# Does anyone in the USA actually say "happy holidays"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 22, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145 "2004-12-22T13:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/81 "2004-12-22T15:57:33Z")
What the hell is wrong with “happy holidays?” It’s nice. It’s a way of saying “I don’t know who you are so I’m not going to presume what you celebrate.” Seriously **Owlstretchingtime** , If things like this are making you that angry, you need to consider decaf. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/82 "2004-12-22T16:06:59Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > We just sniff haughtily and look down our noses. You do, because you have style and grace. I don’t, because I don’t care at all. However, there are people who take what I consider to be a ridiculous postion. I once saw a guy turn _purple_ with rage and launch into a frothy screed because he sneezed and somebody else said “God bless you.” I was forced to conclude that he was hopelessly insane. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/83 "2004-12-22T16:09:27Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > The honest answer to this is yes. \*\*If I (or any other Brit) started walking on eggshells and treating her differently \*\* then that would be more likely to annoy the hypothetical Mrs Khan. Here’s where your argument falls completely to crap. You seem to think that respecting another person’s beliefs is “walking on eggshells” and doing so constitutes special treatment. What a fucking pile of bullshit, you close-minded twit. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/84 "2004-12-22T16:13:09Z")
Fuck you **Exgineer**. > [@Exgineer](#): > > It’s a fake “African” holiday invented in the sixties by a member of a militant black-power group as some sort of anti-establishment, anti-whitey political statement. Or something like that. He sold it as African because he didn’t think black people in the US would buy into an alternative winter holiday if they knew it was made up of whole cloth. > > It’s bullshit, but at this point it’s harmless bullshit. Non-condescending information about Kwanzaa for anyone who’s interested. From the [founder’s website](http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html): > [@](#): > > Kwanzaa was established in 1966 in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement and thus reflects its concern for cultural groundedness in thought and practice, and the unity and self-determination associated with this. It was conceived and established to serve several functions. > … > First, Kwanzaa was created to reaffirm and restore our rootedness in African culture. It is, therefore, an expression of recovery and reconstruction of African culture which was being conducted in the general context of the Black Liberation Movement of the '60’s and in the specific context of The Organization Us, the founding organization of Kwanzaa and the authoritative keeper of its tradition. > > Secondly, Kwanzaa was created to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people. It was designed to be an ingathering to strengthen community and reaffirm common identity, purpose and direction as a people and a world community. > > Thirdly, Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles.) These seven communitarian African values are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). This stress on the Nguzo Saba was at the same time an emphasis on the importance of African communitarian values in general, which stress family, community and culture and speak to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. And Kwanzaa was conceived as a fundamental and important way to introduce and reinforce these values and cultivate appreciation for them. > … > > Finally, it is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one, thus available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich, ancient and varied common ground of their Africanness. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/85 "2004-12-22T16:20:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Here’s where your argument falls completely to crap. You seem to think that respecting another person’s beliefs is “walking on eggshells” and doing so constitutes special treatment. What a fucking pile of bullshit, you close-minded twit. Well this is the difference between here and there innit? Here if you started treating someone noticably differently because they were from a different faith/culture thenyou would be considered a berk. Really, you would. Still, we’re more relaxed than you lot about this stuff. Perhaps that’s why we still say “happy Christmas” (I haven’t heard anyone say “happy holidays” in Britain, and I think I’m unlikely ever to do so) And I’m not actively annoyed if yanks want to spout platitudes like “happy holidays” . Why should I be? I just wanted to point out that it’s a fucking silly thing to say. Not offensive - silly. Just plain silly. Silly silly silly. It’s up there with “have a nice day” - a silly thing for puddle-headed people to say. Silly Americans. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/86 "2004-12-22T16:22:31Z")
**owlstretchingtime** Don’t be such an insolent bastard. Apparently you know little of the American way of life if you confuse tolerance and respect for political correctness. Perhaps you should know what it is you are talking about before you start attacking a harmless phrase. A phrase, mind you, that is meant in kindness and shows respect for the recipient. Why the fuck would you pit that? It appears that you are not quite creative enough to come up with a more colorful rant. Oh and about your frogs in a box, go fuck your boxed frogs. Wanker. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/87 "2004-12-22T16:28:22Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > **owlstretchingtime** Don’t be such an insolent bastard. Apparently you know little of the American way of life if you confuse tolerance and respect for political correctness. Perhaps you should know what it is you are talking about before you start attacking a harmless phrase. A phrase, mind you, that is meant in kindness and shows respect for the recipient. Why the fuck would you pit that? > It appears that you are not quite creative enough to come up with a more colorful rant. > > Oh and about your frogs in a box, go fuck your boxed frogs. Wanker. Quod erat demonstrandum. Silly. