Is "Christmas" a dirty word?

[woeisme]

I remember when I was in high school (early 80's) my math teacher would put up a Christmas tree every year, and one of our homework assignments was to make an ornament for the tree, which she would then donate to a local nursing home. She'd never be able to do that now! Some of the ornaments were pretty good, while others were pretty pathetic (three white styrofoam balls stuck together as a "snowman") considering we were in high school, so I don't know whether or not the nursing home patients looked forward to our tree every year or not, and I didn't gain any math knowledge from the assignment, but it's still sad knowing you could never even do anything like that in today's public schools.

[Bandit]

Half of the people here I know are Jewish. I'd say 50% put up Christmas trees!! One close friend calls it her Hannakuh bush..LOL!!!
At least the guy felt bad enough for his idiocy to say sorry. I would never complain about the menorahs I see everywhere. I think they are quite beautiful. My daughter was coloring dreidels and kwanza pictures at school too. Big deal. People need to get over themselves.
WAM

I think the menorah is beautiful too & I like to see the real big ones that are displayed. I have one of those little plastic ones where you put orange bulbs in. I like the Christmas tree also. I don't always have one because they are big pain but when I do have one I appreciate it & I appreciate the time & effort people go to, to celebrate.

I mean, I am sure they would not appreciate the name of menorah being changed to HOLIDAY Candlestick...ROFL...like so many want to change Christmas tree to Holiday or Winter tree.

Ok, if someone wants to put up a Holiday tree, then go ahead... but I will call mine a Christmas tree with an on top.

[Bandit]

I remember when I was in high school (early 80's) my math teacher would put up a Christmas tree every year, and one of our homework assignments was to make an ornament for the tree, which she would then donate to a local nursing home. She'd never be able to do that now! Some of the ornaments were pretty good, while others were pretty pathetic (three white styrofoam balls stuck together as a "snowman") considering we were in high school, so I don't know whether or not the nursing home patients looked forward to our tree every year or not, and I didn't gain any math knowledge from the assignment, but it's still sad knowing you could never even do anything like that in today's public schools.

They still do something like that here at the Library. They put up several trees outside & then each tree represents a school or certain class from the city. Then on each tree all the young people put their ornament that they made on the tree that represents their class or school. It is very cool to see that display. It does not weather very well but still holds up pretty good for the month of celebrations.

[chpxiii]

Ok, if someone wants to put up a Holiday tree, then go ahead... but I will call mine a Christmas tree with an on top.

Trees aren't soley a Christian thing. I believe Pagans put up what would look like a "christmas" tree, complete with ornaments and everything, but it means something different to them.

I have a pagen witch friend who does this. I don't know what it means to her but she talks about when she puts up her tree and ornaments.

[Bandit]

Trees aren't soley a Christian thing. I believe Pagans put up what would look like a "christmas" tree, complete with ornaments and everything, but it means something different to them.

I have a pagen witch friend who does this. I don't know what it means to her but she talks about when she puts up her tree and ornaments.

Oh yes, I know, chpxiii. Some of this goes back 4000 years or so. Old traditions die hard & the merging with cultures. I have pretty much outgrown it all but still have fond memories & warm loving feelings as I kind of see some of it as something for the children to make life a little more special for them in remembering the seasons and childhood. I have always associated this decorated tree with gifts & giving because there is where the gifts go before they get opened.

I suppose there are some who find some kind of magic or mysticism in it as I must admit there have been some real nice things that have happened over the years around a decorated tree amongst friends & family. I am neither pagan or christian or jew or hindu or, nor muslim...nothing...

Then there are those who make a tree and call it a Christmas tree but it has nothing to do with any kind of religion rather viewed as a holiday to get time off of work & of course Santa Clause. Which brings me to another thought...If people do not celebrate that holiday then why are they taking off the paid holiday for it? Shouldn't they be working instead?

I could put a tree in July in red white a blue & call it my Independence Tree

I feel it is only fair that everyone should be allowed to display what they like to celebrate, when they like to celebrate for whatever it means to them & no one should be harassed or told they cannot do it or cannot call it what they want. I have noticed though more recent than not, it is the whole Christmas ideaolgy in the USA that is being threatened in different ways, not so much the other religions. But then again the Christian religion has made plenty of threats to the other religions displays over the centuries.

For example the nativity scene is not allowed to be displayed alone in public like the post office or store, without having Santa Clause & Rudolph next to it or say, HogFather. But you can put just Santa in public & that is ok. You can sing jingle bells at school but not Silent Night.
Makes no sense to me.

[kl030505]

You know, I have no idea why people are so uptight about having to hear Merry Christmas everywhere. Is Happy Holidays really that offensive? I celebrate Christmas, and I don't have a problem calling my Christmas Tree what it is or talking about my celebration and plans with my friends of different religions. No one is taking away your "right" to celebrate as you choose. They are simply eliminating the overwhelming push and craziness from PUBLIC spaces.

