Holiday Protocol Question

[Karen]

Please do not wish anyone a "happy" Yom Kippur. It is a very solemn holiday. It is the day of atonement in which you contemplate your "sins" of the last year and ask for forgiveness. it is also a day of remembering relatives who have died.

Rosh Hashana is the new year so a "happy" would be appropriate. Or L'shana tova!

So what would one say, to acknowledge the holiday appropriately? Have a blessed Yom Kippur? Or what? There's a large percentage of Jewish people in Newton and Brookline in particular, so it would be good to know what the right thing to say is, should the occasion arise.

[Cataholic]

This all reminds me of the "have a nice day" concept. Maybe someone just died, maybe I am dying, whatever. Why can't people just have well intended meaning behind these expressions (usually of gratitude), and not have it become overly PC? This means, of course, you must know the holiday and its meaning before you say anything.

Maybe, it is better not to say a single thing if you are not sure of the event?

[sparks19]

I agree with the whole "why can't we just take it as it was intended". People are wishing you well. WHY does that make people angry? So what if they use the wrong word. As long as they aren't cursing you... Smile.

I just say "have a great weekend" or "enjoy the long weekend"

[Catty1]

http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays...-Greetings.htm

Yom Kippur Greetings

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement and is considered the holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Because Yom Kippur is a fast day, it is appropriate to wish your Jewish friends an "Easy Fast" on Yom Kippur, or in Hebrew "Tzom Kal." The traditional Yom Kippur greeting is "G'mar Hatimah Tovah" or "May You Be Sealed for a Good Year (in the Book of Life)." This reflects the Jewish view of Yom Kippur as the day when God seals our fates (determined by our actions) for the upcoming year in the Books of Life or Death. The entire ten Days of Awe from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur are viewed as the beginning of the New Year, so you may also still wish your Jewish friends a "Happy New Year" or "L'Shana Tovah" on Yom Kippur.

[cassiesmom]

http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays...-Greetings.htm

Yom Kippur Greetings

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement and is considered the holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Because Yom Kippur is a fast day, it is appropriate to wish your Jewish friends an "Easy Fast" on Yom Kippur, or in Hebrew "Tzom Kal." The traditional Yom Kippur greeting is "G'mar Hatimah Tovah" or "May You Be Sealed for a Good Year (in the Book of Life)." This reflects the Jewish view of Yom Kippur as the day when God seals our fates (determined by our actions) for the upcoming year in the Books of Life or Death. The entire ten Days of Awe from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur are viewed as the beginning of the New Year, so you may also still wish your Jewish friends a "Happy New Year" or "L'Shana Tovah" on Yom Kippur.

In a previous job I had a Jewish co-worker. It was fall and she was off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. She was giving me information because I was covering some of her cases. I told her that I hoped she would enjoy the holidays, and she explained to me about fasting for Yom Kippur and wishing someone an easy fast. I asked her if it was appropriate to say Happy New Year for Rosh Hashanah and she said it definitely was.

My grandmother used to always refer to Memorial Day as "Decoration Day". It seemed (at least around here) that it was less about picnics and the start of summer, and more attention was paid to observances and recognizing the holiday. I was glad to see that.

[Edwina's Secretary]

So what would one say, to acknowledge the holiday appropriately? Have a blessed Yom Kippur? Or what? There's a large percentage of Jewish people in Newton and Brookline in particular, so it would be good to know what the right thing to say is, should the occasion arise.

I guess - why do you feel you have to say anything regarding the holiday?

(BTW...We know how "politically correct" goes - it is the other guy who is fussing about politically correctness. Happy Holidays anyone? You might want to ask Bill O'Reilly why that makes him angry. )

The root word of "holiday" is holy day. Not all holidays are happy days. If you have to say something - what's wrong with "I'll be thinking of you on your holiday"?

[Karen]

I guess - why do you feel you have to say anything regarding the holiday?

Just wanting to acknowledge that I know it is an important, and sacred day for them, even if it's just a normal day of the week for us. I'd rather be able to say something nicely and let them know I am not ignoring or disregarding their faith, as some I know get very defensive about it.

