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Alright. Here's somethings about the "Holiday" season that intrigue me.
Christmas - there's two Holidays of Christmas. One is religious, the other is commercial.
With my tree decorated pretty next to me and gifts already underneath, I celebrate the materialistic Christmas brought on by mainstreaming a religious holiday into a commercial buying frenzy spree.
However, I've read several posts about how the "War on Christmas" needs to stop. The only war I've seen is that many businesses/organizations/local governments have turned away from saying, "Merry Christmas" and are now saying "Happy Holidays".
From here on R-Christmas is the Religious Christmas and C-Christmas is the modern mainstream gift-giving version.
Now, my family is orthodox Jewish, Levites (one of the high tribes) to be exact. I'm the "Black Sheep" to say the least. The importance of R-Christmas to some is how they celebrate Chanukkah. They prefer to hear "Happy Holidays" because there are several religious groups with their own special holiday.
However, come C-Christmas/Chanukkah time - almost each one has a tree with lights to celebrate the birth of the mainstream Commercialized America.
To everyone against "Happy Holidays," are you also against mainstreaming R-Christmas into just a holiday of love, food, cheer, gifts, and pretty lights?
Now, my family is orthodox Jewish, Levites (one of the high tribes) to be exact. I'm the "Black Sheep" to say the least. The importance of R-Christmas to some is how they celebrate Chanukkah. They prefer to hear "Happy Holidays" because there are several religious groups with their own special holiday.
However, come C-Christmas/Chanukkah time - almost each one has a tree with lights to celebrate the birth of the mainstream Commercialized America.
To everyone against "Happy Holidays," are you also against mainstreaming R-Christmas into just a holiday of love, food, cheer, gifts, and pretty lights?
I have to disagree with you on one point... I'm also Jewish (Reform), and we've NEVER had a Christmas tree! Neither do any of my Jewish friends or family members, except my sister who's married to a non-Jew. So I don't know where you live, but around here & where I'm from originally (northeast), it was definitely uncommon for a Jew to have a tree. As for Holiday vs. Christmas, I'm fairly tired of hearing about that... say what you want, and leave everyone else alone if they say something different. I personally use "Happy Holidays," simply because it's more comfortable for me - and I don't want to leave anyone out. But if you wish me a "Merry Christmas," I would politely say "Thank you" and leave it at that.
P.S. I live with two non-Jewish roommates right now, and there's still no Christmas tree... they're both Atheist/Agnostic, and hate the Christmas hoopla. My whole neighborhood is actually non-Christmasy, with only 2 or 3 homes displaying any decorations or trees - it's mostly Chinese immigrants within a 5-block radius, of which the majority are Buddhist.
Oh, but to answer your last question, I'm not against turning it into a "secular celebration" or anything else... though seeing as I am Jewish, my opinion is probably a moot point to the Christians.
I have to disagree with you on one point... I'm also Jewish (Reform), and we've NEVER had a Christmas tree! Neither do any of my Jewish friends or family members, except my sister who's married to a non-Jew. So I don't know where you live, but around here & where I'm from originally (northeast), it was definitely uncommon for a Jew to have a tree. As for Holiday vs. Christmas, I'm fairly tired of hearing about that... say what you want, and leave everyone else alone if they say something different. I personally use "Happy Holidays," simply because it's more comfortable for me - and I don't want to leave anyone out. But if you wish me a "Merry Christmas," I would politely say "Thank you" and leave it at that.
P.S. I live with two non-Jewish roommates right now, and there's still no Christmas tree... they're both Atheist/Agnostic, and hate the Christmas hoopla. My whole neighborhood is actually non-Christmasy, with only 2 or 3 homes displaying any decorations or trees - it's mostly Chinese immigrants within a 5-block radius, of which the majority are Buddhist.
Well, they live in an area that always has lights and trees lit up - so they really don't want to be the only house that isn't lit up. AKA, C-Christmas.
Alright. Here's somethings about the "Holiday" season that intrigue me.
Christmas - there's two Holidays of Christmas. One is religious, the other is commercial.
With my tree decorated pretty next to me and gifts already underneath, I celebrate the materialistic Christmas brought on by mainstreaming a religious holiday into a commercial buying frenzy spree.
However, I've read several posts about how the "War on Christmas" needs to stop. The only war I've seen is that many businesses/organizations/local governments have turned away from saying, "Merry Christmas" and are now saying "Happy Holidays".
From here on R-Christmas is the Religious Christmas and C-Christmas is the modern mainstream gift-giving version.
Now, my family is orthodox Jewish, Levites (one of the high tribes) to be exact. I'm the "Black Sheep" to say the least. The importance of R-Christmas to some is how they celebrate Chanukkah. They prefer to hear "Happy Holidays" because there are several religious groups with their own special holiday.
However, come C-Christmas/Chanukkah time - almost each one has a tree with lights to celebrate the birth of the mainstream Commercialized America.
To everyone against "Happy Holidays," are you also against mainstreaming R-Christmas into just a holiday of love, food, cheer, gifts, and pretty lights?
I'm all for anyone having happy holiday.
I just don't want to see Christmas take the path of Saternalia.
Well, they live in an area that always has lights and trees lit up - so they really don't want to be the only house that isn't lit up. AKA, C-Christmas.
If that's a reason for having decorations, I think it's a bit sad... to each his own, but I'd never cave to "peer pressure" like that! While it was sometimes an issue growing up, I'm now very happy being unique - and if people wonder about my lack of Christmas stuff, feel free to ask & I'll be glad to share my beliefs. Luckily it's not a problem where I live, as explained in my last post. I also have a Mezuzah on my door-post, so anyone who knows about the Jewish religion would understand!
Yeah well I just got done stringing Christmas lights on the outside of my house because my Agnostic/Atheist wife thinks they look pretty. She doesn't even know what R-Christmas is, the only Christmas she knows is the C-Christmas. Oh well
I don't care how people wish me happy days; whether it be Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings or Happy Yule, it's all good.
Decorations are a big part whether religious or commercialized. IMO, it's way too commercialized.
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I just spend time with family. 
I guess I’m a regular uncle Scrooge, except for the being rich part, or having a job part.
What isn't?
