Holiday FUMBLE!

[Country Kids]

I wouldn't worry about it! With every religion there are these days it is very hard to keep up with what everyone believes in, what holidays they worship, what is appropriate to say, etc.

Let me tell you a story that I hope will bring laughter to you Sugar because it was actually comical.

My husband has coached for years and years and years. Well he had this one child for a long time in the sport he coached. The mom helped alot and we had a end of the season party around the holidays. My husband went out and bought a lovely ornament for this lady, put it in a bag, the whole bit. Well, he presented it to the lady and told her how much she was appreciated and then said "Merry Christmas". This lady smiled and said thank you but I'm Jewish!!!! I looked at my husband and mouthed Happy Hanakah! We had known her for years and never knew she was Jewish. Her husband was Catholic so we assumed she was also. Looking back on it it is very comical and she took no offense to it at all but the look on my husbands face was priceless.

[KEG123]

I normally don't go out of my way to say Merry Christmas unless they say it first (we are non religious, but celebrate the secular Christmas) I guess it's also easier for me too because both of my families DO celebrate CHristmas. BUT also, my boyfriend's grandmother and step-grandfather are Jewish but still celebrate the secular Christmas as well (we often eat supper there, and exchange gifts with them)

[Ariana]

I would not worry about it.... I don't announce this much, but I don't belive in the same god as most of you do. I will even often wear a sari and people will always tell me Have a Merry Christmas etc. I look at it with great thanks, knowing that they are just sending me holiday wishes.

Sometimes people just don't know what to say right away and saying Merry Christmas is a nice habit we have around the holidays...

I would not get worked up over it.... I am sure he realizes this....

Exactly!! Maybe he had a bee in his butt over something else and not you saying "Merry Christmas"? I have never met anyone of another religion who were offended by the sentiment.

[daycare]

hahahah bee in the butt.... Yes perhaps this was the case...

Someone asked me yesterday why I celebrate christmas. I told them my children get to choose their religion, it is a choice and they both chose to be Christian.

I do my best to understand them and vice versa. It'a america People FREE to decide who you will be... I love USA....

[permanentvacation]

I have a family who are athiest. They don't believe in any God or religion of any kind. That paticular dad told me Merry Christmas and I told him Thank you, and "Merry Christmas to you too". He said "Thank you". He didn't act funny or irritated. After our conversation, it occured to me that he doesn't celebrate Christmas and that I might have offended him, then I realized that he didn't act offended, so I just let it go and never felt the need to bring it up again. I think that most people of different religions/non-religions typically just take it like someone here posted - as a nice greeting/wishing you well type saying. I don't think most people take offense if you either don't know of their beliefs or simply out of habit wish them a happy/merry whatever holiday you are used to saying.

Yeah, I guess it would be easier if everyone got into the habit of saying happy holidays as a generic holiday greeting since there are so many different beliefs.

[e.j.]

We're not Jewish but our last name sounds like it could be. We were at a dr. appointment for my son once and the dr. wished us a Happy Hanukkah. We must have looked a little surprised because she picked up on it immediately and became very embarrassed. She apologized profusely for making that mistake but we weren't upset or offended at all. I felt bad that she felt so bad. I can't imagine being offended by someone else's attempt to wish me happiness. Hopefully, your dcd just had other things on his mind and it just seemed as if he were miffed at you.

It's possible that he didn't receive your text message or didn't have time to reply and that's why he didn't respond.

[Sunchimes]

I think most people just go with the flow this time of year. I got a Christmas card from a Jewish friend and a Hanakkuh card from another. When I can find them (not really available around here), I send them Hanakkuh cards. I also have friends who are atheist, pagan, wiccan. and agnostic. If I know of their celebrations, I try to send them an email with appropriate wishes. None of them take offense if my greeting is different from theirs. Nor do I. We know that the words aren't important, the wishes are.

[Meeko]

A lot of folks just say Merry Christmas as a salutation...regardless of their religion.....much the same as wishing someone love, health and happiness and good cheer etc.

I wouldn't worry about it....I am sure he knows you said it in good cheer and meant no offense.

[Childminder]

It is not about what another persons religion is but a wish from my heart and my religion to them when I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I believe in God and am sharing the spirit of good tidings. If someone is of another religion that receives my wishes and becomes offended it is not my problem it is theirs and just shows that they are selfish and self-absorbed. So...
Merry Christmas

[Kaddidle Care]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it bothers you that much just call him up and say Happy Hannukah!

I wouldn't be offended if someone said Happy Hannukah to me. I'd probably say "Thanks! Same to you!"

As far as the Mom that was offended when you said "God Bless You", she needs to get over herself.

There is something called Tolerance that she needs to learn about.

[youretooloud]

It is not about what another persons religion is but a wish from my heart and my religion to them when I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I believe in God and am sharing the spirit of good tidings. If someone is of another religion that receives my wishes and becomes offended it is not my problem it is theirs and just shows that they are selfish and self-absorbed. So...
Merry Christmas

I think anybody who is offended by this IS too self absorbed and easily offended.

But, I think you read his response wrong. He probably wasn't angry at all. If he's as great as you say, I bet he was just thinking "Ya, ya.. whatever", but not annoyed.

There are so many different religions around here, that it's hard to keep track of them all. I say "Merry Christmas", and they can say whatever they want to me, and I feel happy that they like me enough to include me in their well wishes.