add Boxing Day (which the day after Christmas) which is a legal holiday in Great Britain and Australia (and perhaps even Canada?).
You also might want to add Boxing Day (which the day after Christmas) which is a legal holiday in Great Britain and Australia (and perhaps even Canada?).
^ Most European and Western countries has Dec 26 (Day after Christmas) as national holiday (called Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day or Second day of Christmas)
America must always be different which kind of sucks...
Many countries also celebrate Easter Monday which is not observed in the USA either.
There are many things America has not adopted yet like other western countries, such as the metric system, mandate paid leave of absence, etc.
In the Sixties, in elementary school, we were told that we'd soon be switching to the metric system. About 15 - 20 years later, they changed soda bottles to liters. That was about it.
I get a little tired of the constant "Merry Christmas" from people, but I don't have a neon sign over my head that flashes "JEW JEW JEW" either.
So when people tell me "Merry Christmas" I say back "Happy Holidays to you" or if it's actually Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I will say "Merry Christmas" to them.
On Christmas a lot of Jewish people in DFW go to the movies and/or out for Chinese food. It's wonderful, though it's not quite as fun as it used to be because the gentiles have figured it out and a lot of them go out on Christmas Day now too.
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