'Happy Christmas' to become 'Happy Holidays'?

[max_tranmere]

Have you noticed how in the USA the word 'Christmas' is never mentioned around Christmas time? If you receive a Christmas card from an American it always says 'Happy Holidays' on it, the President in his address will always say 'I wish you and your families a happy holiday season'. Even that famous (American) Coca-Cola TV advert that is always on here in December, with the red Santa and fleets of red Coca-Cola lorries, has the jingle 'holidays are coming, holidays are coming...'.

This is of course because the USA is a very diverse place and as the UK is becoming more like that I wonder how long it will be before the Prime Minister says 'I wish you all a happy holiday season', TV adverts about Christmas stop mentioning 'Christmas' specifically, and the misseltoe and snow look disappears from TV guides and in magazines generally. I've noticed on TV quiz shows any question about the Bible now starts with 'in the Christian New Testament...'. Up until a few years ago it just said 'the New Testament'.

It can only be a matter of time before omitting any Christian references becomes the normal thing, just like in the USA. How do people feel about this? I think it is quite sad, but it is bound to happen.

[Sam Slater]

[quote]Have you noticed how in the USA the word 'Christmas' is never mentioned around Christmas time?[/quote]

No. I've been in America leading up to Christmas and they mention it as much as we do (if they didn't I didn't notice).

[quote]If you receive a Christmas card from an American it always says 'Happy Holidays' on it,[/quote]

Now always. I bought Christmas cards in Ralph's, Walmart and Rite Aid that said 'Happy Christmas' on them. There were quite a few. 'Happy Holidays' is more popular than what it would be over here, though.

[quote]Even that famous (American) Coca-Cola TV advert that is always on here in December, with the red Santa and fleets of red Coca-Cola lorries, has the jingle 'holidays are coming, holidays are coming...'[/quote]

It's just a song, Max.

[quote]This is of course because the USA is a very diverse place and as the UK is becoming more like that I wonder how long it will be before the Prime Minister says 'I wish you all a happy holiday season'[/quote]

He/she might do. I don't care, not believing in Jesus and all.... The 'happy holidays' expression doesn't necessarily mean it's to accommodate a multicultural/religious society. For instance, in France the common expression has always been more likely to be 'Joyeuse F?te!', which literally means 'joyous feast'. It's taken to mean 'joyous festivities' or 'have a great festive season'. 'Joyeux No?l' is not used so much unless you're actually wishing someone Happy Christmas on the day itself (I'm pretty sure that's how it goes anyway).

[quote]TV adverts about Christmas stop mentioning 'Christmas' specifically, and the misseltoe and snow look disappears from TV guides and in magazines generally.[/quote]

Here's the Radio Times' cover from last year:

[img]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Med ... -large.jpg[/img]

Snow, holly, Christmas tree with an angel on top... Looks Christmassy to me, Max. And I can see the word 'Christmas' printed, quite clearly, at least 4 times.

[quote]It can only be a matter of time before omitting any Christian references becomes the normal thing, just like in the USA.[/quote]

You're fucking joking.....right? Fox News mentions Christianity every bloody day; christian muppets get themselves elected on school boards so as to put pressure on teachers who teach evolution in class and it's essential to mention your Christian belief to even get near running for President, getting in the senate or being elected mayor. You can't move for Christian references in America.

[max_tranmere]

Sam, I agree that the religious-right are prominent all over America, and they are heavily immersed in politics. That wont go away, just like the number of people here who celebrate Christmas wont be any less in numbers, but as a percentage of society as our society become more diverse, the proportion will lessen. So in the States, and no doubt here soon, the mentioning around Christmas time of 'Christmas' will become less and then cease. Just like in the USA. I have had Christmas cards from Americans and they always just have 'Happy Holidays' on them - for PC reasons. As for the Radio Times cover, that is last year's - as you say. I'm talking about the future. See how 'Christmas-ified' the covers of such magazines are in 10 or 20 years time.

[max_tranmere]

Reggie, I've always liked Eric Idle. He can do satire very well. As for surviving the build-up to Christmas I always get through it by blanking it from my mind and only really thinking about Christmas from 24 Dec onwards. View the week's building up to it as normal weeks, including Christmas week itself. Then just get into it when it arrives.

[Arginald Valleywater]

As an atheist this is a great idea. Ban all religion, it fucks people up.

[stefano romantico]

The u.k. is the 51st state . Prison island . The main ghetto in europe . The kulture in the u.k. is gone . Take it back by force .

[Sam Slater]

[quote]So in the States, and no doubt here soon, the mentioning around Christmas time of 'Christmas' will become less and then cease.[/quote]

But is there any evidence to back up this theory of yours? As you can see from last Christmas's Radio Times, the gold standard of Christmas guides/magazines, it in no way hints of the future you're predicting. It couldn't be any more Christmassy without having Santa popups when you turn the pages as well as Andy Williams singing Little Donkey to you ? la those novelty cards.

[quote]I have had Christmas cards from Americans and they always just have 'Happy Holidays' on them - for PC reasons.[/quote]

What? They told you they sent you cards with 'Happy Holidays' on due to 'PC reasons', or they could only get cards with 'Happy Holidays' on due to 'PC reasons'? The former means they're stupid and the latter would be a lie.

[quote]As for the Radio Times cover, that is last year's - as you say.[/quote]

Yes, last years ? the most recent Christmas I could find to see if there was any trend forming that would give you reason to worry. As you can see it was very Christmassy.

[quote]I'm talking about the future. See how 'Christmas-ified' the covers of such magazines are in 10 or 20 years time.[/quote]

Well, who knows what the future holds, Max. Show me a man who can predict the future accurately and you've got yourself a very rich, and busy, man. Current trends don't really back up your predictions though. We may pick up more Americanisms as we go along, and Christmas may become more secularised as belief and church going has declined over the past 50 years, but it will still be 'Christmassy' to the generation of the day. I don't think any of this points to multiculturalism being the cause, which, I think, is what you were getting at.

If you're worried about the religious rituals in Christmas being eroded then you should encourage more Poles to immigrate here. A pole -no pun intended- I recently saw said 4 out of 5 Poles still pray at least once a day, while in Germany, Holland and the UK it was between 1 in 15-20.

[Deano!]

Reggie Perrin wrote:


> I'd love it if they cancelled Xmas, I hate the hype, the food,
> the corporate boozing, being cooped up with people and the
> pressure to conform. I went away last Xmas, it was fantastic.

Totally agree Reg. I squirm and struggle to get out of any fucking Christmas parties or dinners both work and family related. I now always spend the day by myself often just doing average stuff - even gardening and housework! I find the days following the 25th are more fun simply because all the consumerist bullshit is over for another year.