Why do retailers fear using the word 'Christmas'?

It seems to me the question is why the Times sees conspiracy everywhere it looks. Given that you oppose all sorts of regulation or intervention in the economy, you might back off the retailers here. Clearly they are making their decisions based on their expert judgment of what is best for their bottom line. For all you or I know this judgment is backed up by extensive research. Heck, maybe all the Christian nonsense about commerce “corrupting” Christmas has just made people chafe at the combination of the words Christmas and sale. Unlike the Times, I don’t pretend to know, or to presume to tell business people their business.

Christian nonsense?? Christmas is about CHRIST!! That's why it exists. Retailers don't want to say Christmas only b/c they are scared it will "offend" someone and they won't get a sale. Well, get over it...MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

So many errors in this article, where to begin? First, "gift" and "holiday" can both be used as verbs. A reporter and editor should know better, or shouldn't be working in journalism. Second, the author of this article conveniently ignores the fact that Christians commandeered the winter holidays of other cultures and religions to push Christianity, and seemed to have no problem doing away with naming conventions to substitute their own. Heck, Christ wasn't even born in December, he was born in June. It's a relief to see recent trends toward inclusiveness of all people, rather than the dictates of a single religion with a long history of stamping out all others. Third, the "Christmas Tree" was originally pagan, so quit whining about people calling it a "Holiday Tree".

"But what Amazon and all these brick-and-mortar merchants don't seem to understand is, in shunning the word "Christmas," supposedly in order not to risk "offending" the at-most 10 percent of the population who are not Christians or don't celebrate the holiday, they give the back of their hand to the 90 percent or more who are and do." This is the bit that really got me here - so what if it's 10%? First of all, I've seen no throngs of people pelting stores with rotten vegetables, demanding their advertising literally include the words "Hanukkah" or "Kwanzaa" or "Yule". "Holidays" is a generic term, and what's more, the vague commercial terms they're using make plenty of sense, because their focus is on the commercial aspect of the holidays - they're not churches asking you to come participate in specific religious services, they're asking you to come and shop in their stores. Other peoples' beliefs shouldn't necessarily be their concern. Second, I LOVE how I constantly see this in nearly everything contested by Christians in this country - if something isn't all about you, if something doesn't specifically honor or give consideration to you, it's a thumb of the nose to you. Guess what? You're NOT the only religion that exists. And I don't care if the "majority" of America are Christians; you don't own this country, you don't own the businesses you're complaining about, and there are other people to consider besides just yourselves. Shocking, I know, but there are other winter holidays, and even some people who merely celebrate family togetherness without a religious agenda (like agnostics and atheists). If you want to be reminded of the reason for YOUR season, go to church. Knock yourself out. But taking active offense at those who prefer not to zero in on one specific group is absolutely ridiculous and smacks of the behavior of a selfish child. Let me say it again: everything that happens in this country doesn't necessarily have to do with Christians, nor is it always totally about Christians. This isn't a "Christian nation". In short: let's all share, children.

I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS,and a HAPPY NEW YEAR. From an atheist to all my Christian Friends. To all the Christian haters out there. That didn't really hurt you too much now did it.

Unbelievable! You give Christians, journalism, and Christmas a bad name, congratulations! How observant you are for... ...excuse me I meant how ignorant and unprofessional. Are you actually a grown man? Come down here to Texas and see how we treat whining men, Christian or not. You and the Washington Times should be ashamed for such trite foolishness. Try going out and spread some cheer rather than complaining about such pure balderdash. Nice way to spend your time during the HOLIDAY!

