Now why would you be offended? Christmas is a huge part of our culture. I would assume this is what drives the questions. Many people consider Christmas the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I do understand if you find this concept offensive, but I don't understand why the questions would bother you. Answerbag is a place for everyone to freely express themselves, as you frequently do. LOL Your question doesn't offend me. I respect your right to your beliefs. If it makes you feel any better, have a look at my profile. http://www.answerbag.com/profile/?id=117969 =])

Most people only celebrate Christmas, and use "the holidays" to refer to everything from Thanksgiving through New Year's.

Mostly because it is celebrated by most western nations ,and holidays in it self is too general in it's meaning.

It is just a word. I am atheist as they come but don't find it offensive (as I know the origin has nothing to do with the christian religion). Just a word. But I can see that it may offend. But Holiday itself comes from "Holy Day" doesn't it? From haligdaeg. SO if it is religion Holiday is not much better. Perhaps celebrations? :)

If I, or most other Brits, were to talk about holidays Christmas would be the last thing on our minds. To us holidays are what you in the USA call vacations. We get the Coca Cola "Holidays are Coming" advert and it just doesn't sound right to me.

Sorry to hear that. You have the option to not join the conversation. This country was founded under Christian principles. It is those principles that give you the above mentioned option. I am not a christian and do not subscribe to the idea that Jesus was the son of God. Am I offended by the idea that God represents, No. Am I offended that God is a part of our culture here in America, No. Do I want God removed from the public square, again No!. The great thing about living here is that no one is forcing you to believe anything. If you dont want to participate in the celebration, dont! you dont have to. but dont, through your offense, begrudge those who do. Save your offense for those things that tear down society and destroys our culture, not those that celebrate it.. and Merry Christmas to you!!excuse me , Happy Holidays!!!!

Well you offend too easily then.

To me, holidays is 'taking time off/going on vacation'. I think there is too much offence taken with the whole 'Christmas' controversy. Why has it become so bad that people have to be SO careful not to say 'Merry Christmas' but 'Happy Holidays' now? I mean even Wal Mart had the whole controversy with that! I totally understand other religions and cultures have their own 'holidays' and not everyone celebrates Christmas, but there's no need to have to come down on the ones that do, or make us feel guilty or wrong for naming it 'Christmas'. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus after all. I won't force my beliefs on others, and there's no need for other people to quash mine. I understand that there's more attention around Christmas than say something like Hanukkah, but we don't disrespect those holidays (and most of the 'attention' around Christmas is commercial, with buy buy buy all you can). Anyway I just think some people are way too sensitive about being so concerned with eliminating the word 'Christmas'. It's not like we're meaning any disrespect or prejudice.

I will remember to wish you "Happy Holidays" come Christmas time.....and will remember in the future to not offend you again:)

People who make a big deal of being offended, especially about things so common to society are antisocial. To make yourself out to be so easily offended is to call into question your balance of rational thought processes.

Come off it! You had better get a thicker skin, my friend. For the best part of 2000 years, it has had the name "Christmas" and is still the celebration of Christ's birth. You had better get yourself a cabin in the hills. And don't, whatever you do, go to a country where they celebrate Ramadan, Buddha's birthday or Diwali and ask them to rename them 'holidays' for your benefit.

Ofended up to the point of posting a nice video of a Christmas tree here? ; )

Why are you offended?

I'm sorry if you get offended but I love my Christmas. Do you get offended when someone say Yom Kippor? I'm not Jewish but I wish them a Happy Hanukah because that's their holiday & I'm sure it means as much to them as Christmas does to me. If there was an Atheists day, I say Happy Atheist day, too

Chill-ax Fun! :P

Perhaps they are like myself and love to offend those who are easy to offend, which sparks the fire to express your emotions to the point of excitement. It's Fun

Most people do celebrate Christmas so that is what they are talking about. They only talk about it because that is what they are familiar with. Other people who celebrate something else use other words. People who don't celebrate them may just call them holidays. I am used to that term being used by people who don't celebrate 'Holy Days'. SO they use a generic term.

Happy, Merry, Cheerfull, Jolly Holidays! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Hanukkah! Happy New Year! Cheerful Winter!

you are not antisocial and you are not rude. This is your prefernces. I suppose you will just have to igonore it or use holidays when you talk to them. Maybe they will get the hint.

Here ya go then...:)

If so, then why aren't you offended by the term "Holiday" as well? After all, holiday is a shortened version of holy day.

It is a holiday and with a lot of us it is called Christmas others call it by a different names . I do not find it offensive if people of other religions call it by another name, we are all different from different backgrounds and faiths.

TBH Christmas is its proper name. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Now, I am an Agnostic, but I still celebrate Christmas, not as a religious holiday, but just as a holiday. I have no problem with it being called Christmas and anyone that does not like that should move to a country where it is not celebrated or put up with it.

There has been a push for it for several years but I just don't get it...If someone were to wish me a Happy Haunaka, Kawnza, Passover or what have you, I don't find it offensive. It's a large part of our culture and it's not going away anytime soon. So instead of wishing you a Merry Christmas I will just say: Bah Humbug :)

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Why so touchy?

