Generally speaking, I prefer Merry Christmas as a sentiment for the holiday cards I send, but I always like to have some secular cards on hand for the people on my list who I know are not Christian, and for years I made a Hanukkah card for my one Jewish friend. I was so sad the first holiday after she died, and I made some Hanukkah cards for the troops in her memory.
And isn't it sad that I have no other Jewish friends? I need to work on that.
The troops include all faiths and those of no faith at all, and so I'll make plenty of non-religious holiday cards to send to OWH. I'm not one to force my faith on others, but I expect to be able to express my faith freely and without prejudice. I allow others that same right, and don't blink or judge when I receive season's greetings. Heck, I'm just grateful somebody thought enough to send me anything at all!
What are your feelings about secular versus religious sentiments and themes on holiday cards?
Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Signature Christmas, Snowflake Serenade
ink: SU real red
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: dimensionals, red rhinestones
I think I feel the same as you... I prefer a Merry Christmas or Peace on Earth... but if I know the beliefs of the person I am sending a card to, I tailor it to them.... and I graciously accept whatever sentiment others send me!
ReplyDeletePlease, just go ahead and say Merry Christmas. When I get cards in December that have snowflakes, trees or fat, jolly men with beards, I know I've received a Christmas card AND IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I appreciate your thinking of me.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes - you do have at least one Jewish friend, Susan, even if it is only in cyberspace.
Sarah (kegbo)
And another gorgeous card. Hugs, Ankie
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous. I will be your Jewish friend!
ReplyDeleteI like my Christmas cards to say "Merry Christmas" but I have so many other sentiments, that I do use them, also.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Christmas sentiments as you do. I prefer to use Merry Christmas or Peace on Earth ( or some variation of that ); but I will make a few non-religous holiday cards for friends that I know do not believe as I do.
ReplyDeleteI do not judge those who prefer "Seasons Greetings" and offer me those sentiments and I ask for the same grace when I offer "Merry Christmas".
These days it seems every other belief system is "tolerated" ( and don't get me started on the whole "tolerance/intolerance" topic ) except for fundamental Christianity. I just want the freedom of speech and freedom of religion that everyone else is so quick to demand and grab for themselves while simultaneously trying to take mine away. Getting down off my soapbox now.....:-)
I love to use Peace on Earth, since we so badly need it. People can send me any kind, and I appreciate their thinking of me. Thank you for acknowledging that a variety is needed for the troops -- and for Christmas card list recipients.
ReplyDeleteOver here in the U.K. we, as is usual, eventually follow American tradition and a lot of cards now will use Merry Christmas....for me that wording is not acceptable, even as a 'christian greeting' - you ask why - for me the word Merry is wrong - merry goes along with overindulging in alcohol etc etc...I know in your case you don't see it like that at all but I cannot be comfortable with it - you will forgive me I know and I will let you use whatever greeting you wish to. I usually make all my cards but this year I am going to take the stress and high postage out of Christmas and wish my 'see every week' folks a personal greeting and only send to the folks I don't see often. Our postage rates have just gone over the roof especially for anything with bulk so I'm changing this year. Sorry for ranting on folks....I'm an old fuddy duddy!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Susan~I love the way the snowflakes are falling/disappearing.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I want to say I love this card - even more than yesterday's one layer one (I've come to the conclusion that I'm definitely a one or even two layer card maker!!).
ReplyDeleteAs for the sentiment debate, Joyce Across the Pond brought up an interesting point. I lived in England as a child and still have many relatives there, and the traditional English greeting was "Happy Christmas" - I expect that would be just as acceptable to you as Merry Christmas.
I make cards for my parents, sisters, and a couple of friends to send out and I'll tailor to the person. My father and one of my sisters insist that the cards I make for them have traditional Christmas images such as Christmas trees, holly, etc. and say "Merry (or Happy) Christmas - in their case, it's a political issue as they're not particularly religious. They're very much against Canada being called a multicultural country and somehow insisting on Merry Christmas is part of this. My mother loves birds so I make her lots of cards with cardinals, chickadees, and robins on them. One of my other sisters is a real minimalist and she loves cards with a very simple image (whatever I care to use) and greeting such as "Joy" or "Peace" (in fact she'd love all of your cards as they are so minimalist). My best friend only wants cards with peace doves and "Peace on Earth" on them as she thinks that is the most important message. And as for me, I love using all my different Christmas and winter images and sentiment stamps so I make a huge variety of cards. I'm not religious but believe in Christmas as an important spiritual and traditional time when we pause to think about our world and what is important to us - family, friends, peace, joy, etc. and how to live as better human beings. So I'm happy to receive cards that reflect whatever the sender believes in, and likewise I'll try to tailor the cards I send to what the receiver believes in.
