Holiday rants

[rigs32]

Some people are just better gift givers. My dad was like that. The vast majority of the time, he just knew what people would like, even if they didn't realize it was something they wanted or needed. It was even a topic of conversation at his funeral. My mom on the other hand..... she can't help but see me as an extension of her. My amazon wishlist has been a real help to her.

 

[Kittyblue]

cause every time you leave a store they are ringing there bells wanting money

Of all the types I encounter outside of stores (selling stuff, signing petitions, etc) the bell ringers have always been the nicest. They've always had a friendly greeting or a smile and I've never felt pressured to donate.

You'll see all kinds of activity during the holidays!

Must be shopping in Vegas!

 

[NannyBeBe]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo. If I say "Merry Christmas" and it offends someone, they can just ignore me. December 25th is Christmas Day, not Holiday.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo. If I say "Merry Christmas" and it offends someone, they can just ignore me. December 25th is Christmas Day, not Holiday.

When I say Happy Holidays it's to include both Christmas and a Happy New Year. Next year's gotta be better than this year. Eventually. After we get the vaccines.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo.

Hanukkah is from December 10th to the 18th. Yule is the 21st. Kwanzaa is the 26th through January 1st.

How is the poor kid making minimum wage at McDonald's supposed to know which holiday you celebrate? What if they told you Happy Hanukkah instead of Merry Christmas? You can just ignore them, instead of getting offended, right?

 

[jrmasm]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo. If I say "Merry Christmas" and it offends someone, they can just ignore me. December 25th is Christmas Day, not Holiday.

So you only say Merry Christmas on December 25th?

 

[mjkacmom]

Hanukkah is from December 10th to the 18th. Yule is the 21st. Kwanzaa is the 26th through January 1st.

How is the poor kid making minimum wage at McDonald's supposed to know which holiday you celebrate? What if they told you Happy Hanukkah instead of Merry Christmas? You can just ignore them, instead of getting offended, right?

There are many holidays in December, so happy holidays doesn’t offend me, but I just read of Facebook that our town’s holiday tree will be lit on Sunday. It’s a Christmas tree!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

There are many holidays in December, so happy holidays doesn’t offend me, but I just read of Facebook that our town’s holiday tree will be lit on Sunday. It’s a Christmas tree!

See, this I do find silly. Like, not enough to rant about, but it's still silly. You don't traditionally put up a tree and decorate it for Hanukkah, for example. Maybe, instead, your town should put up a Christmas tree and a menorah and a kinara, for example.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Ok, here's the nerd in me coming out. I find this fascinating...

https://www.history.com/news/the-war-of-words-behind-happy-holidays

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Hearing "Happy Holidays" everywhere I go, as if saying "Merry Christmas" is taboo. If I say "Merry Christmas" and it offends someone, they can just ignore me. December 25th is Christmas Day, not Holiday.

It's not taboo, it's inclusive. Some of us don't want to make our neighbors feel uncomfortable just because they have different religious/cultural backgrounds. It's kind of like using gender specific phrases in normal correspondence... there are just better ways.

Also, technically "Merry Christmas" is only a relevant statement on Christmas day. You wouldn't accept "happy birthday" a month before your actual birthday right? Same thing here.

 

[nursejackie]

Secret Santa! Where some regifts may have gone to die

I have a drawer full of secret santa gifts ready to re-gift, the trick is remembering who gave you what and not giving it back to them the following year!

 

[TipsyTraveler]

See, this I do find silly. Like, not enough to rant about, but it's still silly. You don't traditionally put up a tree and decorate it for Hanukkah, for example. Maybe, instead, your town should put up a Christmas tree and a menorah and a kinara, for example.

My town lights a dreidel and a tree. I’ll have to suggest they add a kinara. And maybe a Festivus pole.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My town lights a dreidel and a tree. I’ll have to suggest they add a kinara. And maybe a Festivus pole.

View attachment 542013

That dreidel is fantastic!

 

[Heigh-Ho]

This Merry Christmas talk reminds me of my earlier comments. To me at least I think Happy Holidays is cultural these days meant to be for the season itself encompassing multiple holidays and really just the time period. Merry Christmas has long been said more than just on Christmas day so it itself has become to mean to many people the season/time period than just merely the day of Christmas.

I've seen it said Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and Happy Holidays and a good New Year to you and other varieties. I think Happy Holidays could include New Year as well though Merry Christmas itself does not for most people.

Confusing perhaps but I think the negative feelings tend to get invoked when one side feels the other side is leaving someone out. If people don't treat Happy Holidays to mean you're excluding Christmas and if Merry Christmas isn't treated to mean you're excluding any other holiday it seems people coexist more happily. You don't read too much into either phrase and instead just carry on appreciating the well wishes whichever way it's said

 

[Owlpost23]

I don’t mean to be a grinch however.... to those of you who are placing Christmas lights/decorations in your yards, would you please avoid anything that has Red or Blue flashing lights together? Every time I come around the corner, I think it's the police and I have a panic attack. I have to brake hard, toss my wine out the window, fasten my seat belt, throw my phone on the floor, turn my radio down, and push the gun under the seat. All while trying to drive.

It's just too much drama, even for Christmas. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

That's just classic!

 

[Uncle Coaster]

It's not taboo, it's inclusive. Some of us don't want to make our neighbors feel uncomfortable just because they have different religious/cultural backgrounds. It's kind of like using gender specific phrases in normal correspondence... there are just better ways.

Also, technically "Merry Christmas" is only a relevant statement on Christmas day. You wouldn't accept "happy birthday" a month before your actual birthday right? Same thing here.

I agree with your first paragraph.

However, there have been many instances where I’ve wished or been wished a Happy Birthday in advance of the day. Goes with pretty much every holiday or occasion as well. I thought it was common.

 

[kirstenb1]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. But those pretentious perfume/cologne ads drive me crazy! Dior, I'm talking to you! They start in November and run all the way through Christmas.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Mary did you know, that your baaaaab......
YES, I DID KNOW. I KNEW MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. YES. AS HARD AS IT IS TO BELIEVE I WAS IN ON THE PLAN AND WAS TOLD MORE THAN ANY OF THE MENFOLK IN CHARGE!!! I EVEN SANG A SONG ABOUT IT. A FAR BETTER SONG THAN YOURS THAT MANY MAGNIFICENT COMPOSERS HAVE REWRITTEN. NOW STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS!!!!!!
Sincerely, Mary.

I hate that song.


Ok now someone has done it. They mentioned Christmas shoes down thread. Rather than rant the three pages I'd like to, I'll keep my rant short so you hopefully you can put the song out of your mind faster.

I agree...but as much as I cringe when I hear it, I cringe MORE when I hear about the Christmas Shoes. Makes.No.Sense!

"I want her to look beautiful--if momma meets jesus tonight." Deliberately written to be a manipulative tear jerking tender moment, it comes across as creepy and totally cringe. The musical equivalent of rendered fat on a piece of beef that has rested too long and gone viscous again. EWWWWWW.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. But those pretentious perfume/cologne ads drive me crazy! Dior, I'm talking to you! They start in November and run all the way through Christmas.

Perfume and cologne ads are something else. Most of the time I'm confused as to what is going on lol (and maybe that's the point not sure)

 

[Feralpeg]

People complaining about having to buy gifts for certain people. If it isn't from the heart, don't even bother!