summercomfort (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summercomfort) wrote2019-12-23 03:04 pm
summercomfort) wrote2019-12-23 03:04 pm
"Happy Holidays"
A separate post for my unpopular opinion!
I really don't like it when people say "Happy Holidays" when they in fact mean "I celebrate Christmas and expect that you are also celebrating Christmas, but it's not cool to say Merry Christmas anymore." Sometimes they mean "I don't know whether you're celebrating Christmas or Hannukah* so I'm going to play it safe."
I feel like it's holiday erasure either way. What I wish people could say is "I celebrate Christmas and want to wish you good cheer for the winter months," to which I would respond "ah! Merry Christmas to you! I don't celebrate it but enjoy sparkly lights and cheery music during these cold times." Or maybe they'd say, "I celebrate Hannukah and am having a jolly good time," to which I would respond "rad! Happy Hannukah!" Or maybe they'd say, "I am enjoying the balmy weather in Australia and would wish you the best in your weird northern climes." Or whatever. I would rather go around wishing others well based on whatever they are (or aren't) celebrating. I guess that's "Season's Greetings", but it makes me sound like a Hallmark card with a snowy reindeer on it. Is there a better way to say "I am feeling cheerful and want to wish you and yours well during this time!"
At least in about a week I can start saying "Happy New Year!" and not have this conundrum anymore.
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* yes I'm aware there are other wintery holidays, but those tend to be the two major ones people are assuming
I really don't like it when people say "Happy Holidays" when they in fact mean "I celebrate Christmas and expect that you are also celebrating Christmas, but it's not cool to say Merry Christmas anymore." Sometimes they mean "I don't know whether you're celebrating Christmas or Hannukah* so I'm going to play it safe."
I feel like it's holiday erasure either way. What I wish people could say is "I celebrate Christmas and want to wish you good cheer for the winter months," to which I would respond "ah! Merry Christmas to you! I don't celebrate it but enjoy sparkly lights and cheery music during these cold times." Or maybe they'd say, "I celebrate Hannukah and am having a jolly good time," to which I would respond "rad! Happy Hannukah!" Or maybe they'd say, "I am enjoying the balmy weather in Australia and would wish you the best in your weird northern climes." Or whatever. I would rather go around wishing others well based on whatever they are (or aren't) celebrating. I guess that's "Season's Greetings", but it makes me sound like a Hallmark card with a snowy reindeer on it. Is there a better way to say "I am feeling cheerful and want to wish you and yours well during this time!"
At least in about a week I can start saying "Happy New Year!" and not have this conundrum anymore.
------
* yes I'm aware there are other wintery holidays, but those tend to be the two major ones people are assuming
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I don't know what a good solution would be. I've been thinking about it for years.
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Maybe it's time to bring back "hello fellow human!"