WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT EITHER ONE REALLY MEANS. GOD HELP YOU.

I am not alone.What are they besides Thanksgiving and Christmas. After all those are the reasons of this time of celebration. The words were used and specifically mentioned. Including Happy New Year and Happy Hanukkah. I should send you an article from an old Jewish woman who wrote about Christmas and what led up to her fears from the past because of so called political correctness.

I have no problem celebrating feasts for various cultures...after all, Malden is definitely now a melting pot of various peoples...what I do object to, and what I think others are so upset about, is that in this rush to celebrate diversity, sometimes time honored traditions of the USA like Christmas are almost shunned. There has been this movement over the years to stop using the word Christmas and remove many of its traditional symbols. Why can we be so inclusive of peoples who come here to live, and bend over backwards to even translate things in their native language, but have no tolerance for those who prefer traditional American values, language, and traditions?

We hear christmas music, but people shun calling it that. We see christmas lights, but they are no longer called that. We see christmas trees, that are now called giving trees or some other such corrected name. There is a slow erosion of the sentiment taking place in our culture. Some schools across the country ban the wearing of any clothes with colors that indicate christmas, such as red and green combos.
People feel christmas is slipping away. That comfortable shell from an older generation is slipping away and people "feel" it. I'm old enough to feel it, like Raj. My children will grow up without the terminology and feeling of christmas being ubiquitous.
I'll hold on to the old ways of the last generation for as long as I can and hope some reasonable shell of christmas lasts long enough for me to enjoy with the grandchildren someday.

Also, many work places socially pressure workers against saying "Merry Christmas". Many retailers order their sales people to not say Merry Christmas. I sometimes tease them by loudly declaring Merry Christmas, when I buy something. Makes them squirm, cause they can't say it back or they are so shocked, they're tongue tied trying to remember how to say it back to me.
When telling people Merry Christmas makes them squirm, we've turned a corner.
The stories are legion.

Can you not see why it's a little offensive to assume everyone is celebrating Christmas, though? If I was Jewish (I am not) that would annoy the hell out of me.

I'm confused now. I thought Christmas was a nationally recognized Federal holiday enacted by Congress. Someone please correct me, if I'm wrong.
No one is assuming all Americans are christians. I don't even know where that red herring came from. No one ever said it or argued it. We're discussing the culture here in America. No one assumes everyone celebrates it either.
Not everyone celebrates Hanukkah in Israel either. But, if I moved my family to Israel for whatever reason, I would teach my children to respect the local culture and greet people with hearty Happy Hanukkah, even though we are not Jewish.
Not getting that same consideration here in America is what is turning some people off.
When I lived overseas in other countries at various times, the locals appreciated when foreigners appreciated the local customs.
Once again, not appreciating local Christmas customs in America and deciding to be offended instead, can only lead to resentment.
We may be the only major country, besides Britain that sublimates the local cultures to not offend.

Federal Holidays from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management:

http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2011.asp

As a Jewish person and a born and bred American patriot, I can tell you that I do not consider Christmas my holiday. Your Israel example: Israel is a religious state. America is NOT a religious state. No comparison. Though Christmas is a federal holiday, that seems like a logistical nicety to a majority of people to take the day off during this time that the majority religion in our country is celebrating. I can't tell you what I would give to have my holidays recognized by the federal government and not have to miss school or take a personal day to celebrate them. The problem here is that you are calling Christmas "shunned," I don't know who doesn't call Christmas music "Christmas music," but I certainly hear it non-stop immediately after Halloween. This makes me want to stay at home until the holiday is over. Although some people are polite to me and don't assume that I celebrate their holiday just because it is THEIR holiday and THEY are in the majority, I can tell you from personal experience that it makes me feel distinctly unwelcome in my own country when people call this Christian holiday an American holiday, and use that as a reason that everyone should be wished a Merry Christmas. When you use the example that foreigners learn to appreciate local customs, you further drive home the point: I am not a foreigner, this is my country, I don't need to adapt to someone else's customs.

Can't help you, if you feel that way. The business retailers have to start pushing products to stay in business and use whatever statistical modeling to make the most money by promoting Christmas early. Maybe start a movement to change the law. Until that happens though, Christmas is an American law. And I for one am happy to celebrate the cultures of others, even in America. My family celebrates Diwali and Kwanzaa, along with Christmas. Hit my house on the wrong day of the week and you'll hear me blasting Hindi music all day. We don't consider any one culture less than the other or feel put out by any of them, unless we are made to feel alienated somehow and this seems to be what is being described by those feeling uncomfortable with Christmas. I was part of a Jewish wedding ceremony once. Had no idea what was happening. I think I was one of the groomsmen or something, but it was a good time and I enjoy celebrating multiple cultures in America.
We'll never agree on this, so I hope you find peace. No more Israel examples. I'll use others to make the same points. My Indian relatives won't mind. They put up with me. I'll keep saying Merry Christmas, but only after Thanksgiving has passed and watch the holiday melt away, slowly into something else.

