Christmas card question

[Sigarms]

Just curious as to everyones thoughts on sending out Christmas cards for business?

I have good relationships with most of my customers, and usually I send out handwritten Christmas cards to each business.

Do you think it's appropriate to write "Merry Christmas" on the holiday card for your business?

 

[dave1949]

Just curious as to everyones thoughts on sending out Christmas cards for business?

I have good relationships with most of my customers, and usually I send out handwritten Christmas cards to each business.

Do you think it's appropriate to write "Merry Christmas" on the holiday card for your business?

Well, this can cause a lot of discussion.

For a business card, I wouldn't do that. Some of your customers will be offended perhaps or think you presumptious or whatever. I would stick with a more religion-neutral message. It doesn't have to be as uninspired as 'Happy Holidays'.

I don't blame people for pushing back on the Merry Christmas thing. I'm sure many disagree, but I am used to being in the minority on this anyways. So, from my minority viewpoint - I don't appreciate how many Christians (and other religions) want to make their version of their religion all pervasive and see nothing wrong with making our country into a religious theocracy. Everything is politicized these days. I will never comprehend how some people can claim to being persecuted while pushing to have their own view point embedded in every aspect of life on every street corner. One or more of your customers is bound to agree with me. It's just push-back is all.

That said, I personally wouldn't hold it against you if you or your business sent me such a card.
Dave.

 

[bp fick]

Christmas has two meanings. The one is merely a national holiday not significantly different than Thanksgiving, Memorial Day or the 4th of July. Schools, banks and Post Office closed kind of holiday. Period. It is fine to say Merry Christmas.

The second is indeed a Christian Holy Day, celebrating the birth of Christ.

Don't personally care for the generic Happy Holidays. Silly and unnecessary. To say "don't say Merry Christmas", a national holiday, is as silly as saying "don't say Happy 4th of July or Happy Thanksgiving".
Some celebrate the birth of our nation on 7/4, while others merely see it as a long weekend. Some "give thanks" on that Thursday in November, while others just feast and watch football. Some combine elements of all.

A little perspective. Christians have a right and the privilege of celebrating the birth of our Savior on Dec 25th and the U.S. has every right to declare that day a national holiday, for whatever reason, along with all the other national holidays.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Big Bri]

i own a retail store, and we do send out Christmas cards, the all say Marry Christmas. I also go one step further we thank every custmor who shops with us in the month of december and finish with "you have a Marry Christmas"
I'm not changing over 200 years of American tradition for a few.
Even if you don't believe in god it's just a tradition.
Brian

 

[dave1949]

Christmas has two meanings. The one is merely a national holiday not significantly different than Thanksgiving, Memorial Day or the 4th of July. Schools, banks and Post Office closed kind of holiday. Period. It is fine to say Merry Christmas.

The second is indeed a Christian Holy Day, celebrating the birth of Christ.

Don't personally care for the generic Happy Holidays. Silly and unnecessary. To say "don't say Merry Christmas", a national holiday, is as silly as saying "don't say Happy 4th of July or Happy Thanksgiving".
Some celebrate the birth of our nation on 7/4, while others merely see it as a long weekend. Some "give thanks" on that Thursday in November, while others just feast and watch football. Some combine elements of all.

A little perspective. Christians have a right and the privilege of celebrating the birth of our Savior on Dec 25th and the U.S. has every right to declare that day a national holiday, for whatever reason, along with all the other national holidays.

Merry Christmas.

Good points. Keep in mind we don't have a Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Passover, Solstice, etc. national holiday. I don't think some Christians appreciate the extent to which traditions and practices in the US fly in the face of the 'establishment of religion' clause in the constitution. That's the push-back aspect I refer to.

I am happy to wish a Christian, and receive, a 'Merry Christmas' from anyone since I think it represents that person celebrating something important to them, so why not share in their joy? I honk my horn at 'Just Married' cars too in the same spirit. Others don't always see it that way.

In the conext of the original post, a business situation, why risk offending a customer when there are many nice things to be said other than 'Merry Christmas'? If I knew a Jewish, non-religious or Muslim person was across the counter in a store, I would sure try for a different greeting. Often, you just don't know.

It's a very personal topic and probably well outside the bounds of this forum. For that I apologize.
Dave.

 

[Sigarms]

In the conext of the original post, a business situation, why risk offending a customer when there are many nice things to be said other than 'Merry Christmas'?

My personal opinion (not business opinion) is that if a customer is actually going to be offended by myself saying "Merry Christmas", I'd probably not want to do business with him because we're not going to "click" anyway. I'm good at what I do, and sooner or later when and if there's a problem, I don't think if I offended that person by saying "Merry Christmas" they would hold it against me to the point where they wouldn't call for me to help them.

