I was out last night at the Zone having an absolute wonderful time dancing with my friend Paul. The turnout of the people dancing ws good as well, and it was just a grand old time. I saw my friend Dave, whom I know is an atheist. I made a point of wishing him a "happy secular holiday." I also saw my friend Jeff, who made a point of wishing me a happy Solstice. Knowing that Jeff was very Catholic, I responded with "Merry Christmas." My usual trend seems to be that if somebody greets me with my specific holiday, I greet them with their specific holiday, if I know it. If I don't know what else to do, , I usually just say "happy holidays."
I don't get offended at all if someone does a Merry Christmas, or if I get a card for the holidays that has an explicitly Christian theme to it. I just feel kind of weird doing something that sounds like I'm a member of a religion that I have never identified as belonging to, so I try to do the generic thing.
Oh well, Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, Festive Hanukkah and any other holidays I might have left out!
happy festivus michael! have a good one!