michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Dec 21, 2023 20:34:03 GMT
(they're 'merkins, bless.) Americans. Where Christmas is slowly being eradicated, as per the card you've just received. Aren't you iilustrating ozboy 's point, that you labelled ridiculous? "happiest Holidays" is what's ridiculous here. I'm certain the UK majority still prefer to be greeted with Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas. That doesn't seem an unreasonable ask at Christmas time (but obviously for the contrarians here it is!). While "happiest Holidays" is not offensive per se, it just comes across as daft to water down the occasion like that, with a nonsensical substitute phrase. Next time you send a birthday card to your partner who's taken the day off work, why not just send a "happy Holiday" card instead? Would you send a "welcome Crotchfruit" card to the happy new parents? It grates, it makes no sense and it's generally more socially acceptable, for the majority, just to maintain the social norms. It could offend those who don't believe in birth by delivery? As for your new C word that made me nearly fall out of my seat with mirth.
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Post by bernythedolt on Dec 21, 2023 23:52:56 GMT
As for your new C word that made me nearly fall out of my seat with mirth. I wish I could claim the credit, but sadly it wasn't my creation 
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 22, 2023 9:16:58 GMT
(they're 'merkins, bless.) Americans. Where Christmas is slowly being eradicated It isn't. Don't forget, too, that the US has never prioritised Xmas in the same way we do, simply because it follows Thanksgiving so closely. That's the big everybody-travel-home-and-bloat one.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 22, 2023 9:25:19 GMT
Just seen something from a local community organisation... If "Seasons Greetings" is acceptable, but "Happy Holidays" is totally unacceptable, where does "Wishing you a peaceful festive season" sit? That is a fair point. Two of those are longstanding, and there's really no need for the newcomer. Happy Holidays just grates, is demonstrably superfluous and makes less sense than the other two. And it's yet another horrible US import. It's the less welcome hippy relative who lives in a bus and rarely showers. So the objection is not that it "doesn't mention Xmas", but that the wording is simply not what you're used to. You don't like it solely because it's not what happened when you were young. Seems to me that that's what's at the root of most of these "culture" objections. That's what happened when I was young. I liked being young.I'm old now. I don't like being old.It can't be ME that's changing in a way I don't like, so it must be the fault of everybody else.(and, yes, I definitely would send a "welcome, crotchfruit" card to friends with a new baby - and most of my friends would find it bloody hilarious, as would the grandparents)
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benaj
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Post by benaj on Dec 22, 2023 9:41:41 GMT
Well, I have never been invited to a “happy holiday” party. 🤣 Clearly, Andy William’s Happy Holiday is not as popular as his other Christmas song.
I certainly have no idea how happy holidays is translated worldwide during this festive season, never hear it in freinds and family settings , but I do hear Happy New Year a lot.
Definitely pray not getting a happiest happy holidays from enemies / frenemies before next year.
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Post by bracknellboy on Dec 22, 2023 10:21:22 GMT
(they're 'merkins, bless.) Americans. Where Christmas is slowly being eradicated, as per the card you've just received. Aren't you iilustrating ozboy 's point, that you labelled ridiculous? "happiest Holidays" is what's ridiculous here. I'm certain the UK majority still prefer to be greeted with Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas. That doesn't seem an unreasonable ask at Christmas time (but obviously for the contrarians here it is!). While "happiest Holidays" is not offensive per se, it just comes across as daft to water down the occasion like that, with a nonsensical substitute phrase. Next time you send a birthday card to your partner who's taken the day off work, why not just send a "happy Holiday" card instead? Would you send a "welcome Crotchfruit" card to the happy new parents? It grates, it makes no sense and it's generally more socially acceptable, for the majority, just to maintain the social norms. On a similar note: I do love discussions about language, words in particular, and about what is 'obviously' 'right' usage vs 'wrong' usage. And also about discussions on "horrible Americanism's" corrupting our "proper" English. The latter can be particularly amusing, as often it is not realised that the word or usage that is being stridently complained about is in fact the original English preference: preserved in American English, while British English has evolved away. Languages are by definition living and evolving creatures. Anyway, back on topic. Etymology of 'holiday': it emerged in the 1500's as a replacement of the medival 'haliday' which itself had supplanted "haligdaeg", meaning 'holy day'. So happy Holy Days to one and all. From an atheist.
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agent69
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Post by agent69 on Dec 22, 2023 10:31:13 GMT
Well, I have never been invited to a “happy holiday” party. 🤣 Clearly, Andy William’s Happy Holiday is not as popular as his other Christmas song. I certainly have no idea how happy holidays is translated worldwide during this festive season, never hear it in freinds and family settings , but I do hear Happy New Year a lot. Definitely pray not getting a happiest happy holidays from enemies / frenemies before next year. I'm in Thailand and will be here until the new year.