Keep in mind we don't have a Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Passover, Solstice, etc. national holiday

If someone wanted to wish me a happy Kwanzaa, I'd wish them a happy Kwanzaa right back. I wouldn't be offended in the least, but I may have no clue as to what I wished

I just happen to think that we've become to politically correct. IF I'm going to send out "holiday cards", the holiday is Christmas. Now, if I say "Merry Christmas", I figure you can take it's meaning anyway you like. Personally, Christmas isn't some day off work and when kids expect presents, but something else.

I find it funny when other businesses send out holiday cards (nothing denoting Christmas) with their company name imprinted on the card, and perhaps a signature. I figure if you're going to make sending a holiday card that impersonal, why even waste your time? Becomes more like junk mail than anything else.

 

[brin]

I totally agree sigarms....MERRY CHRISTMAS to all...but that is just me.

 

[2manyrocks]

The establishment clause is intended to prevent the establishment of an official state religion as they had experienced in England where for many years meant that the Church of England was the official state church, and people that believed otherwise were forbidden from preaching or assembly for worship outside of the Church of England. So we have not only a Constitution that forbids the establishment of an official state church, but a Constitution that assures the right of freedom of speech and the right of peaceful assembly.

 

[dmccarty]

I would send out the Happy Christmas card. We get some from our local businesses and it one one of the reasons for the holidays. The reason to send the card is to send happy wishes, good cheer, and all of that stuff. On the other hand there is the New Years Holiday, Hanaka and I am sure others in the season so Happy Holidays is not inaccurate and does cover a wide range of celebrations. Either would be fine with me. Its not like you are knocking on my door selling your beliefs.

I spend way too much money with a photography, well at this point they are a technology, store in NYC. My local guy's company went out of business years ago. The NYC company is owned by Jews, I assume Orthodox, since they close for business on Friday as well as other Jewish holidays. Should they not close for business on their holidays because it might offend some other person's religion or lack of religion?

I don't think so. It does not offend me in the least. I just have to work around their schedule a bit. Not a big deal.

I do wish my local guy was still in business though. He gave EXCELLENT service.

Later,
Dan

 

[kthompson]

I think Sigarms said it well. As to the business, I own a business and it is Merry Christmas. Let me wish a Merry Christmas to a person I am buying from to get a dull Happy Holidays back is the best way to loose my business. Have no problem with them as Sigarms said some other reply. It has lead to some good friendly short conversations if from the heart. If you really have a problem with Merry Christmas or Happy Hanuka then have a card printed for your business that says something along the line: in reviewing this past year we wish to express our thanks to you for your business.

Never forget the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year and may 2010 be a blessed year for this great country and each of you.

 

[Tig]

Do you think it's appropriate to write "Merry Christmas" on the holiday card for your business?

I would not be offended or threatened if someone wished me the joy/goodwill/friendship of their religious tradition. In that spirit I offer my heartfelt greeting as Merry Christmas. A sincere Happy Hanuka response would please me.

 

[dave1949]

My personal opinion (not business opinion) is that if a customer is actually going to be offended by myself saying "Merry Christmas", I'd probably not want to do business with him because we're not going to "click" anyway. I'm good at what I do, and sooner or later when and if there's a problem, I don't think if I offended that person by saying "Merry Christmas" they would hold it against me to the point where they wouldn't call for me to help them.
.

That's the nub of the issue in my mind. If a significant majority of people take the same approach, that is the same as establishing a religion. Suppose you couldn't bid on a contract successfully if it were known you aren't the 'right' sort of believer? - for example. The net effect is a loss of freedom of religion and individual rights. Something comparable would be an Orthodox Armenian living in Iran, or a Coptic Christian in Egypt.

If I were in a business situation, I would assume my customers and suppliers work hard for their money too and are also/could be good at what they do. Their religious feelings are just that, theirs - and not a business-related item IMO. If they invited me to their church, synagogue, mosque or summer solstice party, I wouldn't be offended, but I doubt it would influence my business choices.

I wouldn't be sure exactly what I am wishing with a 'Happy Kwanzaa' myself. It's a mysterious holiday for many older folks, I believe it began around 1960.
Dave.

 

[Sigarms]

That's the nub of the issue in my mind. If a significant majority of people take the same approach, that is the same as establishing a religion.

Not really in my opinion. If someone is sincerely offended by myself saying "Merry Christmas" during the "Christmas holidays", they probably have a bug so big up their butt that I wouldn't be able to remove it even with a stick of dynomite, and sooner or later, be it Christmas time or whenever during the year we're going to "clash". Lifes to short to deal with those kind of people

Now, it would be kind of idiotic for me to give them the normal "Christmas greeting" that I'm use to in a Russian Orthodox chuch, so I don't.

Try being a relocated yankee use to dealing with New Jersey and New York contractors working in the baptist south Heck, one customer of mine thought I was probably the devil himself when I made a comment to him and I didn't realize he was a part time baptist minister I now watch my words very carefully around him and we're actually good friends now AND he's a good customer.