Sorry for such a long response but you really got me thinking about this issue!
Lovely card.
ReplyDeleteAs for sentiments on Christmas cards, my first choice is "Merry Christmas" but I don't have a problem using other sentiments depending on the card. Even though I am a Christian and believe that Christ's birth is the "reason for the season" as it is so often said, I don't have a problem receiving or even sending non-religious cards.
And an additional comment to Mary, a previous commenter if she reads other comments... I'm with you and have the same feelings you expressed in your comment!
I am not religious but do not mind receiving religious cards. As you said, I'm happy to have been thought of at all. Plus, I know the sender is speaking from their heart and that is what's really important.
ReplyDeleteHonestly? I don't quite get this notion that aethiests and agnostics don't use Merry Christmas. Most do. They don't use it/mean it in the same way I do as a Christian, but they do use it. So I will use the phrase on their cards.
ReplyDeleteThat said, at least one SU set I own has a Happy Holidays and a Seasons greetings stamps. It makes sense to use them on non-religous cards. They are nice fonts, after all ;)
A lovely card, Susan.
ReplyDeleteI have no preference for the sentiment on cards that I receive - I am grateful to receive cards as so many of my family and friends are now not sending any form of Christmas greeting.
I like Merry Christmas - "merry" means fun or jolly - and I think that is an appropriate greeting for a season that is celebratory.
You always raise interesting questions and it's equally interesting to read the responses.
ReplyDeleteBefore we started doing the family photo card, I made a variety of cards. Some whimsical, some elegant, some downright religious. I have many non "Merry Christmas" sentiments that are beautiful. I don't mean Hanukkah sentiments, I mean "Joy" or "Peace" or "Happy Holidays" and the like.
I did use those to send to Jewish friends, even though I knew they wouldn't mind receiving MC. I thought of what they would like to receive, more than what I wanted to display. Otherwise, whether my friends and family were religious or not, they received cards with a variety of sentiments.
As for my choice of photo card sentiment, because we have a diverse group of recipients, I choose a I'm-okay-you're-okay-everybody-have-a-happy-holiday-whatever-you-believe type of sentiment.
Love,
Polly Anna
I can be your Jewish cyber friend Susan! :o)
ReplyDeleteI personally prefer Merry Christmas however I have run into problems with it. My husband is English and as Joyce pointed out, Merry Christmas is not the same in England. My teenaged nieces and nephews all howled with laughter our first Christmas together when I was wishing everyone "Merry Christmas." No one in the family told me until my second Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI most often use either "Happy Holidays" or "Winter Greetings" on my cards. I have a variety of similar geetings. On my Christian cards, I often use one of my "O Holy Night" sentiments. :)
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ReplyDeleteWhen I started reading the comments, I wondered if anyone would bring up the Happy Christmas idea, which Joyce Across the Pond did, followed by others. I lived in Ireland for a short time while traveling after college, and was lucky enough to spend Christmas there with newly made friends. They set me straight on the Happy Christmas/Merry New Year greetings that are more acceptable there. I'm not religious, but I realize many are. I don't care if the card has Santa (who I view as bringing peace on earth in that big bag) or a nativity scene on it, whether the sentiment is religious or not. The sender is expressing their wishes, not mine. I'm just glad that people still send cards. Though postage is high, I think of sending a card as a little gift. Pretty cheap gift, I think, and a thoughtful one, too. I should also add that the card is definitely one I would send and/or love to receive. It's gorgeous. Red makes me giddy with delight.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard the merry vs happy Christmas distinction, learn something new every day! I love to hear Merry Christmas, but I am happy when someone sends me any kind of card!
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