Let me put it another way.

[ysobelle]

Do you give holiday greetings to someone for their sake, or for your own? Are you saying something just to wish them well, or to tell them who you are?

Comments

[daemionfox.livejournal.com]

If I bother at all, it's typically as a polite courtesy and usually generic. No "Merry this" "Happy that" or "Joyous whatever". Typically I'll say "Happy Whatever" and leave it at that. (literally, "Happy Whatever")

I'll try that next time...

[deathwardegg.livejournal.com]

But I loathe Christmas!! The only job I've ever had was at a Macintosh computer store for three years. Every December, like clockwork, idiot customers would wish me a "Merry Christmas" or say, "Have a good Christmas!", or some such half-wit, pandering claptrap.

"I'M NOT A FUCKING CHRISTIAN AND I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!!" (to paraphrase beloved Muslim radio personality Casey Kasem) is what I felt like saying, but to be didactic, I would respond to those people with a hesitant, "Ah, well, that doesn't apply to me, but thanks, I guess." - with a querulant, almost Valley-girl-esque emphasis on the word "guess". I always said it exactly like that, too.

[optimistprime.livejournal.com]

I give holiday greetings because I sincerely want to wish the person I'm speaking to a merry, happy fill-in-the-blank. If I'm greeting friends that I know are Christian, I will wish them a wonderful Christmas. You or Leah, I would more than likely wish you a happy Hanukkah. In more generic situations, such as store clerks or aquaintences, I tend to wish folks happy holidays. It all depends on who, what and where.

[emalia.livejournal.com]

I concur.. It is like "Have a nice day."

It is trite to most, but I truly hope that people have a nice day/holiday what-have-you.

[kylecassidy.livejournal.com]

i always say "happy blood feast cannibal day!"

everybody celebrates that one.

[scarletwildfire.livejournal.com]

I typically say "Merry Christmas" in June, and "Happy Birthday" around December.

That way people know it is the sentiment and not the words.

[jenny-fur.livejournal.com]

I say happy holidays if anything, but usually I have to be prompted. Usually, its just the normal array of hi's hello's, thank you's and goodbyes. I'll be polite if someone says Merry Christmas and say thanks, but it doesn't prompt me to reciprocate with a follow-up greeting. I've always been particular about not wishing Merry Christmas because its expected. It becomes monotonous and lacks meaning.

[loveyourlizard.livejournal.com]

I just hug on people and give them presents!
;-D

[maskm.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/maskm/89465.html

Wellll....actually...

[hennabee.livejournal.com]

I just wished an atheist blessed yule because I knew it would irk him. That doesn't really fall in to that category, but it was funny.

the rest of the time I've just been saying Merry Xmas to strangers and Blessed Yule to those folks that know me well.

Oh, hey Nikki, Happy Chanukah/Channukah/Hanukkah/hannuukkaah!

I guess if I knew anybody who celebrated it, I'd probably also wish them a good kwanzmas. *ponderous moment* Nobody really does it, though.

[catarzyna.livejournal.com]

Hiya!

I say what I know is appropriate for the individual and if not... "Happy Holidays!" I don't care what religion anyone practices but I do care how they treat themselves and others.

Yes, I do mean it and I say it for no one's 'sake'. That seems to denote a negativity or a requirement. I do it because I want to live my life in positively and with good action and intention.

I generally think most people don't know who I am but as long as I know that is what matters most.