[sparks19]

Why feel the need to say anything? Because it's polite to wish people well on any day not just holidays

[sparks19]

I wanted to edit my last post but it won't let me do that on my phone

Just wanted to add...
It USED to be polite to wish people well but now it's turned into mincing words to turn a well wish into a hidden slight

[sparks19]

I have never had anyone get upset that I didn't acknowledge their holiday but apparently others have had that experience. I have also never had anyone get mad for an seemingly inappropriately worded acknowledgement of their holiday either but apparently those people also exsist. It does take all kinds.

All kinds of sayings out there. I don't really live my day to day life based on quote snippets. I just go day to day trying to be as kind as I can to others.

[Edwina's Secretary]

All kinds of sayings out there. I don't really live my day to day life based on quote snippets. I just go day to day trying to be as kind as I can to others.

I find those "quote snippets" can be very useful in how to live my life. "As you are to the least of my people, so shall you be onto me", "do onto others as you would have done onto you" "judge not, lest you be judged" "a stitch in time saves nine", "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I find the wisdom of those who have lived before me useful.

And while I agree, I have never heard anyone get upset when wished "Merry Christmas" ...sadly I can say I have known people to be upset when wished "Happy Holidays." Those must be those grumpy people you are thinking of!

[sparks19]

I find those "quote snippets" can be very useful in how to live my life. "As you are to the least of my people, so shall you be onto me", "do onto others as you would have done onto you" "judge not, lest you be judged" "a stitch in time saves nine", "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I find the wisdom of those who have lived before me useful.

And while I agree, I have never heard anyone get upset when wished "Merry Christmas" ...sadly I can say I have known people to be upset when wished "Happy Holidays." Those must be those grumpy people you are thinking of!

Well like you said... Takes all kinds. You live your life the way you want to and others will do the same. Can't please everyone. I just try to be polite and friendly to everyone I meet. Others don't feel that way and that is OK. It won't stop me from being pleasant to others just because some people want to drag other people down or treat them like they are lesser beings.

Although, the bible snippets you quoted is kind of what I mean by "quote snippets". One should read the entire 25th chapter of Matthew to get the context of the little snippet.

In the end, we won't agree on how everyone should conduct their lives. I will leave with a little snippet "to each his own". This little back and forth has been interesting but not overly productive

Have a great day

[RICHARD]

I have never had anyone get upset that I didn't acknowledge their holiday but apparently others have had that experience. I have also never had anyone get mad for an seemingly inappropriately worded acknowledgement of their holiday either but apparently those people also exsist. It does take all kinds.

All kinds of sayings out there. I don't really live my day to day life based on quote snippets. I just go day to day trying to be as kind as I can to others.

I don't think it the idea of not acknowledging a day, it's more about the way that people have missed the true meaning of the 'holiday'.

When I worked and was part of a union, the holidays became a way to get time off or extra pay.

Between a three day weekend or double time and a half, it became a fight between employees to get one or the other.

A night shift on a holiday - back in the day - was pretty lucrative. If you earned 10 bucks an hour and a 35 cent incentive for the evening shift?

If you had a family, no amount of money could make up for time away from them.

The one thing I learned from doing a holiday shift was you really didn't benefit from the extra money, the gov't. taxed the crap out of it anyway.

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My peeve as time has gone by, is the fact that people DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING about holidays.

Another great example is St. Patrick's Day.

While not a general holiday, the Catholic religion used to emphasize remembering the Saints.

Hokay,

But why did it turn into a day where people dress in green, wear buttons "Kiss me, I'm Irish" and get shiat faced drunk?

Same with Cinco de Mayo.

So, now we get into the three day weekend deals.

Once upon a time, we used to commemorate 'holidays' on the day they happened.

Now we lump president's days together, make it a three day weekend and grill dead meat, get sunburned and come back to work on Tuesday with not a whit of ambition. No one cares about dead presidents.

Unless we get a day off or a piece of paper with their picture on it.

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I am not against celebrating anything for anyone, any religion or anything.

It's just the way we have lost the meaning of any holiday.

[sparks19]

I actually can't recall even hearing anyone (in person) get upset when I've said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. It could have happened but I can't think of one time at this moment. Most people just smile and respond with whatever they feel comfortable saying

[Lady's Human]

I guess - why do you feel you have to say anything regarding the holiday?

I just don't comment on the holidays of other religions,in most cases I don't know the customs associated with them. In the odd case where it was someone who went out of their way to explain a holiday, I'll make an appropriate mention, otherwise, I normally don't say anything other than the usual greeting.