Valerie L: Department stores banning the word “Christmas Tree” and replacing it with “Holiday Tree”?!?
I heard that various department stores (Khol’s is a prime example) want to ban the words “Merry Christmas” and relpace it with “Happy Holidays”. Also, they want to replace the words “Christmas Tree” with “Holiday Tree” because there are religious connotations in “Christmas Tree”.
I am really taken aback by this. Christmas was meant to be celebrated by people who believe in the birth of Christ. This holiday is for that, not for people who only focus on the material. Sure, I love getting Christmas gifts, who doesnt? But it really bugs me that people are using my religious holiday for only material things and for making sales. We dont do that for any other holiday in any other faith. Its only Catholic holidays that are like that.
So what do you think? How do you feel about changing the name?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Lars
I think the stores are basically forced into changing the name because Christmas is no longer celebrated religiously by many people, but the gift giving and family gathering is still celebrated and enjoyed by people who aren’t Christian. Everything must be politically correct thesedays and stores are afraid to offend people of other faiths, even though people of other faiths still may participate in the gifting part of the holiday.
I try not to be bothered by it, Jesus taught tolerance and sacrifice for others. The Christmas holiday is exploited by the stores as it has been for many years.
i agree with you, its wrongAnswer by angeldust_599
I kind of have mixed feelings about it. Holiday Tree does bother me, but Happy Holidays doesnt in the least. Regardless of why you celebrate on Dec 25, it is still Christmas Day and having a Christmas Tree is still a tradition regardless of who started it. I’m not aware of any other religions that celebrate something in December where they put up and decorate a tree so to me, Christmas Tree is appropriate. I dont mind Happy Holidays however because I feel it does cover everything and everyone who celebrates something around that time. Also, New Years is right after Christmas and thats a holiday too so even that gets covered by Happy Holidays.Answer by Courtney
I’m atheist and I celebrate Christmas. I think it should stay Merry Christmas.Answer by Wolfgang M
I disagree. It is fair in a way if you think about it. “The Holidays” aren’t all about Christmas. There are also other holidays celebrated around this time by people of many other religions. Why should there be a double standard? Why should Christmas be the only holiday posted and plastered around everywhere? It’s could offend others, who don’t celebrate Christmas but celebrate one of these other holidays around Christmas time. Merry Christmas would just be directing it towards people who celebrate Christmas while Happy Holidays would be directing the message towards everyone who celebrated a holiday around Christmas time. And it would be much easier to just put Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc. I think it makes it a little more fair and shows respect. I think it’s nice that they’re wishing a happy holiday to everyone, and not just those who celebrate Christmas.
But holiday tree does sound a little ridiculous. Aren’t Christmas trees only or mostly used by people who celebrate Christmas? I think that they should have just left Christmas tree.
Answer by Somebody Told MePeople have been saying this for the past 5+ years. Calm down.
First just relax and remember that just because someone celebrates a holiday one way doesn’t mean you have to.
Second, I don’t think you understand why they even suggest this. It’s to include the other faiths, not to take away from yours. It’s not about materialism, it’s about understanding your holiday is not the only holiday this time of year, and it gets annoying to constantly have people wish you have a happy-holiday-you-don’t-celebrate. You appreciate the wishes, but it’s like “well…. gee…thanks…I guess.”
This, they are not changing the name of Christmas. They are including other religion’s holidays, and non religious holidays. You’ll start hearing Happy Holidays soon. It’s not meant to be “no Christmas!” it’s meant to be Halloween/Thanksgiving/your winter holiday of choice/new years. They’re wishing you’ll be happy on four holidays, instead of just one, and not excluding others. What’s the problem with that?
Fourth, I agree that calling Christmas Trees “holiday trees” is ridiculous. Christmas is the only one that uses it. THIS is where it gets to be people panicking that just using the word Christmas will offend someone.
Fifth, Christmas was originally a pagan holiday. It really truly was. Now think about this – I’m not saying you can’t celebrate for Jesus. If that’s what makes you happy, more power to you. But I feel that way about everyone and their holidays. Let everyone celebrate whatever they want, however they want, so long as no one gets hurt. Isn’t that what “Happy Holidays” is really about? If it annoys you to see someone celebrating a certain way okay, it sometimes annoys me too, but just remember YOU celebrate for, what to you are, the “right” reasons.
Answer by peppershamI don’t mind the Happy Holidays saying but the Holiday tree is just plain dumb.You are either celebrating with a Christmas tree or you are not.Either way its still a holiday ever how you choose to celebrate it.Answer by betsy
“Happy Holidays” makes perfect sense, there’s a lot of holidays at that time of year, and the stores want to make a buck off as many as possible. They don’t care if you’re buying those little lights for Christmas or Diwali, really. “Holiday Tree” is ridiculous, only Christians involve a tree in their celebrations. Well, maybe Druids?
Thing is, Jesus drove the moneylenders out of the temple, would he appreciate being used to sell people stuff? I think Christians should take back a religious Christmas, haul it out of the malls and back into the churchs. The rest of the world can celebrate whatever kind of secular-fest they like. Matter of fact, Christians could party it up, family, feasts, drunken parties, etc, as well, but the Miracle of Jesus’ Birth should be allowed a little dignity.
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