I dont understand why americans refer to Christmas as "happy holidays" - thats so crass - maybe its because they don't want to offend non christians - I am not sure. but they refer to other religions special celebrations by the proper name, so why not christmas??

It's all political correctness. Many atheists have a cow when they hear the word "Christmas."

yep ... i don't remember it always being like that though. i remember in ..... the early years of my education we had "christmas break" and "christmas parties". kind of crap i think. i remember celebrating christmas in school up to about 3rd grade i think.

Actually, Happy Holidays is spoken generally in the winter time. Because not all people do not celebrate Christmas.

We don't really wear symbols to signify that we do or don't celebrate Christmas. (Hrm...sounds familiar).

So..in many areas where there was a large amount of people who don't celebrate Christmas, it was just adapted to Happy Holidays.

It's not like on Easter, people are wishing people a Happy Holiday. They wish those who celebrate a Happy Easter. (Although it may be a bad example, becuase Passover is within the same time frame, but the point still is there).

Also, you don't always know what someone celebrates, so its easier to say Happy Holidays than Merry Christmas, or Happy...whatever it is you celebrate.

Honestly guys, if you have time and energy to get pissed off about something like this, you really need to find something to do.

Well you can also consider the holidays basicly that break you get the last 2 weeks or so of dec. til after new years.

Not here, we get like... 5 days before christmas and we're back in January 2nd.

Well it varies, i just generally said 2 weeks because thats for the k-12 school students. Colleges and actual jobs can be dif.

suck s**t

we finish in 3 more weeks and then start next year February 1st

Well I have to say, america is a country of extremes and contradictions. On your money you have "in God we trust", but on the day that marks the birth of Jesus, it's happy holidays !!!! No offence, but it just seems weird

Political correctness?? what a crock of Sh*T - our Prime Ministers here in Australia said political correctness was dead when he came to power !!! hmm, oh well, we are all different, and that is a good thing, but I have to say, I can't wait for George Bush to go !! :-)

Not that I agree with it, but the "In God We Trust" is a very old thing. We still have "Under God" in the pledge of allegience. I disagree with it, but it is generic. We don't say "in Jesus" or "In Allah" or "In grapefruits". it's the generic term of God.

Actually, I believe it has been proven that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25. I don't have the proof at the moment, but it's around.

I agree about Bush, but he has nothing to do with any of this

lmao

I think that another good reason for saying "Happry Holidays," is tat Christmas and New year are so close together, it juist makes sense to say it for both. Thanksgiving is also near Christmas time, so at the end of the year you have a few days to celbrate.

Makes sense to me.

thats how i look at it

and as for t.o.p, this is one of those cases where i wonder if u dont live here, why do u care so much? i mean, this isnt even one of those political / foreign policy things, this is how we refer to holidays.

What I find worse than Americans saying Happy Holidays is people who are always stereotyping everyone and constantly bitching about America. You don't like us, join the middle east.

Your comment is as ignorant as the one you are upset about.

America is the big kid on the street, and everyone always hates the big kid. If freakin netherlands was in power, we would all find flaws and stupid values in that country. Its just the way it is. You always hate the guy who seems to have everything because you can always find 1000 reasons whats wrong with him. But hey, I'd be proud to be born anywhere, because I didnt get to choose, and neither did anyone else.

Lets not get too out of hand here.

DK is right, it's "Happy Holidays" because there are so many holidays from different faiths all at the same time. Whether you are going to celebrate Winter Solstice, Chanukah, Quanza, or just New Years, it fits. It's not even that much about PC, it makes sense. The US is a very mixed bag culturally and religiously, and it's only right that the standard greeting reflect that.

As for "In God We Trust" and "Under God", that only goes back to the 1950s when certain political opportunists were able to use a manufactured fear to get changes pushed through that would never have happened in other times. Once the changes were in place, it's proven to be a very difficult thing to undo. It has nothing to do with political correctness; please bone up a bit on your US history before you go around saying so.

Now, to put the shoe on the other foot I COULD make quite a few statements about how Australia has been morally and/or politically faulted in the last few decades, but I'll refrain from doing so.

word

I was not born in the USA. I was born in Russia, but I moved here when I was less than a year old. I am a full blown citizen. I am 100% American. I am damn proud of that.

Think back to Pysch 101 in college. (or look for it when you get to college). One of the main reasons people mock and pick on someone/something is because of envy, insecurity, and general desire to bring one's self up by bringing the bigger/better down.

Truth be told though, alot of people who live here don't see how great it is in the USA compared to other places. They don't appreciate what they have.

We have the right to be free to speak our minds. We have the right to tell the government they suck, without fear of being flogged, beaten or killed.

We have the right to practice our religion, whatever it may be.

We have the right to travel to another country, and return.

We have the right to choose our leaders in a usually fair election. (A right which is not appreciated or used by so many Americans).

I digress though...

America, FUCK YEA!

And to quote Team America