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/88 "2004-12-22T16:37:24Z")
See **owl** you are seeing a perfect example of why Americans use this term so as not to cause offense. As you can see from the reaction to this very mild pit thread they’re very easily offended. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/89 "2004-12-22T16:40:45Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > Well this is the difference between here and there innit? Here if you started treating someone noticably differently because they were from a different faith/culture thenyou would be considered a berk. Really, you would. Tolerance and respect is “noticeably different”? What’s your default setting, “insufferable fuckwit”? > [@](#): > > Still, we’re more relaxed than you lot about this stuff. Perhaps that’s why we still say “happy Christmas” (I haven’t heard anyone say “happy holidays” in Britain, and I think I’m unlikely ever to do so) I see. So you’re so “relaxed” about it that you’ve started a Pit thread to display your vitriol on the subject, and to explain that if you encountered a “Happy Holidays” from someone, you’d go postal? What an odd meaning you brits have assigned to “relaxed”. It means something else entirely over here. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/90 "2004-12-22T16:40:55Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > I know, it’s terribly frustrating. You’re lucky if they listen to you at all, much less decide to be perverse and do the exact opposite of what you want. Getting them where you want them to go has an easy solution, you know. Remove a shoe and a sock. Throw the sock where you want them to go. They’ll go and attack the sock. Works like a charm. I suspect their natural prey (well, of their pre-domesticated ancestors since ferrets of the sell breeds don’t exist in the wild) smells like dirty feet. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/91 "2004-12-22T16:43:37Z")
> [@mornea](#): > > [founder’s website](http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html) Funny how there’s no mention of his black separtist group, his being convicted for torturing two female follwers, or his conversion to Marxism. Sounds like a sadistic Communist version of L. Ron Hubbard. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/92 "2004-12-22T16:44:53Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > See **owl** you are seeing a perfect example of why Americans use this term so as not to cause offense. As you can see from the reaction to this very mild pit thread they’re very easily offended. > > 😛 Here’s the thing; I posted some information to stop a young woman being stoned to death - no replies no views. Fuck all. I tell them they sound a bit daft and the internet explodes. They’re all radio rentals I tells you. The thing to remember is that the only time in Britain (and Ireland) that it wasn’t allowable to say “happy christmas” was when the puritans were in power. Where di the puritans go? Say no more. Thank fuck they pissed off. As mad as cheese the lot of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/93 "2004-12-22T16:48:44Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > See **owl** you are seeing a perfect example of why Americans use this term so as not to cause offense. As you can see from the reaction to this very mild pit thread they’re very easily offended. > > 😛 I, for one, am not offended. I just think the OP is dumb. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/94 "2004-12-22T16:52:52Z")
Well we wouldn’t want a silly lightweight dumb thread on the Dope now would we? No siree, never happens 😉 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/95 "2004-12-22T16:56:48Z")
Gotta go now and get on with my actual life. Have a nice day and happy Kwanzaa to you and yours. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/96 "2004-12-22T17:00:32Z")
Happy Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/97 "2004-12-22T17:04:30Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Getting them where you want them to go has an easy solution, you know. Remove a shoe and a sock. Throw the sock where you want them to go. They’ll go and attack the sock. Works like a charm. I suspect their natural prey (well, of their pre-domesticated ancestors since ferrets of the sell breeds don’t exist in the wild) smells like dirty feet. Ah ha! So that’s why the one attacked my foot. You see, I was walking around barefoot, and her house was dirty. (This was before I had any standards). Or it could just be that my foot pissed it off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/98 "2004-12-22T17:09:51Z")
Look, **owl** , the behavior you describe as acceptable in Britain would be rude in the US. And the behavior in the US seems silly to you. I think we can all accept that. Why you can’t get over it is beyond me. Perhaps it’s never occurred to you that different countries have different ideas of acceptable behavior? Morris dancing looks completely stupid to me, but I have no plans to open a pit thread mocking it in the near future. Damn, dude, take a breath and calm down. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/99 "2004-12-22T17:12:44Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Ah ha! So that’s why the one attacked my foot. You see, I was walking around barefoot, and her house was dirty. (This was before I had any standards). > > Or it could just be that my foot pissed it off. 🙂 Don’t herd them - stretch them. Trust me - it’s great. Happy four days after my mum’s birthday everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/100 "2004-12-22T17:13:08Z")
Interesting how we seem to have themes to obsess about every Xmas. A couple years back it was media stories ad nauseam about how couples in mixed religious marriages (i.e. Jews and Christians) coped with the holiday. Then there was the year with the endless stories about Kwanzaa and its higher spiritual values trumping Xmas’ crass materialism. This year it’s the “creeping secularization” of the holiday. Let me know when it’s all over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145.md?page=6)