I certainly don't have a problem with whatever anyone wants to call the day, season, or month. I have absolutely no problem finding boxed cards that say Merry Christmas both on the front and on the inside greeting. I generally do, however, purchase cards that say "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" simply because I do not know the religious preferences of all of the folks to whom we send cards, and I prefer not to offend anyone. Why should I shove "Merry Christmas" in the face of my Jewish friends? Why should I shove "Happy Chanukah" in the face of my Christian friends? Why should I shove either in the face of my athesist friends? No matter what the underlying reason may be for someone celebrating anything during the month of December, it's not my place, nor my desire, to even attempt to imply that "it's my way or the highway."

What I DO have a problem with, however, is someone joining a forum on the same day that they post a blatant pitch for their own commercial web site. Seems to me that the moderators here have a problem with it, too -- it's called violating the terms of use.

OP - Is everyone Christian - no. That's the reason for all of the other varieties of cards. Society has finally realized that there are all shapes, sizes and religious affiliations in our Country and not all celebrate "Christmas".

Also, thanks to the above poster, I did not and will not click on your link. Shame on you using a Christian facade to lure people to your website. What a disgusting and shameless thing to do.

Every calendar that I have looked at shows December 25th as CHRISTMAS. It does not say HOLIDAY or CHANUKAH. That is why I will always say MERRY CHRISTMAS. It is the season that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and I really get offended by store merchants that want to share in the profits associated with the celebration but they are too politically correct to refer to it by it's proper name. A lot of them even substitute the word Christ with an "X". I refuse to shop at establishments that do so.

The reason some people use an X for Christmas - as in "Xmas" - is that early Christians had to communicate secretly sometimes, using the little fish logo or the X- instead of outright using the name of Jesus Christ. These symbols had a root in the Greek alphabet I believe, and were used as a kind of code to other Christians. It is neither a plot nor a snub of Chistmas, but an authentic historical device that has lasted for over 2000 years. If you look on many church windows, you will see a symbol that looks like and X with a P overlapping, both symbols of the word for Christ. Merry Christmas!

Lenback -- the "holiday of Christmas" has become far too commercialized for many people's taste. The emphasis is more on the "Santa aspect" and the decorations than on celebrating the birth of Christ. Do you only shop at stores that display or promote the religious aspects of the day? Or do you just limit your bias to being against anything that isn't overtly celebrating the birth of Christ? If it's the latter, why aren't you running around saying, "Happy Birthday" to everyone rather than "Merry Christmas"?

Scarlett2001-- Thanks for the information. If that is the real reason that the X is used, then I have no problem. But if they are using it because they just want to avoid using the word Christ, then that is another story. Actually, in a lot of cases, I think people are just trying to abbreviate the message.

lindsey ca-- I agree that the holiday has become way too commercialized. No, I do not only shop at stores that display or promote the religious aspects and, no, I do not just limit my "bias" to being against anything that isn't overtly celebrating the birth of Christ. As I stated, I have a problem with commercial establishments that want to reap all the benefits from the run-a-way commercialism but, at the same time, they can't even bring themselves to recognize "Christ" in Christmas. If they are, indeed, just using X because of the historical significance explained by Scarlett2001, I certainly have no problem spending a buck with them. I am not saying that they need to be overtly religious but just don't thump your nose at the "Reason for the season".

I have no problem saying "Merry Christmas" to whomever I want. It's my right living in this country to practice what I believe, and I do. If I offend anyone for saying it, it's thier right to walk away or say whatever it is they wish to say to me. It's too hard to be politically correct in this country because sooner or later, you WILL offend someone. This country is too diverse not to. Thats what I love about it.

I call it a holiday because I don't feel the need to make everyone feel the same way.

I celebrate the holiday because it's fun to be a part of things, not because I believe in the "origins" of it. Would you feel equally sure that you were right if all the stores began wishing you happy XXXX for all the other religions? Or would you then say it should be nondenominational because you didn't enjoy having someone else's beliefs thrust upon you. It's easy to have an opinion about something dear to you, but do you support the parallel argument as well? I suspect not.

You also said "our largely secular society" in your post. To me that says it all. Perhaps there are more people who see it in a secular way than a religious one. In that case (and I'm basing it on your own words) perhaps this is an issue of a small vocal group trying to put forth an agenda of their own against a majority.

No one is stopping you from saying "Merry Christmas." Why are you so strongly in favour of forcing others to do so.

The people who produce cards and run stores are basing their decisions on the wants of the largest groups. It's financial. Apparently their target demographic is larger.

I think everyone should be free to celebrate what they want as they want. I don't get the sense that the OP feels that at all.

To each his own I guess.

I love the fact that this country is so diverse, although I believe a news show I caught the other day said that 90% of the US population is of "Christian" faith in some form or the other so I guess its really not as diverse as it seems. Only a small percent are of diffrent faiths as a whole. Still, I don't care. If someone wants to say "Happy Kwanza" to me, I'd welcome it. Being a citizen of this country I understand the basic principles the country was built on. You are allowed to practice diffrent faiths and beliefs. I make sure I use that right and would welcome anyone else to do the same. I don't feel that I offend anyone when I say "Merry Christmas" because if they are a citizen of this country they should know the principles this country was built on. If they get offended, maybe they need to brush up on them. Maybe they need to embrace the diversity like I have. I don't get offended when I see items of diffrent faiths. I know thats thier right to display them. Thats just silly. I'm sure most of you won't agree with my opinion but this is just what I believe in. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Hanukkah, and anything else that I have missed, to All!!

I call it Christmas but Holiday doesn't bother me at all. I really call it "The most wonderful time of the year" Like the song!!