sextonseven said:

Funkcreep said:

Thank you

That's because holiday also means vacation in England.

Doesn't it mean vacation everywhere? It does here.

That's what I thought Happy Holidays meant...it's not used as HOLYday here at all.

people wrote in to my local shopping mall to stop them playing christmas carols, so last year they didn't play any. Well this year they are playing them again, turns out some people wrote in to ask them to be reinstated - the mall just does what it's asked to avoid fuss, it's not about making any big statement - just goes with the majority, if more asked for than against, it's what they did

JustErin said:

sextonseven said:

That's because holiday also means vacation in England.

Doesn't it mean vacation everywhere? It does here.

That's what I thought Happy Holidays meant...it's not used as HOLYday here at all.

No one says they are going on holiday in the states. It's always "vacation".

sextonseven said:

JustErin said:

Doesn't it mean vacation everywhere? It does here.

That's what I thought Happy Holidays meant...it's not used as HOLYday here at all.

No one says they are going on holiday in the states. It's always "vacation".

That's weird considering Madonna had a song called "Holiday" which was about going on a vacation.

Wait, maybe it's not about that exactly....

[Edited 12/2/10 16:43pm]

Shyra said:

Lammastide said:

Honestly, this is just dumb... and probably bait.

This time of year brings Thanksgiving, Advent, Eid, Hanukkah, Diwali, Yule, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Boxing Day, St. Stephens Day, Candlemas, the New Year, Epiphany and Lord knows what other religous and/or secular winter festivals. People in a pluralistic society default at "Happy Holidays" because not knowing one's religious convictions, it is a neutral good-will greeting. That certain people take that charitability as an offense says a lot about what unstable, entitled personality they are.

[Edited 12/2/10 12:41pm]

Well, I wouldn't got that far, but I completely understand why people say "Happy Holidays." I do it when in mixed company and don't know whether some folk may be Jewish, Muslim, or whatever. I find the "die hard" Christians and "Bible thumpers" are the ones most adamant about saying Merry Christmas and don't give a fuck about ether's religious ceremonies. My manager is like that.

Did she cast the devil out of your office yet?

Funkcreep said:

Efan said:

If you don't care if the person says Happy Hanukkah to you, then why the fuck do you care if they say Happy Holidays?

Because it's irritating that people try to take the Christ out of Christmas. Like me son's school has "Winter Break". How stupid!!! I crossed it off in his folder and wrote "Christmas Break"

since Jesus was not even born on Christmas it's actually more irritating that Christians co-opted the winter celebration

JustErin said:

sextonseven said:

No one says they are going on holiday in the states. It's always "vacation".

That's weird considering Madonna had a song called "Holiday" which was about going on a vacation.

Wait, maybe it's not about that exactly....

[Edited 12/2/10 16:43pm]

I think that in the US a holiday is a pre-set day of vacation (eg: president's birthday), and elsewhere "to holiday" means to take a longer vacation?

"Happy Holidays" is a small concession to the many people who are not Christian. But aside from that, everywhere you look is Santa and reindeer and Christmas trees and Christmas lights and Christmas songs and Christmas TV specials and Jesus.

I can't see any reason to be bent out of shape by referring to a generic "Holiday."

NDRU said:

JustErin said:

That's weird considering Madonna had a song called "Holiday" which was about going on a vacation.

Wait, maybe it's not about that exactly....

[Edited 12/2/10 16:43pm]

I think that in the US a holiday is a pre-set day of vacation (eg: president's birthday), and elsewhere "to holiday" means to take a longer vacation?

So it means "days off" then. It's not just used for religious HOLYdays then.

Same same here. It means a pre-set day off and and a booked vacation.

Funkcreep said:

I'm definately "Merry Christmas", I think it's dumb when people say happy holidays. They act like there's a dozen holidays. Now that we're over Thanksgiving, there's really only 2 biggies.

Christmas (includes Christmas eve)

New Years (includes New Years eve)

We take the holidays one at time. Let's see if you can follow this.

From here till Dec 25th, it's "Merry Christmas".

From Dec 26th till Jan 1st, it's "Happy New Year".

It's amazing how people say "Happy Holidays" up till Christmas, but then after Christmas, you don't hear Happy Holidays anymore, now they will separate the holiday and say Happy New Year.

i'm definitely bah! humbug!

JustErin said:

NDRU said:

I think that in the US a holiday is a pre-set day of vacation (eg: president's birthday), and elsewhere "to holiday" means to take a longer vacation?

So it means "days off" then. It's not just used for religious HOLYdays then.

Same same here. It means a pre-set day off and and a booked vacation.

Not really. There are set Federal holidays like ML King Day, President's Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc. Most offices (though not all) are closed on those days. It's one day, or maybe two if the (federal) holiday falls on a weekend. It doesn't automatically mean that one is going on a multi-day vacation. Those are vacations, not "holiday".

For example, last week I had Thursday and Friday off from work due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but I don't say I went on vacation. Last August, I took 5 days off from work and went to the Caribbean for a vacation (not holiday).

jone70 said:

JustErin said:

So it means "days off" then. It's not just used for religious HOLYdays then.

Same same here. It means a pre-set day off and and a booked vacation.

Not really. There are set Federal holidays like ML King Day, President's Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc. Most offices (though not all) are closed on those days. It's one day, or maybe two if the (federal) holiday falls on a weekend. It doesn't automatically mean that one is going on a multi-day vacation. Those are vacations, not "holiday".

