# The "War on Christmas 2013" has begun **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 5, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174 "2013-11-05T19:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/61 "2013-11-07T12:44:49Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > at one point ten to hundreds of years ago Christmas was nominally about Jesus’s birthday But long before Christmas (Christ’s mass) was invented, we celebrated [Yule](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule) at more or less exactly that time. Time to take the holiday back, folks, 'cause [Jesus sure wasn’t born in December](http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-december-25-christmas-day)! In the Nordic countries we even call it Yule [(jul, jòl, joulu)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule#Etymology), not Christmas 🆒 And we still keep up the milennium-old heathen tradition of overeating and overdrinking. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/62 "2013-11-07T13:29:07Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > “It’s not Happy Holidays, it’s Merry Christmas” Does it have to be one or the other? Surely if you’re having a merry Christmas, your holidays (or ‘Holy Days’) are by definition ‘happy’? I find Christianity gets surprisingly het up on words, given it claims to transcend this earthly realm. My perfect wintry holiday would be spent whittling logs into the shape of baby Jesus and throwing them onto a roaring fire. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/63 "2013-11-07T16:22:01Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > If this was true why is it becoming more and more prevalent? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/64 "2013-11-07T16:30:03Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Cite? Remember that Deeg is the one defending Faux Snooze over in that other thread, which should pretty much tell you where his cite will be coming from, if he provides one. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/65 "2013-11-07T16:54:29Z")
Another year of this crap… Let’s just win the war already. This is what happens when you start a war without a clear exit strategy. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/66 "2013-11-07T18:01:42Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > Another year of this crap… Let’s just win the war already. This is what happens when you start a war without a clear exit strategy. I don’t want to start this war – they have Santa, Elves, Reindeer, and a toothless Abominable Snowman on their side. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/67 "2013-11-07T19:47:44Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Cite? Do you disagree? Or are you just asking for a cite? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/68 "2013-11-07T20:43:38Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > How do you fight a war on Christmas? > > With Tannen-bombs! When I have to go to therapy, it will be because of this post. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/69 "2013-11-07T20:46:06Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > IMHO the Bill O’Reilly Fox News folks have successfully defeated Christmas. > > It is no longer possible to hear someone say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” without detecting an ideological pronouncement, and perhaps even a wary challenge demanding a purity-check response. Perfectly said. Fuck O’Reilly for making “Merry Christmas” a litmus test. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/70 "2013-11-07T21:39:22Z")
I think I’ve decided that if anyone corrects me when I say “Happy Holidays” this year, I will reply, “Oh, ok then. I wish you a Merry Christmas, but a Sucky New Year.” ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/71 "2013-11-07T23:43:19Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I think I’ve decided that if anyone corrects me when I say “Happy Holidays” this year, I will reply, “Oh, ok then. I wish you a Merry Christmas, but a Sucky New Year.” Passable. You see guys? One has but allow some yield. We stopped burning you in the stake, haven’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/72 "2013-11-08T00:46:40Z")
How else do you fight a war on Christmas? With missile-toe! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/73 "2013-11-08T01:30:19Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > How else do you fight a war on Christmas? > > With missile-toe! He’s got a million of 'em! Try the veal. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/74 "2013-11-08T13:41:33Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I have no idea why people who are all “Jesus is the reason for the season!!!1” actually support the commercialization of a sacred religious holiday by insisting that store clerks mindlessly mouth the greeting “Merry Christmas” for a couple months every year. Yup. It used to be that Christians complained that Christmas was getting too commercialized. Now there’s a loud-mouthed if not militant minority essentially complaining that the commercials are insufficiently Christmasized. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/75 "2013-11-08T15:43:54Z")
I don’t see a lot of difference between being offended you heard Happy Holidays, not Merry Christmas, and being miffed by a Merry Christmas greeting as it’s not your holiday! Both seem pissy. It’s a friendly greeting and is well intended, why is that not enough. I think people should act to take power away from both groups by taking up the phrase: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! How easy is that? What are they going to say then? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/76 "2013-11-08T16:00:48Z")
The war is on? I’ll get my trebuchet and put a vat of oil on the stove. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/77 "2013-11-08T16:09:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The war is on? I’ll get my trebuchet and put a vat of oil on the stove. Martha Stewart says: To make the holidays more exciting, drop a couple of live turkeys into your vat of boiling oil right before throwing it at your guests. Your neighbors will enjoy the festive dancing that ensues, and your guests will never forget the thought and effort you put into their gift. _ **Happy Holidays!** _ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/78 "2013-11-08T17:05:01Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > If they want to “put the Christ back in Christmas”, I’m gonna put the “Thor” back in “Thursday”. Hey, any excuse to get hammered. 😃 And of course we should celebrate the Sun and Moon on Sunday and Monday, the Norse gods Tyr, Odin, and Frigg on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the Roman god Saturn on Saturday. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/79 "2013-11-08T17:36:30Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > But long before Christmas (Christ’s mass) was invented, we celebrated [Yule](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule) at more or less exactly that time. Time to take the holiday back, folks, 'cause [Jesus sure wasn’t born in December](http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-december-25-christmas-day)! > > In the Nordic countries we even call it Yule [(jul, jòl, joulu)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule#Etymology), not Christmas 🆒 And we still keep up the milennium-old heathen tradition of overeating and overdrinking. I can’t really tell if you’re serious or not, but I sure am. Christmas is the best time of year and there’s simply no place for Christianity in it. The ancient Yule traditions are fantastic. The modern stuff like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer is amazing. The only part that sucks is the stuff about Jesus’s birthday that the Christians came up with. I don’t have a problem with Christians who want to privately worship Jesus around Christmas time but I wish they’d use a different name for it, so secular people could have Merry Christmas without all the fighting. It’s just a name that happens to have Christ in it. Having the name of an ancient god as part of the word isn’t reason enough to make something religious. It’s not like **2square4u** would insist Americans have to worship Thor on Thanksgiving just because we happen to have Thanksgiving on a Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174/80 "2013-11-08T18:43:23Z")
I vouchsafe anacreontic Yuletide greetings to you all! May you feel the apricity of the season and if any contumelious person vitiate these wishes and perorate about your terminology may they be pizzled through the streets. It’s a bit long for a greeting, maybe I should save it for the Yule cards? Damn! I forgot to work “gainsay” in there. Also, I am sure I probably used some of these words wrong but you have to give me credit for working pizzle in there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-on-christmas-2013-has-begun/673174.md?page=5)