Posted by Peter H on 12/28/99 from 62.6.132.215:
In Reply to: Re: Happy Holidays from TARSUS posted by Dave Thewlis on December 27, 1999 at 17:14:22:
Fair enough, Dave, and it's not for people in the UK to tell people in the US what to say. However, there have been also some attempts in the UK in recent years to think up another word for this time of year. The most fatuous was dreamt up by a local authority: 'Winterval'. It has been pointed out, sensibly, that most of the world's major religions revere Jesus Christ as a holy man - Islam does and so does the Jewish religion. Leaders of these faiths in the UK have said that they have no objection to the word 'Christmas'. Atheists can always celebrate the old midwinter festival that the Christians pinched.
There's been an excellent series of programmes on UK TV over Christmas about the American Civil War. We were reminded that in the middle of this War there was a presidential election - Lincoln won. True democracy indeed. Was all that gone through so that 135 years later citizens of 'the Land of the Free' feel they cannot say 'Christmas' for fear of offence?
Oh well, perhaps we all need a new word. 'Holidays' is too vague, in the UK at least. What about 'Winter Holiday'??
A Happy Winter Holiday to you, Dave, and at least I'm back on-topic!