I’ve seen vast improvement over the past 2-3 years, esp. by retailers such as Target and Lowe’s, at referring to this Federally-recognized holiday. Some stores, like Best Buy and Sears have a way to go in saying the ‘C’ word. A few years ago, upset by the inability of most retailers in referring to this Federally-recognized holiday, I wrote to several retailers to complain, showing copies of receipts of my gift-buying expeditions to stores that still mentioned the ‘C’ thing. My best response during this time was from Wal-mart, who had a ‘Home for the Holiday’ theme that year. When I wrote them, a W-M representative told me that people go home for several holidays over the season, including Kwanzaa, Hannukah, and New Years, and they wanted to include everyone in their welcome. Fine, I thought. (Why they couldn’t slap an ‘S’ to the end of their slogan to explain this all-inclusive shopping season was somewhat beyond me, though). Well, there I was, in Wal-Mart the day AFTER Christmas, when Hannukah was still going on, and Kwanzaa and New Year’s had yet to occur. Guess what? Every single decoration and reference to the ‘holiday’ slogan were taken down, and ‘after ‘holiday’ sales were going on. So Wal-Mart did not just lie to me, someone who celebrates Christmas, but slapped the face of those who celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or (just) New Years, and thought Wal-Mart really cared about their inclusion into the season. A nice take on the generic ‘HOLIDAY’ greeting can be found on a t-shirt I found at cafepress.com/riroonxmas. (And please, editors, this isn’t self-serving Spam here. Just a nice shirt I found that kinda twists the generic ‘holiday’ reference into something a bit more palatable for Christians at this time of year). To all, a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Talk about biting the hand that fed YOU!

Merry Festival of Light to All!

Instead of being closed minded Christians thinking only their holidays matter, maybe you should look at the whole picture. There are more holidays in December than Christmas. Business are smart by not limiting their business to Christians only. Everyone should be saying Happy Holidays because there are more holidays than Christmas and it offends people to assume what religion they are. You closed minded Christians need to think how would it feel if everyone was saying Happy Hanukkah….you wouldn’t like it that’s the reason for the Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, I hope I am not offending anyone. We Christians invite everyone to celebrated with us the joyous birth our Saviour; who gives forgiveness of sins to all who welcomes Him, graciously.

Christmas was around long before Circuit city, Best Buy, K-Mart, Macy's, J.C. Penney and all the retailers mentioned. Thank God (yes, the "G" word) for Kohl's and Rite-Aid for having a dribble of common sense this Christmas (yes, I dared to out that word, too). Merry Christmas to all and God Bless you.

Don't be a lousy sport. December IS about CHRISTMAS, just as SEPT is about Yom Kippur and Ramadam. I'm tired of people (including Christians) harping about "Church and State". This country remains heavily Christian. We SHOULD honor the point of the Christmas holiday with more than just a trite reference to "the holidays". I think it's great that the author has taken a stand on this. You don't have to be a right winger or a religious fanatic to appreciate hearing more "Christmas" references at this time of year. And most of all from the very retailers incessantly crying for our hard earned cash. Kudos to Parisi. Now the rest of you...go decorate your Holiday Tree.

Christmas is about Christ. Walmart is about selling. I don't expect my Jewish neighbor to say "Merry Christmas" to my Hindu neighbor. Walmart all other retailers are NOT Christian, or atheist, or Hindu, or anything - they're companies. Expecting them to greet me with "Merry Christmas" when they don't know my religion makes no sense.

To Frazer: You actually sound close minded by calling us close minded Christians. When you state that everyone should say Happy Holidays that sounds dictatorial. I don't know why so many so called open minded people seem to be open to every other ideology other than Christianity. These open minded people want to defend every philosophy and preach tolerance for everyone but have no problem insulting Christians. I am African American and I celebrate Kwanzaa after Christmas. There is no problem in the African American community when you say Merry Christmas because that is what this time is about. On Christmas say Merry Christmas, On Kwanzaa say Happy Kwanzaa etc. This is not that difficult. Please don't make these dour times more difficult by arguing down a day which is celebrated to inspire joy. We should not politicize everything. In deference to one another, let us not be so self involved. We can just live and enjoy this time. It's not that I am so concerned about my Christian heritage or holiday. I am just puzzled by all the anger that name of Christ arises. Jesus came for everybody whether they believe in him or not. If you don't believe, the world will keep on moving. This venom or fear about Christ is baffling to me. I don't know why we can't celebrate the man's birthday. You can't erase him from history! It is impossible. Let the man have his birthday! Good Grief. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Merry Winter Solstice! We can actually celebrate(say) them all.