Lots of Christmas songs being played. I haven't heard 'Wombling merry christmas' yet, but I fear it's only a matter of time (Mike Batt has a lot to answer for)
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Post by bernythedolt on Dec 22, 2023 13:05:38 GMT
That is a fair point. Two of those are longstanding, and there's really no need for the newcomer. Happy Holidays just grates, is demonstrably superfluous and makes less sense than the other two. And it's yet another horrible US import. It's the less welcome hippy relative who lives in a bus and rarely showers. So the objection is not that it "doesn't mention Xmas", but that the wording is simply not what you're used to. You don't like it solely because it's not what happened when you were young. Seems to me that that's what's at the root of most of these "culture" objections. That's what happened when I was young. I liked being young.I'm old now. I don't like being old.It can't be ME that's changing in a way I don't like, so it must be the fault of everybody else.(and, yes, I definitely would send a "welcome, crotchfruit" card to friends with a new baby - and most of my friends would find it bloody hilarious, as would the grandparents)That's quite a tangent to dive off down, tantamount to suggesting that culture and tradition have no place in society. I agree there is quite some polarisation by age here, with generally the oldies - with their wisdom borne of greater life experience, let's not forget  - preferring the traditional greetings style and the younger set ambivalent about this anodyne substitute. Perhaps if you have children and you delight in watching their children enjoying the same traditions that we experienced as youngsters, you begin to value those traditions more highly. Which means, of course, that you naturally prefer the status quo and are less welcoming of bland, dumbed down imported inanities like "happy/happiest holidays", devoid of meaning or context. Now, who will join me for an egg macchuffin, anyone?
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Post by overthehill on Dec 22, 2023 14:26:12 GMT
The Dutch wish Ukraine Happy Holidays. How many russians will be listening to Wham's Last Christmas.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Dec 22, 2023 14:28:34 GMT
That is a fair point. Two of those are longstanding, and there's really no need for the newcomer. Happy Holidays just grates, is demonstrably superfluous and makes less sense than the other two. And it's yet another horrible US import. It's the less welcome hippy relative who lives in a bus and rarely showers. So the objection is not that it "doesn't mention Xmas", but that the wording is simply not what you're used to. You don't like it solely because it's not what happened when you were young. Seems to me that that's what's at the root of most of these "culture" objections. That's what happened when I was young. I liked being young.I'm old now. I don't like being old.It can't be ME that's changing in a way I don't like, so it must be the fault of everybody else.(and, yes, I definitely would send a "welcome, crotchfruit" card to friends with a new baby - and most of my friends would find it bloody hilarious, as would the grandparents)I think there is an element of truth there (NOT in relation to Berny or anyone but just generally). However, for how many years have we as a nation been saying Happy/Merry Christmas ? Presumably +- 2000 years? In my day a lot of folk used the "Xmas" but I though that was coz they couldn't be bothered to type the whole thing as opposed to having any religious meaning.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 23, 2023 8:41:17 GMT
So the objection is not that it "doesn't mention Xmas", but that the wording is simply not what you're used to. You don't like it solely because it's not what happened when you were young. Seems to me that that's what's at the root of most of these "culture" objections. That's what happened when I was young. I liked being young.I'm old now. I don't like being old.It can't be ME that's changing in a way I don't like, so it must be the fault of everybody else.(and, yes, I definitely would send a "welcome, crotchfruit" card to friends with a new baby - and most of my friends would find it bloody hilarious, as would the grandparents)That's quite a tangent to dive off down, tantamount to suggesting that culture and tradition have no place in society. That's quite the extrapolation, even for you. Just perhaps we shouldn't do the same thing forever, just because it's what we've always done? I grew up in the '70s. I wouldn't inflict that on anybody.
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Post by bernythedolt on Dec 23, 2023 17:21:22 GMT
Perhaps if you have children and you delight in watching their children enjoying the same traditions that we experienced as youngsters I grew up in the '70s. I wouldn't inflict that on anybody. I'm older than you, but the 70s were good to me. I passed my O and A levels, driving test, met SWMBO, bought my first car, started my career, bought our first place and married SWMBO. The music was good and the beer was cheap. I bet you enjoyed a Space Hopper and a Raleigh Chopper? Whatever the reason, sorry to hear you had a bad time of it.
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Dec 24, 2023 9:36:17 GMT
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keitha
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2024, hopefully the year I get out of P2P
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Post by keitha on Dec 24, 2023 13:25:50 GMT
Don't get me started one of the Councils in Wales has been criticised because the hanging illuminated signs said "Happy Christmas" not "Nadolig Llawen" www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/row-erupts-over-english-christmas-28283782then elsewhere they got their undies in a twist because they put the English first some dont seem to realise that Merry Christmas will be a normal order "Nadolig Llawen" will be a special order and thus more costly |
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Post by captainconfident on Dec 24, 2023 23:53:19 GMT
I'm in Thailand and will be here until the new year.
Lots of Christmas songs being played. I haven't heard 'Wombling merry christmas' yet, but I fear it's only a matter of time (Mike Batt has a lot to answer for)
How dare you! Mike Batt was a true blue 100% genius. There's not a single bad Wombles song. 20 Wombling Greats is a masterpiece, the best all round record of the 70's for me. The moment I heard Hungry Like the Wolf, I thought, you bastards, you ripped off Mike Batt! This should have been career ending if the Wombles had hauled the Durans into court. Check it out! "The Womble Shuffle" www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOuiWsulYdA Wombling Merry Christmas to you all! Of course agent69, as you are in Thailand, you would appreciate an Invitation to The Ping-Pong Ball ! This song is solid gold Mike Batt magic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLvsqBA9pNM
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- preferring the traditional greetings style and the younger set ambivalent about this anodyne substitute. 