I've always said actions speak louder than words, and that even holds true when you say "Merry Christmas".

 

[ultrarunner]

For more than 25 years my property management business distributes holiday tins of Delacre Chocolate Cookies to all the families that rent from us and a few of the rental neighbors and vendors...

The only year I didn't was the year my father past away 2 weeks before Christmas and I got a lot of calls asking if I forgot about them... some former tenants have asked if they will still be on my list after they move...

My renters celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Hindi, Native American and traditional Christmas...

Being in the SF Bay Area, not even half celebrate Christmas proper so I just say go with Holiday... and no one has every refused.

At the Hospital where I work, we can only decorate the portion of the lobby not rented to others... the first year in the new building back in 1995 the CEO received a formal letter that all Christmas decorations be removed from a portion of the lobby a particular Doctor is renting... I can only imagine 15 years later that more of the Doctor's offices do not celebrate Christmas...

Fifty years ago... who would have thought the question of celebrating Christmas could be so controversial...

 

[dave1949]

Try being a relocated yankee use to dealing with New Jersey and New York contractors working in the baptist south Heck, one customer of mine thought I was probably the devil himself when I made a comment to him and I didn't realize he was a part time baptist minister I now watch my words very carefully around him and we're actually good friends now AND he's a good customer.

I've always said actions speak louder than words, and that even holds true when you say "Merry Christmas".

Well, you are more sensitive than you pretend to be The builder I hired for my house is a very devout man. I had to self-edit some of my swears for his benefit. He is honest and that's the main thing. Like all building contractors, his ego is a bit fragile. He never would admit cement board is NOT a vapor barrier even after I read the label to him.
Dave.

 

[Sigarms]

Well, you are more sensitive than you pretend to be

I'll be the first that I'm rough around the edges, but I honestly beleive in doing unto others as you would have done unto yourself

 

[dave1949]

I'll be the first that I'm rough around the edges, but I honestly beleive in doing unto others as you would have done unto yourself

Yes, 'Do Unto Others ...' covers most of what we need to know to live in a very nice world. We just have to work on the concept a bit.
Dave.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Saying Merry Christmas tell me lot about the person that sends me that card.

It tells me that they have a strong faith in their religion and do not care about being politically correct and I respect that. I mean I don't care what religion you are or what you believe just put it out there and be proud of it.

What bothers me more than anything is a company that makes 75% of their sales during the CHRISTMAS season and refuse to say Merry Christmas or acknowledge in any way Christmas.

Bit by bit Christmas has been pushed to the back of the closet and it's time to take Christmas back.

If someone wishes me happy Chanukah, Kwanza, or Fetivas ( how many of you will get that one?), I don't get in a hissy fit like most do because of the word Christmas.

 

[archerm3]

Well, this can cause a lot of discussion.

For a business card, I wouldn't do that. Some of your customers will be offended perhaps or think you presumptious or whatever. I would stick with a more religion-neutral message. It doesn't have to be as uninspired as 'Happy Holidays'.

I don't blame people for pushing back on the Merry Christmas thing. I'm sure many disagree, but I am used to being in the minority on this anyways. So, from my minority viewpoint - I don't appreciate how many Christians (and other religions) want to make their version of their religion all pervasive and see nothing wrong with making our country into a religious theocracy. Everything is politicized these days. I will never comprehend how some people can claim to being persecuted while pushing to have their own view point embedded in every aspect of life on every street corner. One or more of your customers is bound to agree with me. It's just push-back is all.

That said, I personally wouldn't hold it against you if you or your business sent me such a card.
Dave.

I so agree with this post!

 

[archerm3]

For more than 25 years my property management business distributes holiday tins of Delacre Chocolate Cookies to all the families that rent from us and a few of the rental neighbors and vendors...

The only year I didn't was the year my father past away 2 weeks before Christmas and I got a lot of calls asking if I forgot about them... some former tenants have asked if they will still be on my list after they move...

My renters celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Hindi, Native American and traditional Christmas...

Being in the SF Bay Area, not even half celebrate Christmas proper so I just say go with Holiday... and no one has every refused.

At the Hospital where I work, we can only decorate the portion of the lobby not rented to others... the first year in the new building back in 1995 the CEO received a formal letter that all Christmas decorations be removed from a portion of the lobby a particular Doctor is renting... I can only imagine 15 years later that more of the Doctor's offices do not celebrate Christmas...

Fifty years ago... who would have thought the question of celebrating Christmas could be so controversial...

50 years ago it was no big deal to have "two" different sitting areas on a bus or in a restaurant either. Im just saying because sometimes we fantasize about times long gone, but we forget that it wasn't all a happy ending fairy tale in the past.

I do think Christmas is Christmas and that's the holiday.