Does your hospital allow you to say "Merry Christmas"??

Published

Any american nurses working in a hospital in the USA that tells staff they can no longer say "Merry Christmas"? Are there hospitals here in our country that are forcing their staff to only say "happy holidays" and not allowing them to say "Merry Christmas"?

I'm just curious if this is becoming an issue in the nursing profession? I recently spoke to some public school teachers here in Florida who told me they can say happy holidays but they can't say Merry Christmas. I have read that many department stores and other retail businesses are no longer using the word Christmas, but replacing it with Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings.

I haven't heard of this being a trend in any hospitals in my area, but very curious if this is taking place in hospitals in other states?

But neither of these are hard or easy. The comments just are.

Merry Christmas. :santa: Happy Holidays. :house:

Two words. Easy to say. No big deal.

steph

Easy to NOT say as well. ;)

Stanley, I've never said that I would wish you a Merry Christmas, knowing you are an atheist.

And I've not been disrespectful or rude on this thread today.

steph:candy:

I agree...

HEY WAIT!!! Why are you shaking the Jesus candy at me!?!?!?!?

ROFL!!!!! J/K :D

ETA: Sometimes I just forget or am not paying attention and repeat Merry Christmas to people. LOL I can't be on gaurd 24/7/365. LOL.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Back to my previous post, whether or not "Merry Christmas" is offensive or not depends solely on the subtext attached to its use.

For me, Christmas has as little to do with Christianity as Thursday has to do with Norse Mythology.

I readily admit that 90% of my problems in life have been caused by my mouth (hands as well).

Hehehe. I can't think and self regulate at the same time. To do one means less of the other. I haven't found a happy medium yet. The only thing that keeps me out of trouble is 'shutting up.'

:chuckle

I will readily admit that in real life off this bb . . . 99% of my problems are that I hate confrontation and keep my mouth shut when I should speak up.

steph

I agree...

HEY WAIT!!! Why are you shaking the Jesus candy at me!?!?!?!?

ROFL!!!!! J/K :D

ETA: Sometimes I just forget or am not paying attention and repeat Merry Christmas to people. LOL I can't be on gaurd 24/7/365. LOL.

JESUS CANDY!!!! :yeah::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Oh Stanley - you made my day. :yeah:

Gotta go put the blankety blank lights on the blank tree.

And pour another touch of Baileys Irish Cream. (No offense to you Irish people).:clown:

steph

Back to my previous post, whether or not "Merry Christmas" is offensive or not depends solely on the subtext attached to its use.

For me, Christmas has as little to do with Christianity as Thursday has to do with Norse Mythology.

I agree! *wine

Edited to add . . . . . think I'll send a drink to Stan's Facebook page . . .. .

steph

Specializes in Wound care; CMSRN.

Here's the thing.

Starting in the month of November, one is bombarded with ads and signs and other outward expressions of "buy me now's". You can't get away from it if you tried.

If one is active in a religious congregation, plans for celebrating one's holiday would be underway, whether that be a Christmas play, celebrating Kwanza with a meal, Winter Solstice, or each night of Hannukah.

In schools and in hospitals, there are opportunities to participate in (or not) different celebrations. One can choose to participate in or not. The commercializing of Christmas has become so overwhelming that, in fact, it seems to have become a very commercial holiday as opposed to a religious observation, although some choose to attend a ceremony as part of their observations.

What I enjoy most is "have a wonderful holiday" as opposed to one generalized theme. To see kids enjoying whatever it is that a family celebrates is really awesome. It is a time for family to get together, whether that be one's own family or to join another one, or good friends, good laughs, good food.

It is awesome to see an elderly person's face when kids come to share whatever they would like to with songs, projects.....it is just a nice time and a good excuse to see people in a place of celebration.

It is a time of all inclusion--and it doesn't matter what one celebrates, it is a matter of a time of peace, joy, and children.

And alternate but important part of this season, however, is to remember those who are less fortunate, those who get blue around this time of year, those who are needy, those who are poor. It would be nice if hospitals choose to celebrate whatever it is that one does celebrate with giving to those who don't have or can't get. In the spirit of the season that is just that--a season, as opposed to a specific thing that mandates a specific phrase.

I want to respect each and every patient so I don't assume they celebrate Christmas. My partner chides me when I say, 'Happy Hanukkah' in response to those who wish me "Merry Christmas". He says I'm making the person who wished me 'merry Christmas' feel bad. I'm saying I'm hoping they realize that we live in a society that isn't all Christian or is all Christmas celebrating.

HEY WAIT!!! Why are you shaking the Jesus candy at me!?!?!?!?

HAHAHAHAHA!! Indeed. Don't shake Jesus candy at me and call 'em Skittles.......

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Nothing like re-animating a 6 year old thread. Talk about ghosts of holidays past!

I've never worked for an employer that had any opinion about what I said to people at the holidays (not that they communicated to the employees, anyway). I choose to say "happy holidays" over "merry Xmas" because I realize that I work with and serve people who celebrate all kinds of holidays at this time of year, not just Xmas.

+ Join the Discussion