# Is wishing a non-Jewish person "Happy Hanukah" wrong?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-a-non-jewish-person-happy-hanukah-wrong/826629>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 24, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-a-non-jewish-person-happy-hanukah-wrong/826629 "2018-12-24T15:13:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-a-non-jewish-person-happy-hanukah-wrong/826629/21 "2018-12-26T01:36:33Z")

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When its happened I actually enjoy it. I’m one of those more Petrine Christians who believes in our foundation in Judaic traditions and understanding of them, so to me its touching both bases in my belief.

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-a-non-jewish-person-happy-hanukah-wrong/826629/22 "2018-12-26T02:00:46Z")

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Not at all, even though I am not Jewish, I would like a Happy Hanukkah and wouldn’t want to deny a blessing of a good day (or 8).

Also I have been raised in a area with many Jews and Christians and it was common for the person giving the blessing to do it in their format, so the Jew would say to the Christian Happy Hanukkah and the Christian would respond Merry Christmas (both ways0 and all was well.

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wishing-a-non-jewish-person-happy-hanukah-wrong/826629/23 "2018-12-26T02:11:05Z")

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> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> Offended? No. I find it a bit silly since the holiday is so minor. It’d be like wishing someone a happy flag day, or something and making a really big deal of it.

??? It’s a holiday where you are supposed to eat fried foods, especially jelly donuts! How can you possibly say that it’s minor???:mad:??? It’s a holiday where you are supposed to eat fried foods, especially jelly donuts! These aren’t even optional, they are mandated! How can you possibly say that it’s minor??? This, along with Purim, are probably the two best holidays of the year:mad:

😉

> [@](#):
>
> However, for the average person the motivation is one of kindness, so it would never offend me.

Kidding aside, I agree 100%. When people wish me merry Christmas that’s exactly my feeling. I don’t care if they get the specifics right, I’m just glad their heart is in the right place.

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