Is It Offensive To Wish People Happy Thanksgiving?

• I guess it depends on who you say it to and how you say it?

Do you think it’s offensive to wish others a Happy Thanksgiving? (Especially if you aren’t sure they celebrate it or not.)

• No. Not rude. There was no way for you to know that this person celebrates/mourns differently. If that was the entirety of your exchange I would take it as a neutral statement that that person was just trying to inform you about some perspective they have. Just make a mental note that come the next set of holidays to, at most, say “happy holidays” or just stick to “good day” or “I hope you enjoy the winter break” if you know each other through school or work that gives days off around that time.
• It’s not offensive but if they prefer not to celebrate or are of indigenous origin, it can be awkward. So you did nothing wrong. However, I like a greeting I got from a friend: “If you are celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope it’s a great one! If not, I hope you have a peaceful day filled with friendship and love.” I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I like to treat well-meaning greetings as I treat it when Christians offer to pray for me. I say “thank you.” If it’s someone with whom I interact a lot, I make a mental note to casually bring up my feelings at a later date so they know without my being directly confrontational in the face of their good wishes. If it’s someone who only texts me twice a year or someone I have reason to believe would not be receptive, I don’t bother.
• You were not rude. I’m Jewish and people wish me Merry Christmas all the time (during December). I’m fine with it! I realize that they are just wishing me to have a nice day/holiday season. I just say “Merry Christmas” back to them and smile. I also get Christmas cards with Jesus on it mailed to me for Christmas. I am not offended. I am happy that they thought enough of me to send me a card!
• If you said, “Happy Thanksgiving you piece of shit” or something like that, then it would be offensive.
• Nobody was rude here, unless it was intended that way, which doesn’t sound like the case here. I would try not to assume a negative intention- you are just acquaintances and still learning about each other.
• Neither of you were rude. Your perspectives are simply different. This is a good opportunity to learn and listen to one another. Good intentions are a fine start, but people who truly do have good intentions take the time to understand.
• I wouldn’t call it rude, but coming from a culturally diverse area, I would advise to avoid wishing people happy whatever specific day it is in the future unless you know they celebrate the holiday. I was born and raised in the US, so a lot of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are ingrained as everyone celebrates them. That being said, probably half of my coworkers are immigrants or first generation and they work very hard to maintain their own traditions in the face of all the marketing. What I’ve taken away from them is that it is frustrating and exhausting. Their traditions often don’t get acknowledged, and while there’s something to be said for assimilation, that kind of thing can be emotionally isolating and uncomfortable. If I haven’t been explicitly informed that someone is celebrating a holiday, I just comment on being off from work (“Hope you’re enjoying the holiday today!” or “Sorry to interrupt your time off”)
• Some people just like to stir the pot. What you did was not rude, and I feel like this is along the same line of someone saying ‘Merry Christmas’…you may not celebrate the holiday, but it is usually said with good intentions, so you just say ‘Thank you and same to you’. I had a similar thing a few years ago, when I asked an acquaintance if they had Thanksgiving plans. He proceeded to tell me that he didn’t celebrate a holiday that basically had to do with killing his people, or something like that. I was just making conversation, and all he had to say was ‘No, no plans’ or “we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving’. Instead I felt like crap for bringing it up…but there is nothing to be gained from those sort of remarks. Don’t stress over it, but don’t engage with this person about it either. Sounds like they are looking for an excuse to argue.