Businesses using 'Happy Holidays' instead of Christmas?

[Ari]

Keep seeing Facebook posts from people whining on about companies apparently insisting on 'Happy Holidays' in cards etc instead of 'Happy Christmas' for racially inclusive reasons or whatever.

Just wondered whether this ever actually happened in reality or whether it was the usual suspects getting steamed up over something that doesn't actually happen?

[FrankAbagnale]

My old company changed the name of the christmas party to the winter party

[Shaw Tarse]

I blame Coca-Cola

[Ari]

FrankAbagnale said:

My old company changed the name of the christmas party to the winter party

Wow, really?

So it does actually happen then. Amazing.

Did they say why?

[Magic919]

Opinions seem to change annually. I've seen the Christmas party called some PC alternatives and then revert.

[FrankAbagnale]

Ari said:

Wow, really?

So it does actually happen then. Amazing.

Did they say why?

I can't remember what they said exactly, or even if there was a specific statement about the change - but it was to be more inclusive.

[Moominho]

I think it's more of an American thing to say Happy Holidays.

The usual story I see doing the rounds is that councils are renaming Christmas as Winterval - although have never seen any evidence of this.

[Cold]

FrankAbagnale said:

I can't remember what they said exactly, or even if there was a specific statement about the change - but it was to be more inclusive.

Inclusive to whom, I wonder? Do those who may potentially feel excluded from Christmas change the name of their significant annual celebration so as to be inclusive?

[eyebeebe]

I thought it was an American thing because Hanukkah is also normally in December.

[Cold]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Yep. It seems strange to remove the identity of an annual celebration, any annual celebration (whatever form that takes for the individual) just to appease those who have no interest in it.

[Hoofy]

FrankAbagnale said:

Ari said:

Wow, really?

So it does actually happen then. Amazing.

Did they say why?

I can't remember what they said exactly, or even if there was a specific statement about the change - but it was to be more inclusive.

Fair enough. I prefer to say, "Happy Christmas unless you're black, irish or a dog."

[Jasandjules]

Hoofy said:

Fair enough. I prefer to say, "Happy Christmas unless you're black, irish or a dog."

Or a Pagan, given it was theirs in the first place....

[matsoc]

Even in the traditionalist Italy "Buone Feste" which the same that saying "Happy Holidays" took over since a while between businesses. To be fair, I saw also exactly the term "Happy Holidays" exchanged between German and Italian companies, choosing English as a more inclusive language.

Sincerely it doesn't bother me despite I care about being with all my family in the same way we always did at Christmas.

[FredClogs]

Christmas is a commercial enterprise, lots of people are turned off by the whole religious aspect of Christmas, whatever their background, to maximise spend at the till on cards, tat and the general Xmas nonsense it makes good business sense to distance some products from the whole Christ thing.

[Hoofy]

Jasandjules said:

Hoofy said:

Fair enough. I prefer to say, "Happy Christmas unless you're black, irish or a dog."

Or a Pagan, given it was theirs in the first place....

You're the first person I've heard saying that this year. I guess you will have to win some kind of prize.

Print this out and fill it in.

[Ari]

FredClogs said:

Christmas is a commercial enterprise, lots of people are turned off by the whole religious aspect of Christmas, whatever their background, to maximise spend at the till on cards, tat and the general Xmas nonsense it makes good business sense to distance some products from the whole Christ thing.

Do you think so? I can't imagine anyone disinterested in the religious aspect of Christmas actually being put off by the name 'Christmas'.

They'll still get a tree, buy presents, give cards, and get drunk. I doubt very much they'll refer the cards as 'winter holiday cards' or the presents as 'winter holiday presents' or have a 'winter holiday tree'.

[FredClogs]

Ari said:

FredClogs said:

Christmas is a commercial enterprise, lots of people are turned off by the whole religious aspect of Christmas, whatever their background, to maximise spend at the till on cards, tat and the general Xmas nonsense it makes good business sense to distance some products from the whole Christ thing.

Do you think so? I can't imagine anyone disinterested in the religious aspect of Christmas actually being put off by the name 'Christmas'.

They'll still get a tree, buy presents, give cards, and get drunk. I doubt very much they'll refer the cards as 'winter holiday cards' or the presents as 'winter holiday presents' or have a 'winter holiday tree'.

Me too, I'm just saying if you want to sell Christmas cards to atheists, Muslims, jews, hindus or aliens from the planet zarg scrub the baby Jesus stuff and just go Robin with a winter scene and "Happy Holiday"

[Hoofy]

FredClogs said:

Ari said:

FredClogs said:

Christmas is a commercial enterprise, lots of people are turned off by the whole religious aspect of Christmas, whatever their background, to maximise spend at the till on cards, tat and the general Xmas nonsense it makes good business sense to distance some products from the whole Christ thing.

Do you think so? I can't imagine anyone disinterested in the religious aspect of Christmas actually being put off by the name 'Christmas'.

They'll still get a tree, buy presents, give cards, and get drunk. I doubt very much they'll refer the cards as 'winter holiday cards' or the presents as 'winter holiday presents' or have a 'winter holiday tree'.

Me too, I'm just saying if you want to sell Christmas cards to atheists, Muslims, jews, hindus or aliens from the planet zarg scrub the baby Jesus stuff and just go Robin with a winter scene and "Happy Holiday"

Season's greetings.

[bitchstewie]

Tbh the whole "Holidays" vs. "Christmas" thing doesn't especially bother me, though I don't get why any business would use the word "holidays" whilst using images and props such as Christmas Trees.

[K12beano]

"Holiday"


To me this means:

Seaside
Pebble beach, tide probably out
Maybe sunshine, possibly cloud, probably grey drizzle

And may be warm


I cannot reconcile this with (northern hemisphere) dark, cold winter solstice and a hearty pagan festival - calling it a "holiday" really spoils it - so anyone calling it such can fk right off!