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Work Christmas Cards - Muslim Colleague |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 73
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Work Christmas Cards - Muslim Colleague
Hi DS
![]() I am bringing in christmas cards for my work colleagues tomorrow, but I have a Muslim colleague (who I'm friends with) but I know she doesnt celebrate christmas. If I give her a card (they all have a centre message of "merry christmas" is that offensive?) Because I don't want to NOT give her a christmas card and have her feel left out Thanks |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,225
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I would give her a card. I don't suppose she wants to betreated different to everyone else.
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,763
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The Muslim chap who I used to work with always made it very clear that he didn't want to be sent Christmas Cards by anyone. He wasn't in any way nasty about it, he just told us that he didn't celebrate Christmas and therefore he didn't wish to receive cards.
Needless to say, we all complied with his wishes. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 210
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Oh dear, you're in for trouble
If you give a card, what makes you think she celebrates Christmas and she'll be offended. If you don't give a card what makes you think she doesn't celebrate Christmas and she'll be offended. And to be on the safe side, someone is bound to take offense on her behalf anyway. Just resign now
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern East Anglia
Posts: 75,202
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Quote:
Hi DS
![]() I am bringing in christmas cards for my work colleagues tomorrow, but I have a Muslim colleague (who I'm friends with) but I know she doesnt celebrate christmas. If I give her a card (they all have a centre message of "merry christmas" is that offensive?) Because I don't want to NOT give her a christmas card and have her feel left out Thanks In fact my Hindu colleague who sits close to me often says "Christ Almighty" when something annoys him ![]() For sensitivity, try and send one with "Seasons Greetings", rather than "Happy Christmas" on it. Although I appreciate you've obviously already written most of them, and it might look a bit strange if she was the only one who got a different card from you. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
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I would just ask her OP; everyone is different.
On a more general level, I have found that Muslim colleagues tend to be pretty cool about Christmas stuff being around. Orthodox Jews not so much and Jehovah's Witnesses have no tolerance for anything Christmassy anywhere near them at all. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 210
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Quote:
It's not a problem. I've both given and received Christmas cards from Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Sikh colleagues at work.
In fact my Hindu colleague who sits close to me often says "Christ Almighty" when something annoys him ![]() Whoah, are you stereotyping ? Not everyone is the same as the people you've met , that's a rather outdated and dangerous view tsk tsk.
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern East Anglia
Posts: 75,202
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Quote:
Whoah, are you stereotyping ?
Not everyone is the same as the people you've met , that's a rather outdated and dangerous view tsk tsk. ![]() Really, it's a bit of a no win on a thread like this, to be honest. So I'm off
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,197
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Quote:
In fact my Hindu colleague who sits close to me often says "Christ Almighty" when something annoys him ![]() |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: By the Skeleton Tree.
Posts: 56,598
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A Muslim volunteer of ours seemed to have a pretty good time at our Christmas party on the weekend (not drinking booze, obviously). And last year she gave everyone who was working on Christmas Eve a present. I mean, all Muslims are obviously different from each other, but chances are unless they've made a big deal of hating Christmas or something they'll probably appreciate the sentiment.
Does anyone worry this much about getting Christmas cards for Atheists? |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Council Estate
Posts: 35,535
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Ahhh... the joy of tearing up Xmas cards from work colleagues! It's the gift that keeps giving (annually!)
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 73
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Thanks everyone for the Advice, - my colleague is actually one of the sweetest and nicest people you could meet, the worst I could do would be to privately offend her one way or the other.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
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Quote:
Does anyone worry this much about getting Christmas cards for Atheists?
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#14 |
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,197
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Quote:
Does anyone worry this much about getting Christmas cards for Atheists? It's just as striing describes it - a celebration of family and friends. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,679
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There are plenty of 'Christmas' cards available with no Christian symbolism and which are blank inside for you to write your own message. The charity shops usually have agood selection of these and you might also find them in a post office. Many cards simply have 'seasonal greetings' inside, so it's extremely easy to find cards which won't offend anyone.
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#16 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central London
Posts: 43,666
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Quote:
Hi DS
![]() I am bringing in christmas cards for my work colleagues tomorrow, but I have a Muslim colleague (who I'm friends with) but I know she doesnt celebrate christmas. If I give her a card (they all have a centre message of "merry christmas" is that offensive?) Because I don't want to NOT give her a christmas card and have her feel left out Thanks Or you could just hand her one and explain that you will understand if she didn't want it Or you could just save any embarrassment and give her one and leave what she does with it up to her. I send cards to my Muslim friends and none are offended but I don't use religious cards in general usually something funny or a nice pic of Christmas wintery scenes , and most of the Muslims I know have Christmas decs , after all they are pretty much secular ( well linked to pre Christian festivals) |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South Coast
Posts: 16,038
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Quote:
I would just ask her OP; everyone is different.
On a more general level, I have found that Muslim colleagues tend to be pretty cool about Christmas stuff being around. Orthodox Jews not so much and Jehovah's Witnesses have no tolerance for anything Christmassy anywhere near them at all. Check if there are any other cards on her desk. As another poster said pick a Seasons Greetimgs message. I suspect you'd know if she was an ultra conservative Muslim, if she was then don't get a card, otherwise do! |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 2,745
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I gave my Muslim colleague a happy new year card Clintons sell them
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#19 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
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Quote:
I gave my Muslim colleague a happy new year card Clintons sell them
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#20 |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 22,429
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I think in this case the usually annoying American "Season's Greetings" works well.
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 332
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Muslim colleagues i work with, enjoy the family get togethers, gifts, trees etc & attend the work Christmas Party.
One told me that they believeJesus was a prophet, and have no real issue in people celebrating his birth, |
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#22 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 16,218
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Different people have different levels of faith. Just ask, they won't be offended for you checking.
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: By the Skeleton Tree.
Posts: 56,598
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Quote:
No because Christmas doesn't have to be religous. It's the time of year as much as anything, a season of peace and goodwill ... and parties and presents.
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#24 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brackley, UK
Posts: 16,649
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Quote:
One told me that they believe Jesus was a prophet, and have no real issue in people celebrating his birth,
It's generally only the fundamentalists on both sides who dislike the idea of 'sharing' their sky fairy. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 14,642
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I always think its better than to include rather than exclude.
And if they take offence, then you (and everyone else) remembers that the next time! |
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