Oy Vey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my seventy some odd years it's been Christmas and always will be Christmas, If you don't want to celebrate it that's fine but don't try to make it just another day, the majority of people in this country are Christian and celebrate Christmas and I have lots of Jewish friends who like to put up theit trees and dcorate them, they get into the spirit while not actually celebrating the actual birth of Christ, maybe more should do the same.

Remembrance Tree observation: Just saw a flyer from Malden Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming Remembrance Tree ceremony in Malden Square Plaza, City Hall. There will be caroling and refreshments. Looks all Christmasy except that our government won't say christmas anywhere.
Won't be surprised if non-christmasy songs chosen for the "carols". There'll likely be various Remembrance carols from the tone to the flyer.
Just the way things are now.

Worrying about offending people has gone over the top. Merry Christmas.

Joe, the songs for the Remembrance Tree ceremony ARE Christmas carols. Why don't you attend, you might find it to be very emotional when they read all the names to be remembered for the Holidays.This is the 12th year they have done it, I find it surprising that this is the first time you have a problem with it. I think "Happy Holidays" is appropriate for everyone, it includes all religions.

Don't know why anyone thinks I have any problem with this. I'm just reporting what "wasn't" written in the Chamber of Commerce flyer about the official Remembrance ceremony at City Hall in front of the official Remembrance Tree.
And it is an accurate statement that the official flyer does NOT state that the carols are Christmas carols. That leaves the uninformed masses like myself to cheekily speculate humorously.
If the flyers about town actually said "Christmas" carols would be sung, there would be a whole lot less for me to tease people about.
Just trying to report the facts and get people to think.
Like I said earlier, "Just the way things are now."

Right on Mr Gray... and you had better take Old Glory down from the the front of your house.....thats coming next!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The Christmas meltdown in Rhode Island has gone into the International news now.
We politely ignore Christmas here in Malden. The Governor of Rhode island is "defiant" in not uttering the word Christmas nor allowing Christmas in the statehouse.
A legislative resolution passed this week demanding he acknowledge Christmas goes ignored. Christmas like trappings all over the statehouse but it is not Christmas, according to the governor. A flash mob is scheduled next week to sing Christmas carols at the Rhode Island statehouse.
I chuckled at the Malden Holiday parade that just happened, when someone in the parade, dressed as one of santa's helpers, accidentally almost said the word Christmas to the crowd. The poor man choked halfway through the word Christmas and was extremely embarrassed. He awkwardly corrected himself and yelled Happy Holiday's to the crowd. I just shook my head. You can't make this up.

Joe, quite frankly, if the man "chocked" saying Merry Christmas that was his problem. I was in that parade and NO ONE told us not to say Merry Christmas. If you were there you must have noticed that only christmas songs were heard. Back at my end of the parade we said Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, I didn't notice anyone chocking on that. I'm glad you had your chuckle for the day though. I wish you a very a Merry Christmas!

No one commented on orders being given to anyone to not say anything specific during the parade. A single incident by a single person was witnessed and funny to watch.
I watched the entire parade from beginning, with Gary leading, till the end withe the draft horses pulling the sleigh and some groups played things other than Christmas music.
Thank you Toni. I wish you the same too. Feliz Navidad. :-)

I am wondering from the beautiful pictures of the parade if it is true the turnout along the sidelines was sparse and only "hundreds" showed up? It seems like so much work and effort by those in the parade and a shame more people did not show up. I know of a family who were surprised to learn of the parade only after it was moving by where they live. How can we as a community work to make sure those who do the hard work of marching in the parade get more of an audience to enjoy their efforts? Please do not take this as a "knock" to the parade, it is an observation meant to make this a better turnout for next year before you go attacking me.

Joe, Malden does not ignore Christmas, the people that organized the parade are very dedicated and did a great job. For you to say that Christmas is being ignored is a slap in the face to all the people who were involved in making it a great day. Buon Natale,Sheng Dan Kuai Le,Bada Din Mubarak Ho, Eid Milad Majeed,Feliz Natal and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Annie, I completely agree with you, I think the different events that are being held in the city need more promotion. Although it was advertised in the papers and on MATV. I think if all the community groups sent out a reminder via e-mail, facebook or twitter to all their members that might help, just a suggestion.

Ummm..... Happy Holidays?