Honestly, I have mixed opinions on the Holiday season.  When I was younger, I always looked forward to Christmas.  When you have a big family, not just my immediate family, but Grandmothers, a Great Grandmother, aunts uncles and cousins, it can be a lot of fun (and also a little overwhelming for someone who wasn't always comfortable with themself).  After my Grandmother passed away, and the family stopped getting together, Christmas was a lot quieter.  And after my mother passed away...it's really hard to find that Christmas spirit anymore.  Right now it just means that working at a store gets just that much more hectic.   So I would have to say that I don't really celebrate the holidays, as for me they just feel empty and stressful.

Quote from: RebeccaFog on December 02, 2006, 07:36:15 AM


   I just realized. Poor Wishy is stranded on an Island. Maybe we should call the Coast Guard to retrieve him. 


Becky

*puts up a sign on my roof top with a massive black arrow pointing downwards*

Putting ketchup on everything sounds...... wrong O_o

Wishy you are TOO CUTE!
Blahhhhh ketchup icecream even i would not do that!
Beck.. Well there's a reason and if it's not an insult to you that is my sisters name Becky (actually "rebecca on her birth certificate if you can handle that!) and i call her Beck mostly!
When mad rebecca Joe! hehe.....
aside from her not dealing well with my gender woes.. She is next to an angel so you are in great company!  She's pretty much selfless with her husband, kids, and all she cooked once a week for a family whose mother was dying of cancer-heart breaking the lady passed this summer Beck was mortified!
She manages state homes for the impaired that are placed in them, a care giver of sorts! You'd like her! (i wish i had her big boobs i kow that! gulp!)
Maybe some day i'll cook your fantasy meal?
Bri.. simple stupid question but?  If saying happy holidays has the same inferences to "merry christmas" what would be the differences? other than a name change it still means to most the same thing right?
Its like changing a gentlemens social club where women are not allowed as members to a place called charlies sportsmans bar where members still must be male? and ya... believe out here in the country these fine alibaster folks have clubs like this male members can bring their wife or girlfriend in but women cannot join?  HAH!  Imagine their suprise i was a member for years when my dad was alive?  Hmmm i may have been their only female real member breaking their rules and they did not even know it! WeHeeeeeeeee
Wishy please continue your Xmas posting i want to kow more about what you'll do in England for Xmas....
That's it for this section!
kisses
R

Simply wishing someone "Merry Christmas" is certainly not intended to be a personal affront, nor is it intended to shove Christianity down people's throats. Christmas began as a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth, but continues as a time for families to get together and focus on the important things in life. Thanks for the Christmas wishes, Wishy old boy, and to those who do not celebrate Christmas, happy Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or what have you... btw, I get a little offended when people tell me, "Happy holidays!" Maybe I don't celebrate holidays!

Rafe

QuoteSimply wishing someone "Merry Christmas" is certainly not intended to be a personal affront,

QuoteI get a little offended when people tell me, "Happy holidays!

I don't get offended in the least when someone wishes me a Merry Christmas; why should you be offended when someone wishes you Happy Holidays?  I do think that Christmas is one day celebrating a specific religious event that not every one believes in.  Most people can and do celebrate a two month holiday season. 

Too many people get ticked off now days when someone else doesn't follow their script for life - i.e., Gender Identity.  Simple daily pleasantries should not be cause for offense, and never be a mine field of "Whatda you mean?"

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Rafe, and a delicious Christmas Pudding to all.

Susan Kay 

The point of saying "Happy Holidays" is respect. I believe there are two levels of respect for diversity. One is political correctness, the one I subscribe to is "not being an ginormous tool."

I don't celebrate Christmas, and I certianly don't wish to honor the day that the alleged "christ" was born. If anything, Christmas would be a day of mourning for me for all that the followers of "jesus" currently do to disrespect my beliefs and to deny me my civil rights.

I do understand that those in the majority have no concept that it is unreasonable to enforce their beleifs on the minority. I do understand it offends them to ask them to respect my minority view. But, this is merely the timeless struggle against the tyrany of the majority.

Bri

Quote from: Brianna on December 02, 2006, 11:22:48 AM
Dear Wishy,

I know you are a nice person, but a lot of us don't celebrate Christmas - including Jews, Muslims, Hindus and athiests. I'm a big believer in respecting people, and that's why I feel stongly the phrase "Merry Christmas" should only be used in known Christian company. In order to be inclusive, the phrase should always be "Happy Holidays."

It is not easy to live in a nation where "jesus" is constantly shoved down your throat.

Many thanks,
Bri

I do apologise for my lack of inconsideration there. I myself am not a christian... in fact i am non-religious. The reason i celebrate christmas is because it's been something i've been brought up with. And in my opinion, you dont have to celebrate the religious side of it if you dont wish, to me it's a basic festive thing that in which i've grown accompanied to.

