Quote Originally Posted by Catty1 View Post
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.