For example, last week I had Thursday and Friday off from work due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but I don't say I went on vacation. Last August, I took 5 days off from work and went to the Caribbean for a vacation (not holiday).

I wasn't disputing how it is in the US. I was saying that vacation and holiday mean the same here.

Have a cool Yule and Blessed Solstice

Merry Holidaze

Happy X-mas

I REALLY do not care what people say to express their enjoyment

this thread =

JustErin said:

jone70 said:

Not really. There are set Federal holidays like ML King Day, President's Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc. Most offices (though not all) are closed on those days. It's one day, or maybe two if the (federal) holiday falls on a weekend. It doesn't automatically mean that one is going on a multi-day vacation. Those are vacations, not "holiday".

For example, last week I had Thursday and Friday off from work due to the Thanksgiving holiday, but I don't say I went on vacation. Last August, I took 5 days off from work and went to the Caribbean for a vacation (not holiday).

I wasn't disputing how it is in the US. I was saying that vacation and holiday mean the same here.

Apologies - I misunderstood. I thought you meant the meanings were the same in Canada (as in the US). Nevermind then.

Lisa10 said:

I've never heard anyone in Britain say 'Happy Holidays'.

Merry/happy christmas.

aye, as an expat i must say that 'Happy Holidays' is quite jarringly American to my English ears.

whistle said:

Lisa10 said:

I've never heard anyone in Britain say 'Happy Holidays'.

Merry/happy christmas.

aye, as an expat i must say that 'Happy Holidays' is quite jarringly American to my English ears.

if anyone said that to me, I'd be like "but I'm not going anywhere!"

Merry Buy-shit-for-people day...

jone70 said:

JustErin said:

I wasn't disputing how it is in the US. I was saying that vacation and holiday mean the same here.

Apologies - I misunderstood. I thought you meant the meanings were the same in Canada (as in the US). Nevermind then.

No prob! Rereading it, I worded it very badly.

If someone says Merry Christmas to you, why not just take it as it is...a nice comment.

No....gotta turn it into a religious debate.

If someone was to say Happy Hanukkah to me, I would just say "Same to you!" with a smile.

Oh...this world!

NDRU said:

Funkcreep said:

Because it's irritating that people try to take the Christ out of Christmas. Like me son's school has "Winter Break". How stupid!!! I crossed it off in his folder and wrote "Christmas Break"

since Jesus was not even born on Christmas it's actually more irritating that Christians co-opted the winter celebration

People are always on the rag about keepin Christ in Xmas and I'm on it about them keepin him in their churches where he/she/it belongs. Go figure.

The greatest gift of all is having a total bait thread turned into real discussion.

Happy Easter everyone!

Mars23 said:

The greatest gift of all is having a total bait thread turned into real discussion.

Happy Easter everyone!

ZombieKitten said:

Mars23 said:

The greatest gift of all is having a total bait thread turned into real discussion.

Happy Easter everyone!

The day we give thanks to Bunny for laying the egg from which the baby jay-suhs hatched.

sextonseven said:

JustErin said:

Doesn't it mean vacation everywhere? It does here.

That's what I thought Happy Holidays meant...it's not used as HOLYday here at all.

No one says they are going on holiday in the states. It's always "vacation".

I speak of the US only, I should add that, my apologies for any confusion.

I never use holiday to mean "time off" in schools we say vacation here, and holidays to be short for Holy days. When people here (mostly church folks) say "Happy Holidays" They mean "Happy days that are Holy to you" not "Happy Vacation". This is why I say what Holidays means to me.

whistle said:

Lisa10 said:

I've never heard anyone in Britain say 'Happy Holidays'.

Merry/happy christmas.

aye, as an expat i must say that 'Happy Holidays' is quite jarringly American to my English ears.

Where are you living now, whistle?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

no happy holidays here...maybe because school breaks for 7 weeks and the kids drive you mad

FauxReal said:

I say Merry Christmas. If someone says either one or fills in with a holiday of their choice, I don't really care.

If they insist "But, I'm not Christian." I'm guessing I would either apologize if I were in a good mood or say "Cool. Me neither" if I wanted to be a smartass.

IMO, the "taking Christ out of Christmas" argument is tired, as is the "actually Christmas started as a pagan holiday" spiel that folks love to drop this time of year like they just stumbled upon some new knowledge and couldn't wait to share it with the rest of the world.

I would say, "Do you get December 25th off from work? Does that make you happy? Okay, well...I think that pretty much defines merry Christmas."

Funkcreep said:

I'm definately "Merry Christmas", I think it's dumb when people say happy holidays. They act like there's a dozen holidays. Now that we're over Thanksgiving, there's really only 2 biggies.

Christmas (includes Christmas eve)

New Years (includes New Years eve)

We take the holidays one at time. Let's see if you can follow this.

From here till Dec 25th, it's "Merry Christmas".

From Dec 26th till Jan 1st, it's "Happy New Year".

It's amazing how people say "Happy Holidays" up till Christmas, but then after Christmas, you don't hear Happy Holidays anymore, now they will separate the holiday and say Happy New Year.

I say say what your best guess is as to what the person would appreciate the most.

Mars23 said:

The greatest gift of all is having a total bait thread turned into real discussion.

Happy Easter everyone!

Blessed Samhain

ZombieKitten said:

Mars23 said:

The greatest gift of all is having a total bait thread turned into real discussion.

Happy Easter everyone!

nice 'eggs'