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS TIME THE BEST TIME OF YEAR! LOL...I'm a bitch...lol. But seriously get over it!

Because people love Christmas, its the biggest best holiday of the year for alot of people, and everyone just wants to be cheerful and happy. Im sorry if you find it offensive, but people should be able to celebrate and be happy if they want. If you celebrate something else or nothing at all you shouldn't resent the fact that we celebrate Christmas.

Perhaps they're talking about Christmas and feel a need for specificity. I, for one, enjoy specificity. When I'm talking about Chanukkah, I say Chanukkah, when I'm talking about Christmas, I say Christmas. When I'm talking about New Year's, I say New Years. When I'm talking about other holidays, I name them. Call me crazy.

Happy Holidays!

I find people wishing me "Happy Holidays" offensive - both culturally and personally. On the personal level, it strikes me as being as "personal" as a letter that begins "Dear valued customer:" or worse, "Dear sir or madame". On the cultural level, In the Americas and Europe Christmas is as much a secular as a religious holiday - perhaps even more so. As such, in these places, "Merry Christmas" is inclusive and unifying. "Happy Holidays" is distant, aloof, and divisive - or at least expressing division. Also, everyone understands "the spirit of Christmas", and it's universal in its embrace, as opposed to the other contenders at the season. Chanukkah, which is eseentially a national/ethnic holiday as well as an exclusive religious festival (like all other Jewish holidays: "They tried to kill *us*. *We* won. Let(*u)s* eat!") It's a fine holiday, and I certainly wish all my Jewish friends a happy Chanukkah, but the fact is, I'm not invited and I don't belong. Kwanzaa is another matter, an invented holiday by a white hating, hate mongering, black racist, marxist, and former FBI stooge; no one would know anything of it today if whitey corporations hadn't recognized a marketing bonanza masked as "pluralism" and "inclusivism" - often enforced by elitist policy makers.

Merry Christkwanukkahmas to all!

If people celebrate Christmas, then why would they talk about The Holidays when something more meaningful to them that days off work is going on? I actually am flattered when someone wishes me a happy... well, just about ANY holiday whether I personally celebrate it or not. It doesn't mean they're out to convert you... just take it to mean they want you to be happy on a day that holds some significance in THEIR hearts, and don't begrudge them their celebrations! Anyway, celebrating your beliefs is much nicer than fighting for them, wouldn't you say?

Because Christmas is Christmas. If it weren't it would be named something else. I say Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, because I am not wanting to be lazy and generic. I want to wish people Merry Christmas, and Happy New Years when it's what I mean to do.

I respect other religions..however I am a Christian..and I celebrate Christmas...so I say Merry Christmas. You and others can say whatever makes you feel good

i know its not proper to answer a question with one but why does it offend you when people talk about christmas? I understand being tired of hearing it all the time but its only once a year. two more weeks and no one will be saying it till late november/ early december of next year. is it because of religious beliefs? seriously... i'm all sorts of interested. tell me.

for godsake, get over yourself and stop being so sensitive - where's your festive cheer gone? If something so small can offend you, how on earth have you made it through life this far? Tis the season to be jolly.... or alternatively: if you wish to moan, go in a room and moan on your own.......ho ho ho

What are you going on about? It is a CHRISTIAN holiday. That is why it is called CHRISTMAS! If you are not a Christian then just ignore it...dah!!

So, let me get this straight. You are offended when someone wishes you well? That is really all that someone wishing you a Merry Christmas is doing. They are not trying to force their religion on you. They are not trying to convert you. They are just wishing you a Merry Christmas. What is so offensive about that? Rather than being offended, you should just say thank your and wish them a happy holidays if that is your preferred phrase. One thing that has been happening in recent years is that people such as you have been trying to force religion out of public discourse. You get offended by anything that even mentions religion and so try to force people to hide their religious beliefs behind closed doors. What you don't seem to realize is that by doing so, you are being just as offensive to religious people as you seem to find them. By trying to force them out of the public discourse, you create a backlash that make religious people even more determined to speak of their religious beliefs in public. Rather than being offended by such inconsequential things as someone wishing you a merry Christmas, you should learn to just live and let live.

Me and my brother were both brought up as Catholics but since he converted to Judaism and now has two sons from his wife I am very conflicted as to what holiday is correct to celebrate and I have decided that Happy Holidays is best to say. I am blessed with two very wonderful nephews and I need to consider what Chanukah gifts are appropriate for those two tykes so my holiday times are very complicated indeed. This has caused me to study and learn the language and values of Hebraism and garner a very high respect for them since now I have very direct family to consider for holiday times. Yes I have an interesting family and thanks for asking ;)

In my family, I was raised Christian, my husband came from a Jewish background,and one son married a Buddhist, the other son married a Wiccan. We have Happy Holidays in our house.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

DR for you. CHRISTMAS IS THE SEASON AND THE DAY! do you force people to say "happy holidays" at Easter? or on Halloween? How about ramadan? Didn't think so. Screw you PC pushers and your BS.