We can't say Merry Christmas, we have to say Happy Holidays. We can't call it a Christmas tree, it's now called a Holiday tree??? Because it might offend someone! If you don't like our "Canadian Customs" and it offends you so much then LEAVE!! They are called Canadian customs because we live in Canada and WE HAVE OUR OWN TRADITIONS!! If you agree with this, please post this as your status and MERRY CHRISTMAS EH!!!So, this is one of the recent 'put this as your status if you agree' Facebook tropes going around at the moment. Putting aside my general annoyance at the bandwagon-hoppingness (yes, I make my own words) of the copy/paste status and its illustration of the herd mentality (seriously, try having an original thought, folks.. even if you are just putting the same thought into your own words), this one I find both offensive and and innacurate.
- We can't say Merry Christmas, we have to say Happy Holidays.
- We can't call it a Christmas tree, it's now called a Holiday tree???
As far as Holiday trees go, do I think it's silly that Toronto City hall or whoever decided to call the tree out front a Holiday tree rather than a Christmas tree? Oh heck yes. Dumb. But that's their choice, in a (admittedly lame) attempt to be inclusionary. Incidentally though, the only references online to the City Hall Holiday Tree were blogs that were complaining about it. One article I found (and I did not know this) gave me the impression that former Mayor Mel "Bad Boy" Lastman, reversed that decision, back in 2002. So, yes, Virginia, you can say Christmas Tree.
- If you don't like our "Canadian Customs" and it offends you so much then LEAVE!
- They are called Canadian customs because we live in Canada and WE HAVE OUR OWN TRADITIONS
MULTICULTURALISM.
So yeah.. my point? Christmas is a tradition enjoyed by many Canadians, but is not inherent to being Canadian. There are many Canadians who do not celebrate, yet still remain Canadians, whether they are first, second, third, fourth or 23rd generation Canadians. Say Merry Christmas if you like, Say Happy Holidays if you like. No one is stopping you. But to tell others if they don't like it, leave, just makes you sound like a racist asshole, mmkay? Because seriously, when was the last time someone came up to YOU and gave you shit for saying Merry Christmas?
Canadians are not of any one cultural background, race or heritage. Instead, Canadians today reflect a vast diversity of cultural heritages and racial groups. This multicultural diversity is a result of centuries of immigration. - About Canada - Multiculturalism in Canada
- MERRY CHRISTMAS EH!!!
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| Like, really guys?? |
Some of my friends have done the same thing, except they changed "Canadian" to "American." Jeez, I thought you people up north in the great frozen wasteland were far more sensible.
ReplyDeleteIt is risible, though. People are wishing you well! They want you to be happy! Does it matter if they're saying "Happy Holidays," "Merry Christmas," or (gaspshockhorror) "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Yule"?
It drives me nuts.. it's this same herd mentality that has people going 'OMG, people are saying 'holiday' instead of 'christmas' so I must have to as well, and that's trampling on my rights! *kneejerkkneejerketc*'
ReplyDeleteTruth be told though, a lot of non-Christians don't give a crap if we say 'Christmas' or 'holiday'.. it's just about recognition of other traditions, not trying to cover up Christmas as a holiday.
I'm pretty sure most Christians don't give a crap if we say 'Christmas' or 'holiday,' because they are sensible enough to recognize that when someone is wishing you well, that's a good thing, even if they're wishing you a happy Ascension to the Mothership Day.
ReplyDeleteDamn herd mentalities. People should do research before they post crappy Facebook statuses.
Well from where I stand that people have lost sight that the origins of Christmas aren't as clear cut as it looks.
ReplyDeleteExample 1:
The origins of the Wreath on your door? Well it used to be on an athlete's head. When they went home, they would put it on their door to show pride. It actually goes back to Persia though, as they used Wreaths as a symbol of importance and success. They were smaller though.
Example 2:
Dec. 25th, what's on this day in history when the first marked "Christmas" (Christ's Mass) took place? Well it was the Roman Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honoured Saturn, the god of sowing.
Example 3:
Mistletoe and Yule Log both Pagan in origin, yet once again, part of the "Christmas Tradition." The origins of the Yule log are attributed to the German Tribes, however, a burning of a single solitude log has it's origins going back to Egypt in honour of Horus. The Yule Log was burnt on the eve of the Winter Solstice during Yuletide, to usher in the power of the sun. "Yul" or originally spelt "Jul" is even Norse in origin.
The point I'm getting to here is, "Merry Christmas" can be used with the same meaning as "Happy Holidays," as it is a collaboration of traditions that span outside of Christianity. At this up and coming time of year, you can find me and my friends, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and even Pagan (both Wiccan and Norse) come together under 1 roof to celebrate Christmas and it's origins.
To wrap up this long winded speech, it's not what you say or celebrate, it's who you celebrate it with.
Those types of FB mindless and innacurate reposts piss me off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on all counts.
The one that really gets me is the cancer one. If you really cared, you send a private card/letter/email/message to the people you love fighting cancer, and (if you are able) make a donation to a cancer organization.
Not just sit like a lazy ass and claim how much you care via ctrl+c and ctril+v. I mean, seriously??