• VisualBuilder4@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    edit-2
    10 months ago

    Well … Holiday comes from the Old English hāligdæg, meaning holy day. So it closer to it than one might think. But on the other hand … conservative christians might not get that connection

    • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      10 months ago

      It was also the default greeting in the 1800’s.

      They changed it somewhere at the start of 1900’s to force Christianity on more people.

    • Honytawk@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      10 months ago

      I don’t get why they are allowed to keep “News” in their name.

      Nothing “news” about opinions.

  • Mudface@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    10 months ago

    I’ve never understood this.

    I’m a Christian, but I don’t make the connection on purposely avoiding greeting someone’s religious celebration.

    I have no problem saying ‘happy Diwali’ to my Hindu neighbours. Do you think they feel uncomfortable saying ‘merry Christmas’ to me?

    • Dienervent@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      21
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      10 months ago

      It’s when you’re dealing in an official capacity or speaking to a broad audience or when you don’t know the person’s culture.

      The CEO saying Merry Christmas to his 140 employees, when 5 of them are Jewish is going to be not feel so great for those 5 Jewish people. Happy Holidays should be fine for everyone.

      But if you know the person is Christian (or celebrates Christmas) it should be perfectly fine to tell them Merry Christmas.

      Of course in some places that may be considered insensitive because a Jewish person might be hearing it. Which is absurd and that level of sensitivity is not acceptable IMO.

        • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          10 months ago

          I wonder how much Hispanic people squirm when they hear Father Christmas referred to as Santa.

          Just saying that transgender people in popular Christian culture seem to have been around for a significant amount of time….

            • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              6
              ·
              10 months ago

              “Santa” is the Spanish term for a female saint. Hence Santa Anna, Santa Barbara, etc.

              And then there’s Santa Claus, AKA Father Christmas, named after Saint Nicholas.

              (Of course, there’s also Sinter Klaus, but I’d rather go with calling a very masculine saint “santa”)