Holiday Protocol Question

[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

[Lady's Human]

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.

Where in this thread did you get THAT?

[Cataholic]

^^Long live the Queen? LOL!

[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.

[Edwina's Secretary]

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.

As usual I agree with LH. If I am not confident about someone else's holiday I would hesitate to give a holiday greeting. "Happy Good Friday" sounds ghastly to me - just as "Happy Yom Kippur" does or "Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception" (which does not, as many assume, have anything to do with the Virgin Birth.)

I would rather wish someone a bland "good holiday" than offend someone with an inappropriate expression. My definition of polite!

[sparks19]

Everyone is different but I know we are all humans and don't always say the exact right words so if someone wished me a happy *enter solemn day here* I would say THANK YOU and move on because I KNOW they have good intentions and aren't trying to be offensive. I just can't imagine why I would take offense to someone trying to be nice. it just doesn't make sense to me. Why people look for some hidden slight in everything I will never know. if someone felt the need to acknowledge a religious holiday they knew I celebrated I would be incredibly flattered that they thought enough to even REALIZE that it was a holiday for me even if it wasn't a holiday they celebrated even if they didn't use exactly the right word or even if they didn't pronouce it correctly or what have you. WHY be offended by it?

I also don't generally mention specific holidays. I usually just give a generic "Have a good long weekend" or something of the sort but to be offended if someone makes a mistake while wishing me well? it just seems like splitting hairs to me

[Edwina's Secretary]

Well...there you have it!

Some of us see how we intend our message - and that is what matters...others see how the recipient hears our message - and that is what is matters....

I guess it depends on who you consider more important...