Why do stores that sell Christmas items call them “Holiday”?
July 14th, 2009 | 
Author: Tommy asked:
I remember one year I went to buy some rapping paper and Christmas lights and everything there said “holiday” on it. Even the Christmas trees were called “holiday trees.”
When I look at comercials that have someone putting a present under a tree, and then saying “Happy Holidays” to his wife or kids I find it a little absurd. Hershey also had a section for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but no section for Christmas. Even now there are tons of items for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa but very few that say “Merry Christmas.”
Why would a store that is selling items to people that are celebrating Christmas not put Christmas on the package, or use Christmas in their ads? Who gets excited about buying “holiday cards” or “holiday gifts?”
About 90% of American celebrate Christmas, and something like 96% enjoy Christmas. I don’t anyone would be offended by a store calling Christmas trees Christmas trees. What’s going on here?
Look at the items Hershey sells under the Christmas heading.
http://www.hersheygifts.com/navDepartment.aspx?Name=Christmas(Hershey)
I can’t find a single one that says “Merry Christmas.” Contrast that to the ones under Hanukkah that say “Happy Hanukkah “.
Is anyone honestly offended if a store offers a candy under the “Christmas” section that says “Merry Christmas”? Who are the people making these decisions?
I still don’t understand this from a marketing perspective. You know 90% of people are coming in to buy Christmas presents. You play Christmas music in your store. You seel Christmas trees, cards, lights, and all the rest. But you don’t put Christmas on anything you sell and instead put “holiday?” I don’t think anyone that does not celebrate Christmas is offended by having a Christmas tree called a Christmas tree or a piece of candy that you can buy that says “Merry Christmas.”
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Category: Kwanzaa Gifts | 
Tags: Celebrating Christmas, Christmas Items, Christmas Music, Christmas Section, Christmas Tree, Comercials, Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Hershey, Holiday Cards, Holiday Gifts, Holiday Trees, Kwanzaa, Rapping Paper, Single One | 
21 Comments »
have to be PC nowadays…there are people somewhere out there who are offended by christmas
don’t worry about it. say merry christmas all you want!
Some gov’t official decided it was politically INcorrect to include CHRIST in Christmas……so as not to offend atheists, muslims,,,,,any of our diverse religious sects out there…..it’s merely a “holiday” with NO meaning whatsoever…..and I REFUSE TO SAY IT. HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Let ‘em explain WHY there’s a “holiday”…….love ta see that!
different people celebreate different holidays at that time like Kwanza and Haunika. (i can’t spell) so they just call it holiday
the reason Christmas is erased is due to the fact there are some people who want Christ taken out of everything. that is the problem with the world today.MERRY CHRISTMAS.
because to many people complained about it an so they decided it would be bette to say or put happy holidays on everything i myself think it is absurd if you work in certain stores at the christmas time you arent allowed to say have a merry christmas
Because in this day and age when we are so worried about being politically correct and not offending anyones negativity toward the christian holiday Christmas we have homogenized it so not to offend. What I dont get is why its ok.
For you holiday means christmas, but for other, it’s a mix of hanucca and christmas and new year…
Because not everyone celebrates Christmas, so the manufacturers are trying to be Politically correct and include every one when the put out things for the holidays.
Because it too is “considered politically incorrect”… we have to be ever so careful of stepping on toes these days. Like when someone sneezes, you can’t say “God Bless You” anymore, as you might offend them. You just can’t put the word Christ… on anything. But they sure can put nasty words, thoughts and deeds everywhere! Gotta do the ‘politically incorrect” thing otherwise, heaven forbid, those being offended wont spend their money for our goods! I still say “Merry CHRISTMAS” and “GOD BLESS YOU” … that’s MY RIGHT! ! !
it’s a plot to offend people with little minds and extremely thin skins…and it works! who gives a rip what the stores call it?
I don’t know about the States but here in Canada because of all the different nationalities the government took out “religion” in the schools so no one would be offended and it spread into the public and stores.The schools now say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.Personally I am really ticked off with it too.I’m not the prejudice type but when it comes to other nationalities getting their way and government takes “our lifetime ways away then I get upset.
Here’s wishing you an early very Merry Christmas and decorate your “Christmas” tree with every “Christmas” item you can find.
You are absolutely right. Christmas is Christmas and Hanukkah is Hanukkah and , Kwanzaa is Kwanzaa, every one is an individual and we should be treated that way. This is so overboard. It all starts in the school I believe when people were offended that Christmas stuff were happening, and nothing else was included, but they allow them to have it off and everyone who don’t celebrate it. They don’t cry and whine then do they. I dunno, but I do know this, It is Christmas music, Christmas carols, Christmas cards, Christmas shows,Christmas movies. Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, Christmas Eve, and they will not take it away from me.
You’ve hit the nail on the head here. It’s a fear of alienating the tiny percent of folks who would find and reference to Christ in retail transactions, offensive. It’s a load of rubbish! I hadn’t seen Christmas trees called Holiday trees before. Goodness what other holiday uses a tree? Perhaps some strange Saxon rite.
Now, I can understant folks wanted to send holiday cards to friends who may not be Christian. It seems this end of the year card sending time is a fine way to show people they still are in your thoughts. but “Abdul! I got a card from Iwasnotanazipolka that said ‘Glory to the world, the Christchild has come!’”, “Seymore, so did I! Who is this kid?”
But anyway, I think we will have to live with this political correctness. And, by the way, Merry Christmas, to you, my friend.
it’s stupid because if they don’t believe in calling this day of the year “CHRISTMAS” then maybe they shouldn’t get any presents or celebrate.
seriously, people are stupid.
they say happy holidays but still want people to give them presents.
i’m not denouncing anyone’s faith, this is my OPINION. i have cousins who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. they’re nice and all but they don’t celebrate Christmas. yet they still insist on RECEIVING presents from our family, but they don’t give any. my uncle (their dad) is Catholic and he’s the one who buys us presents.
and if they insist on calling it a “holiday” then what is this “holiday” celebrating?
fourth of july celebrates our independence,
thanksgiving?
seriously.
if people can celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa and STILL call it that, then we should be allowed to call Christmas “Christmas”.
grr.
society needs to change.
The socialists are attempting to erase christmas as part of their attempt to eliminate christianity. It is disturbing how powerful these people are in that they can convince most large retail chains to cooperate with what they are trying to do, even though it is so immensely unpopular with customers.
Retailers took an incredibly large hit last christmas over this issue. They recieved hundreds of thousands of complaints and widespread boycott of their goods. Many places went out of business over this. Many more lost a significant amount of the yearly profit over it. The net effect was an incredible depression of holiday spending in general. Not to mention widespread depression over just how many people are fucking evil assholes in this country. It seems that none of this matters to those commie bastards. What’s the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in profits if it advances the glorious communist revolution and speeds up the genocidal march toward utopia.
because there are always people out there they like to make a big deal out of nothing, and get upset when schools or stores say “Christmas”. I think its absurd too, wat is there to really be offended by?
Beacause people get offeneded too easily. Like you. It doesn’t really matter in the end.
Plain and simple answer to your lenghty question. It offends the jewish people and hence was changed to appease. I really miss hearing, Merry Christmas.
Because the words Merry Christmas is insulting to other religions which I think is total BS. Its been called Christmas for as long as I can remember and I will continue to say it!!!!!!!
Yeah, it’s irritating.
But I haven’t the vaguest idea why it’s holiday and not just Christmas.
because people are stupid.