Consider this. Have a friend who is Jewish and was in choir in 8th grade. Every year, they have a "christmas concert." and she was to sing the Christmas songs. The concert happened to take place on a Friday night, the sabbath for Jewish folks and her parents didn't want her participating because it required her to break the sabbath. It wasn't that they were singing Christmas songs - but rather the total insensitivity. They never ever would have held a Christmas concert at the SCHOOL on Sunday morning. Anyway, her parents asked them to change the concert day (and really, would having it on Thursday night have been so devastating?), school refused. Since she was unable to participate in the concert, she was unable to receive full marks in the class. It's that kind of stuff that the supposed "PC" stuff is trying to eliminate.

[Bandit]

So why don't they just plan and add a Jewish concert or whatever- instead of trying to eliminate the Christmas concert or change the date?
Thursday would not be so bad, unless of course another religion has already taken that Thursday. *chuckles*

If they are going to have one & not the other, then punish someone who does not believe in it, that is not right either.

This is the thing, if people are not careful it will end up being that all religious days are not allowed in public, Should the special days be written OFF the calendar as well? to make sure no one is offended? Should the employers not allow the people to take those days off because someone will be offended?

then it will trickle down to your religious freedom being taken in your own private space or place of worship. There are plenty of countries & history where this is the case & the people do not get to bounce around & complain, pick & choose what religion they want. The government just throws the people into jail & their heads get chopped off for doing the unacceptable religion.

I think it would be better if everyone just does their own religion & also allow it in public & no one gets punished for not joining it.
It is kind of ridiculous that people cannot share the same seasons, the same sky, the same trees, the same parks, the same library, the same lights, the same piano...

I have also noticed an increase of hate & inconsiderate people in the last decade toward those who celebrate Independence Day in the United States. So maybe this is more of a slap in the face toward the country itself & not so much the religions(?) or could be both?

any rate,
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year.
or Happy Hogwatch, whatever you choose.

[tinroofrusted]

Half of the people here I know are Jewish. I'd say 50% put up Christmas trees!! One close friend calls it her Hannakuh bush..LOL!!!
At least the guy felt bad enough for his idiocy to say sorry. I would never complain about the menorahs I see everywhere. I think they are quite beautiful. My daughter was coloring dreidels and kwanza pictures at school too. Big deal. People need to get over themselves.
WAM

Same here. We have a lot of Jewish friends/in-laws, and they ALL celebrate Christmas AND Hannuakuh.


And to those who ask if "Happy Holidays" is offensive:when someone, or a company on television, is blatantly going out of their way to say "Christmas" or "Merry Christmas" but they have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" playing in the background of a commercial, YES, that is offensive.

[chpxiii]

And to those who ask if "Happy Holidays" is offensive:when someone, or a company on television, is blatantly going out of their way to say "Christmas" or "Merry Christmas" but they have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" playing in the background of a commercial, YES, that is offensive.

I completely agree with you. I don't like *anyone* shoving their religion in my face ... even if it is what I practice.

[Bandit]

Same here. We have a lot of Jewish friends/in-laws, and they ALL celebrate Christmas AND Hannuakuh.


And to those who ask if "Happy Holidays" is offensive:when someone, or a company on television, is blatantly going out of their way to say "Christmas" or "Merry Christmas" but they have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" playing in the background of a commercial, YES, that is offensive.

I must agree. If someone celebrates Christmas then they should not have to feel threatened because they wish others a Merry Christmas as if it is a dirty word.

If someone tells me Happy Hanukkah or Happy R'as as-Sana, I would wish them the same greeting even though I do not celebrate it & would not try to make them feel uncomfortable about what they believe. That is just common respect.

I have also noticed some people using the old hymn type carols to push a different agenda and that to me could be seen as offensive because some people find the words to the old hymns very sacred. Even though the copyright is so old that people can do whatever they want with them, there should be some respect & they can find a different type of carol to use if they are not into the religious part of Christmas and want to push something different, like retail or movies & whatever.

[robivi3]

In that case I don't remember the man's complaint offhand but I do remember that his complaint was very valid. It was the absence of Hannukah that he complained about so they took down all the trees. Washing over the meaning of the man's words were a bunch of bigots who threatened him with all kinds of harm. The man raised a just issue. He did not raise it as a one on "I'm offended" deal. He simply wanted a Hannukah display, the Airports response was a can't please everyone deal so they took down the tree's. I found the thing disgusting as a Christian. A threat of physical violence against a valid argument? Bloody senseless.

Black eye for those who claim to be compassionate.

[tinroofrusted]

Same here. We have a lot of Jewish friends/in-laws, and they ALL celebrate Christmas AND Hannuakuh.


And to those who ask if "Happy Holidays" is offensive:when someone, or a company on television, is blatantly going out of their way to say "Christmas" or "Merry Christmas" but they have "O Little Town of Bethlehem" playing in the background of a commercial, YES, that is offensive.

OOPS! Should have been going out of their way to NOT say "Christmas or Merry Christmas."