DS Forums

 
 

Work Christmas Cards - Muslim Colleague


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 20-12-2016, 22:12
SoapFan1992
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 73

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
SoapFan1992 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 20-12-2016, 22:16
pie-eyed
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,232
I would give her a card. I don't suppose she wants to betreated different to everyone else.
pie-eyed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:16
Galaxy266
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,764
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.
Galaxy266 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:20
Vinnie Vega
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 210
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
Vinnie Vega is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:30
blueblade
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern East Anglia
Posts: 75,211
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
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

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.
blueblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:32
striing
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
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.
striing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:35
Vinnie Vega
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 210
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.
Vinnie Vega is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:39
blueblade
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southern East Anglia
Posts: 75,211
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.
No, I don't think so. But replace "it's not a problem" with "shouldn't be a problem".

Really, it's a bit of a no win on a thread like this, to be honest. So I'm off
blueblade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:39
Toby LaRhone
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,198

In fact my Hindu colleague who sits close to me often says "Christ Almighty" when something annoys him
Do you ever shout "Holy Cow!"?
Toby LaRhone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:45
stoatie
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: By the Skeleton Tree.
Posts: 56,603
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?
stoatie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:47
silentNate
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Council Estate
Posts: 35,535
Ahhh... the joy of tearing up Xmas cards from work colleagues! It's the gift that keeps giving (annually!)
silentNate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 22:54
SoapFan1992
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 73
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.
SoapFan1992 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 23:00
striing
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
Does anyone worry this much about getting Christmas cards for Atheists?
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.
striing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2016, 23:34
Toby LaRhone
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 9,198

Does anyone worry this much about getting Christmas cards for Atheists?
And how many of us send "nativity" and "three kings" type cards yet don't really believe it, attend church or are religious?
It's just as striing describes it - a celebration of family and friends.
Toby LaRhone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 00:18
barbeler
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,685
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.
barbeler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 00:25
skp20040
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central London
Posts: 43,686
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
You could as has been said just ask her , ask if she would be offended if you gave her a card , being included in someone elses celebrations is not automatically offensive to most normal people just as non Muslims are not offended when they get invited to an Eid celebration.

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)
skp20040 is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 00:48
boddism
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South Coast
Posts: 16,038
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.
Jehovahs Witnesses are without a doubt the most anti Christmassy religion!

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!
boddism is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 01:50
Madamfluff
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 2,746
I gave my Muslim colleague a happy new year card Clintons sell them
Madamfluff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 03:07
striing
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,776
I gave my Muslim colleague a happy new year card Clintons sell them
But the Islamic new year doesn't start in January.
striing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 03:27
dee123
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 22,432
I think in this case the usually annoying American "Season's Greetings" works well.
dee123 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 08:59
Dave_Herts
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 332
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,
Dave_Herts is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 09:30
c4rv
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 16,218
Different people have different levels of faith. Just ask, they won't be offended for you checking.
c4rv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 09:36
stoatie
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: By the Skeleton Tree.
Posts: 56,603
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.
Exactly. So getting a card for a Muslim shouldn't be a problem.
stoatie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 10:39
Andrue
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Brackley, UK
Posts: 16,657
One told me that they believe Jesus was a prophet, and have no real issue in people celebrating his birth,
They do think that. Most of them also think that they are praying to the same God. They just think that Jews and Christians are doing it a bit wrong.

It's generally only the fundamentalists on both sides who dislike the idea of 'sharing' their sky fairy.
Andrue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2016, 10:42
MarzBar85
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 14,645
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!
MarzBar85 is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 21:49.