So, for the sake of everyone here on behalf of all religions... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!! ^_^

I too dont like 'jesus' being shoved down my throat >_>

Bri..
I appreciate you replying and following along ...
I was attempting to play devils advocate in a way.  Another one Martin Luther King day, celebrated in January.  Not my holiday but i do not begrudge the folks that do celebrate it.  as a matter of fact i was one of the lesser informed in our work place where i was opposed to any "menu themes" because that day is a relgious holiday so to speak not a food based holiday you work a menu around like maybe valentines day and stuff....I certainly would not want to insult any followers by offering a menu based on regional food trends.. Ugghhhh
But i guess none of this will ever be on a level playing field for any side?
Because of the food business i find myself hating holiday times more and more.. Ugghhhhh (not the actual holiday but the hub bub associated with it commercially)
For us its more work and more things to cater to and do really!
But its good subject material because some of us do not over think the things and assume that just because we have a holiday that others do as well and that's not true..
so i thought it was good that you brought it up in the first place...
Happy gingerbead man! (i luv gingerbead men! gingerbread girls are good too! hehe-yummy)
Ricki

Even though it still is a bit early, I'd like to wish everyone a richly rewarding, both spiritually and materially, Winter Solstice celebration.

hugs & smiles (under the mistletoe in the ancient oak)
helen

I am neither pagan nor christian, but I appreciate being wished a happy solstice and a happy christmas.

Having grown up atheist, I consider christmas a secular holiday. If christians want to celebrate it as the birth of Christ, that's their prerogative. For me, it's time off work, time with family, and time to travel. It's unfortunately also the time to fight over access to children, so it's a busy time for me. 

I also don't think someone should have to determine the recipient's religion or lack thereof first. If you have a problem with being wished a happy christmas, then simply say "I'm jewish"  "I'm atheist" or whatever's appropriate and if it's an individual greeting, the wisher could then say "happy chanukah" or "happy holidays" or whatever's appropriate. No need to rain on someone's parade. Save the negative comments for negative energy, not for swatting down someone's positive spirit.

Nadolig Llawen to all the other Welsh folks out there.

Dennis

Dennis very well said.. I applaud you!
I think most of us could agree that not just Xmas but most major holidays are over commercialized.. this never helps the cause or root of the holiday kids get soo twisted around about Xmas and presents the meaning disappears.. Easter its the ham and the baskets of chocolates!
that was a tradition at our house after church we would have to search high and low for a basket filled to the brim with easter candies and chocolates!.. My mom was cool!
anyway one easter i got a basket of onions as a prank and my mom said i creid for two hours and was soo upset!  I was like 6 i think?
how awful was that!
Happy ho ho ho's...
I like the winter solstice wish Helen very nice!
Ricki

Quote from: Dennis on December 06, 2006, 09:02:46 AM
I also don't think someone should have to determine the recipient's religion or lack thereof first. If you have a problem with being wished a happy christmas, then simply say "I'm jewish"  "I'm atheist" or whatever's appropriate and if it's an individual greeting, the wisher could then say "happy chanukah" or "happy holidays" or whatever's appropriate. No need to rain on someone's parade. Save the negative comments for negative energy, not for swatting down someone's positive spirit.

Nadolig Llawen to all the other Welsh folks out there.

Dennis

I agree.    This is not the time for empty platitudes regardless of people's beliefs or religions.  The meaning of Christmas, The Holidays, Chanukah or whatever people want to call it is only one: To celebrate all the wonderful things in your life.  Period.

tinkerbell

          I wish everyone a Happy Festivus!!!!!!!!!!   Even the non believers, not that there is anything wrong with that.






beth

My tree..........
I add in this continuing and great post that i got my tree up tonight took all evening!  The puppy loved watching me do it, she was soo excited!
It's an old fashioned gingerbread boy tree! wishy you will like this!
I baked off three dozen gingerbead men with cinnamon candies, used a straw to punch holes in the heads, baked them a little harder than what you would for eating (ya well the broken ones the dogs loved-i only broke two)..
anyway tied green twine loops through them, had four dozen red candy canes, I have these smaller flags i cut five into thin strips, also had a few postal post office air mail  envelopes stuffed them with xmas paper, and a few little santa lunch bags i stuffed and punched with a hole punch, green twine as well...
Then just hung them on the tree we have, and tied the flag strips here and there in little bows or knots....!
It's really cute i'll post a pic tomorrow or the next day!  I'm happy with it i did not decorate the tree the past few years and it was nice, relaxing.. qaulity time with me and the dogs as well!
I think my mom and the kids will really like it too!
Merry ho ho's....
Ricki

That sounds like it was a lot of fun!  I haven't had any kind of a Christmas tree for a couple of years now.  My mother was really the spirit of Christmas in our house when I was growing up, and since she passed away, the holidays just aren't the same.  She really loved Christmas, it was her favorite holiday.  I remember how we'd all put the artificial tree together, (with a lot of grumbling from my father about how my brother and I weren't putting the branches in the right places) and then my mother and father would string the lights on it, and then all of us would step in and put all the ornaments on the tree.  I really should get a small Christmas tree and put it up somewhere in our house in honor of my mother's memory.  I think she'd like that.

Thanks Debbie-ann
actually it wasfun and my mom is impressed... She loves it!  I took pics and all that already!
She wanted me to make her a few dozen gb men so i did this evening! 
I actually made 6 dozen and made a dozen with the cut-out to tie some string on them for a decoration i might put them on my presents or cards this year!
lol, if my puppy doe not eat them

Thanks again
ricki

*reads all about Ricki's tree*

*looks at my small twig with tinsel on it*

hmmm.... i think we could do with some improvement here 

Wishy no need you are having Christmas in Pennsylvania this year one of the gingerbread boys are for you on my tree!
Ho ho ho.....
Now if i only do not screw up the christmas pudding recipe? Well.. My siister is having a party the 23rd and i actually wanna make it and take it to the party!
thanks
ricki

Here's a picture of my Christmas tree: