November 18, 2008
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Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
We are coming to the time of the year where we have the Christmas wars.
As I mentioned in my photoblog, Focus on the family put out a shopper’s guide indicating which companies were Christmas-friendly and which were Christmas-negligent based on whether their material used the terms “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Here is the link: Link
There are some people that believe that companies are trying to take the name “Christ” out of the Christmas holidays. This happens in print form but also in the greeting that customers get at the store.
Would you rather a business communicate “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?”
Comments (140)
I guess both, I mean I understand because Christmas isn’t the only holiday during the season, you also have New Years afterwards so it comes like combined when you have break…it’s just easier to say happy holidays.
I don’t think it should matter that much. I wouldn’t be insulted if someone said Happy Hanukkah to me, even though I don’t celebrate that (especially if I lived in a country where Judaism is the major religion, like Christianity is here).
Happy Holidays. I distiguish the two by the span of their effect: Christmas is a one-day holiiday while the Holidays lasts up to a week.
I could care less…as long as they can’t kick me out for saying “Merry Christmas” then it’s all good.
Even as a Christian, I’d prefer “Happy holidays”, simply because it’s rude to refuse to acknowledge any other beliefs.
Whatever the wording, it’s a steal on the Roman festival of Saturnalia.
I don’t give a fuck, honestly.
“Happy holidays.” Christmas isn’t the only holiday around that time. Now, if it were actually Christmas day, then go ahead and say “Merry Christmas.”
I don’t care.
I like “Happy Holidays”. It has a better flow and sounds more modern.
Personally I don’t care which they say. But we all know that early Christians stole the idea for Christmas from Pagans.
Frankly, I don’t care. I’m a Pagan, but I celebrate Christmas, mainly because it’s what I grew up with and to be honest, it’s fun. So if someone wishes me a merry Christmas, I am not offended. Happy Holidays is more inclusive, because if the person celebrates Hanukkah instead of (or together with) Christmas, you’re getting their holiday, too, even if you don’t mention it outright. And even though winter solstice is important to me, I do not get offended if a store doesn’t wish me a happy one, because I do realize not a lot of people celebrate it.
And even if they are Christian, there’s still the issue of what day they celebrate Christmas, and in some countries, it’s more than one day, so why not get all the days in one fell swoop greeting?
Merry Christmas!
i think it’s nice for a company to use “happy holidays”. but honestly, as others have said, i don’t give a fuck.
i say merry christmas mon-fri after 6pm and on weekends. during business hours, it’s happy holidays. don’t wanna offend a client.
how they greet me wouldn’t affect where i shop. i don’t really mind either way. besides, season’s greetings are all about spreading holiday cheer and there are a lot more important things to worry about out there than how things are worded. people pay more attention to the words rather than the meaning. just take the holiday cheer and shut the fuck up.
Merry Holidays!
I say Merry Christmas. It IS Christmas AFTER ALL!!
happy holidays. not everyone is a christian after all, and it’s not just ONE holiday people celebrate anyway. thanksgiving, christmas, new years, jewish holidays, and tons of others are going on during this time of year. it’s only polite. like audrina up there said, it’s rude to not acknowledge that people have diffferent beliefs. and anyone that gets their undies in a wad because someone doesn’t wish them a merry christmas needs to take a step back and think about what’s really important this time of year.
@popcultureref -
I completely agreeee.
Happy holidays, since obviously not everyone celebrates Christmas. Especially if it’s a company. I can understand a Christian saying Merry Christmas, but an entire company? C’mon. Be a little more respectful. =/
@queen_of_hearts102304 - Not for everyone, though.
They are made to say Happy Holidays, because it offends some people whodon’t celebrate Christmas to be told “Merry Christmas”. I don’t care what they say; they mean well.
season’s greetings ^.^
naw, really i dont care.
I dont care.
I guess business-wise….Happy Holidays but on Dec 25th, Merry Christmas.
Yea…
happy holidays. always.
@bekkathebaka - Yeppers you are right though. I just say merry christmas, if ya don’t like it just walk away, you don’t have to say anything. LOL!! No I’m totally kidding.
I say either or but I think Merry Christmas has more meaning to me. It also just sounds happier.
If it’s Christmas you’re celebrating, and it’s close to Christmas Day and you’re shopping for Christmas, then Merry Christmas would be appropriate. Happy Holidays is too generic. Most people are not exactly decorating for, buying gifts for, singing songs for, and going to church for New Years or any other holiday at that time.
If you know that someone is Jewish, it would be nice to wish them a Happy Hannukah during the time of Hannukah. Many Jewish people have chosen not to make a big deal out of Hannukah, because it was never intended to be like Christmas. Others do it up bigger so that their kids don’t feel “left out” of the “holiday season.” That’s what several Jewish friends have told me.
I wouldn’t care.
just use discretion and don’t be proud to offend
Both.
how about ,”have a blessed day .” that will have everyone in an up roar!
It doesn’t matter to me. I also have hard time understanding people who would be offended by one greeting or the other. They’re both expressions of goodwill, right? “Merry Christmas” sounds warmer in a way, but “Happy Holidays” is more inclusive so it’s what I would prefer a business to communicate.
unless it’s business is one of promoting christian culture i prefer happy holidays.
I like it when they don’t skirt the issue and they just say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! All the freaking way.
It’s the holiday season, they should say “Happy Holidays”. I do unless someone says something different to me or it is the actual holiday. Like, I say “Happy Hanukkah” during Hanukkah, “Merry Christmas” on Christmas Eve and Day, “Happy New Years” on New Years Eve and Day, etc.
Merry Christmas!!
Happy Holidays.
merry christmas. and i’m atheist, and i don’t find it offensive. i think it’s stupid that people are THAT concerned over it.
I prefer Tiny Tim’s exclamation: “God bless us, everyone.”
I don’t mind what they say, as long as a business doesn’t make it a rule to say Happy Holidays. That’s not really fair, because although they do it to protect others’ beliefs, they are denying the right to the employee’s beliefs.
Ummm, but in general I do prefer Merry Christmas. It sounds more fun and I’m a Christian.
I don’t look to retailers to reinforce my religion. I’d much rather hear them say, “That’s on sale today!”
Merry Christmas…hands down. But Happy Holidays come’s a close second.
Merry Christmas!
I can deal with Happy Christmas though…
it’s interesting why people even worry about trivial things such as this. too me, either one will suffice but also just thinking about it shows how commercialized the holiday has become. in fact, not even the holiday but rather that whole giving/getting/peace and good-will stuff. it’s sad.
Merry CHRISTmas, hands down!
I don’t care.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Happy Holidays… absolutely.
@Audrina_Lake - I agree.
Merry Christmas, but whatever…
I say “Happy Shopping”.
It’s quite sad that it has come to this thats for sure. It’s funny how companies don’t care about what Christians call it, they don’t care if it bothers them to take Christ out of Christmas, but they bend over backwards for everyone else. Christmas is simply celebrating the birth of Christ even though it probably isn’t the exact date He was born, if people don’t want to celebrate Christmas they certainly don’t have too, but why ruin it for those who want to worship who they think is God who became man to save us from our sinful nature and be reunited with God. Why can’t they just leave it alone and ignore it. Christ in any form is hated by the world simply because His name convicts the world of it’s sinfulness and points it out, it the world hates that, so the world must silence anything having to do with Christ.
I think that if I’m buying a Christmas tree and a box of Christmas cards, the employee should feel free to say “Merry Christmas” to me if they want to. And I’ll say Merry Christmas back.
@jediwa72 - Pretty much
either one. Don’t be so uptight about it.
Who gives a fuck? Everyone knows they mean Christmas anyways.
I don’t understand the ridiculousness. I am a Christian but I’m not so stupid and self-centered that I think that Christmas is the ONLY December holiday, for goodness’ sake. Happy Holidays covers it all and to get bent out of shape about it is absurd.
Well, I don’t see how it matters. I think it’s ridiculous for people to make such a deal out of having the name Christ in the holiday, simply because they don’t go along with the religion; if that’s indeed what people are doing. Christmas is the holiday that we’re celebrating, so I don’t see why so many people have to make such a big deal over the name of the holiday.
IE: “I am celebrating Christmas! Merry Christmas!”; what’s the harm in that? People who make a big deal out of all of the “Happy Holidays!” and “Merry Christmas!” thing are wasting their time. Dramatically. Because if they would think about it; no matter how it’s said, each person is going to get their own meaning out of it — Just like with music. So long as you keep with what you believe, no harm is being done. If you don’t like the term ‘Christmas’ respond with “Happy Holidays”; vice versa in a different scenario.
Actually, if the company is communicating with me, I’d prefer the company say Happy Chanukah. If the only choice you offer is, you can be Christian or you can be generic, then that in itself is offensive.
@captain_jaq - Thats putting it bluntly
Happy Holidays.
@LadyValkyrie37 - Ha! Maybe the reason you think it was stolen is because before Christianity everyone was a pagan, soooo, it wasn’t stolen after all
merry christmas
Happy Holidays is much more PC. There are other holidays being celebrated during the season: Thanksgiving and New Years for example.
Merry Christmas if it is before christmas and Happy Holidays or Happy New Year if it is close to the new year!!!!
Happy Holidays is more inclusive- it acknowledges that there are more holidays being celebrated during the season. And from a corporate stand point, shopping bags, etc that are labeled with Happy Holidays makes sense bc they put them out before Thanksgiving sometimes- so companies wish you a happy holiday season- Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc, during the entire 2-3 months that they have their holiday themed products out. Its not practical to say Merry Christmas in the middle of November, so Happy Holidays works.
Am I making sense?…I’m really tired at the moment
It doesn’t matter to me. Either one is fine.
GAF
I’m the kind of person that gets annoyed sometimes. Especially when people get upset if I say “Merry Christmas” to them, and they don’t celebrate Christmas. Now, I know it might be a little disrespectful, but really, they should say thank you anyways because I’m at least trying to be polite.Â
If someone came up to me and said “Happy Hanukkah” I would say thank you, because it’s polite back.Â
They should just be happy I’m saying anythign to them at all :] -Moriah p.s. thanks for the add.Â
Happy Thanksgiving before Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Happy New’s after Christmas.
Or possibly happy 4th of July.
Happy Kwanukkamas-Hijira year!
All or nothing in my opinion.
To just wish someone to have a happy “(fill in holiday you celebrate)” is ignorant. Especially if it’s a stranger. If you’re at your church, temple, mosque, synogogue, and other holy places (I guess I’m being ignorant for missing a few), then you can assume the holiday and wish them a well one. But what’s so bad about just saying “Happy Holidays?”
And ya I’ve heard the Fox News take that we should recognize the majority’s holiday, but how out of touch is that? Our country is a melting pot, and if you don’t see it that way, go to your nearest city.
We live in a country of many where we can practice whatever religion we choose. Why should anyone be criticized for taking the secular approach to the holiday season? So say what you want.
merry christmas makes me feel more warm and fuzzy inside.
thats what matters. right?
i like Christmas… it’s such a neat time of the year. so merry Christmas is fine.happy holidays is okay too. better than “go f yourself.”
I still say Merry Christmas, I think we’re getting too caught up into the politically correct thing. If someone wants to say Happy Hanukkah or Felice Navidad or any other seasonal greeting, that’s fine, too. I think it’s supposed to be a time of being happy and giving, not getting angry because your religion isn’t recognized by a traditional greeting.
Argh. It’s not like “Happy Holidays” is a new phrase invented by those dang godless liberals who hate children. Holiday Inn, anyone?
The Christmas Wars cannot be won! We must pull out now! I demand a timetable for troop withdrawal!
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!!! However, I’ve heard people say “Happy Christmas”. But never “Merry Holidays”!
honestly, I really don’t care.
people who get offended over businesses using “happy holidays” need to get over themselves though.. there are more holidays that time of the year than Christmas, they are just attempting to include everyone
I’ve never really been bothered by any of those two. It never affected me purchasing something. I’m not going to walk into a store, and when I’m in line, decide “Oh hell no, merry christmas? I’m getting out of here”
but if it bothers people that much, I suppose happy holidays. but then again, that could be used for multiple things – I don’t get why it’s only associated with Christmas. We have more than one holiday.
I’m going to blog about that.
I dunno. I meann, Kwanzaa and Channukah happen around the same time as Christmas; “happy holidays” or whatnot is easier if you really want to not step on any toes. It did kind of insult me when once a Walmart employee said “Happy Ramadan” to me outside of Walmart around Christmas… Ramadan isn’t even AROUND Christmas.. and furthermore I’m not Muslim. I would prefer “Happy holidays!” to “Happy Ramadan!” any day. Hahaha.
I think “Happy holidays” just kind of shows that these people aren’t stupid and are aware that there are 3 holidays during that season.
I say both… depends on whom I’m talking to.
i would rather do away with the holidays all together, honestly. except new years.
Happy Chrismahanukwanzikah!
Focus on the family should be pissed at Jews and Muslims. Hell who isn’t?
To me, it doesn’t matter as I’m a believer in both. The sentiment is what’s most important.
To answer the question, Merry Christmas is only appropriate on the 23rd, 24th, or 25th. Otherwise it’s Happy Holidays.
Business? Honestly… I’d rather they ignored it. But if they’re going to do it, I find “happy holidays” less intrusive.
But hey, I won’t stop shopping there if they say “merry Christmas” unless it’s just in my face with loud music, etc.
neither.
I really have to step up and dare to be different on this one. “Merry Christmas” is not an insult. I’m not telling you to go jump off a cliff if your religious preference is different – frankly I don’t care what your religious preference is. “Merry Christmas” should never be taken as insulting. It’s a celebration regardless of faith, creed, religion or any other connotation you’d like to ascribe to it. Frankly, I’m so tired of we Americans being so touchy about each and every little thing that we are afraid to speak our minds for fear of public ridicule. I’m sorry but last time I checked wasn’t our country founded on the premise of Freedom of Speech??? Perhaps I’m incorrect in that. Perhaps not. So “Merry Christmas” everyone! Have a splendid Christmas and I hope you were all good little boys and girls!
I have always preferred “Happy Holidays” just because it takes in the whole season, rather than just a few days
Merry Freaking Christmas… people and their feelings… pshaw
Screw political correctness,
Merry Christmas!
if you believe something else, then say it…
Happy Hanuka!
Joyous Kwanzaa!
if someone gets offended then screw em
Either one is fine. Sometimes the things that Christian groups fight against are, in my opinion, reflections of our culture, rather than things that affect culture. . .Seems kind of silly. I’d rather be loving people and affecting our culture for Christ, instead of squabbling over greetings.
well i don’t really care. besides not everyone celebrates for the birth of christ. some just like having a day off to buy presents and eat a lot and then claim it honors christ. personally i go to church but i still couldn’t care less since there is more than one holiday being celebrated within the “winter” season that falls between november 26th and january 13th. oh and my dates are indeed right.
additionally it is not as if i seek out businesses based on their address to the public regarding the WINTER HOLIDAY season! check ya dumbasses, the whole holiday thing starts prior to thanksgiving and lasts beyond the date set by western christians sometime in approximately the 3rd century AD as “christmas”.
I like Merry Christmas more — its what I’m used to
Happy Christmas is my preference.
Happy holidays.
Smart business would be Happy Holidays, for the people celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and various pagan holidays. These people are apart of the mass consumption of random shit in America too. Don’t leave them out.
KWANZAA FO’ LYFE.
happy holidays sounds classy-er!
happy holidays =) refers to everyone celebrating a holiday regardless of what tehy’re celebrating =]
I’m really ok with both.
I celebrate Christmas, and New Year, so there are plural HOLIDAYS for me.
Its the Holiday Season, so Seasons Greeting, and even have a nice day.
And any holiday I don’t celebrate, wish me cheer for your celebrated day all the same.
I am happy to share cheer and good will no matter the day.
Focus on the Family needs to come to terms with the fact that there are many kinds of different families.
Focus on ALL Families!
Happy Holidays. Christmas is ONE DAY OF THE YEAR so you can’t say “Merry Christmas” every ****ing day.
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas – If you take the “Christ” out of Christmas, you are taking the whole meaning away from it.
Please don’t tell me they are going to start that crap again. It takes the spirit out of Christmas and ruins it for everyone.
The spirit of Christ and Christmas giving is either in your heart or it isn’t, no matter what form of greetings you use. I am not a person who is opposed to boycotts, but all that type of boycott does is force people and companies to be hypocrites. (A very un-Christian thing to do, indeed)
It is important for “Christians to put Christ in Christmas”. It is also important for them to love their neighbor as the people they are. They can try to show any unbelieving neighbors the way of Christ, (which is not the same as beating them over the head with Bible verses), but they should NEVER force them to pretend to be something they aren’t. Companies, in particular, have no soul. They consist of people whose beliefs are as varied as the tapestry of this wonderful nation of ours. Any attempt by a company to use Holiday Greetings, whether they use the word Christmas or not, has everything to do with greed, sales and advertising and nothing to do with the spirit that many of us know as Christ. Forcing them to use that greeting encourages worse than hypocrisy, it feeds corporate greed and commercializes the celebration in ways that are guaranteed to take the spirit of Christ out of Christmas more swiftly and efficiently that anything else can.
Love your neighbors, bless them that curse you, pray for them who despitefully use you, show them the spirit of love, compassion and mercy that is the Christ who lives in you. Don’t badger them with boycotts and lawsuites. That shows them nothing of Christ.
True religion is the life we live, not the creed we profess.
When I hear the term “Merry Christmas”, I see images of Santa Clause, jingle bells, crowded malls, gifts and food. The image of Christ seldom is the first thing that pops into my mind. To a large extent, our culture has already removed Christ from Christmas.
Two separate thoughts.
The only group Christ really showed anger towards was the money changers. They were using the temple for commercial gain. If Christmas is a sacred holiday, we turned it over to the money changers years ago. Forcing them to use a specific greeting doesn’t change that fact.
If control over the nature of Christmas was to be retained by the churches, they should never have allowed it to become a government holiday, because now it is owned by all Americans and not just those of their faith.
happy christmahanakwanzika!!
You know, I’ve been saying “Happy Holidays” to accommodate other people’s feelings, but, this year, on Christmas, I’m going with “Merry Christmas,” and “Happy Holidays” the rest of the time…to, you know, include New Year’s, etc.
Last year, I took to saying to some of the pilots as i switched them to another frequency…instead of saying, “Good Day,” I’d say, “Merry ChristmaHanuKwanzaKa”—a compilation of Christmas, Hannuka, Kwanzaa and Channuaka…forgive my spelling. I thought it was fun and the pilots seemed to enjoy it, too.
First, the words they use to greet me with are far less importatnt to the prices they charge, the effectiveness of the sales staff and the items they sell.
Second, since the commercial “Holiday season starts somewhere near the beginning of November and contiinues to right after the first of the year, there are quite a few holidays during that time period, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Chrstmas, Kwanza and New Years, just to name a few. I really don’t have the time to wait while they wish me a happy or merry all those holidays, so go ahead and tell me Happy Holidays and I will apply it to what I deem personally important.
http://www.goinggreenaccidently.blogspot.com
Happy Holidays is more inclusive, but frankly I don’t give a damn what they say. I say Merry Christmas to people taht I know are Christians and HH to people I don’t know what their beliefs are. But like an agnostic friend of mine says, if it is said in good faith, non-christians should not really be offended……….. why be a scrooge about it?
If people are offended by the fact that the word Christmas starts with Christ, then change the name of the holiday and get it over with. Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25th anyway and Christmas has become a consumer holiday. It should be named “BuyYourKidsTonsOfCrapTheyDonNeedJustBecauseThe StoresSaySoDay”……..
It doesn’t matter even one little bit.
Oh no! Are they going to cut Christ out of my name, too?
I won’t be Christina anymore. I’m going to be Happytina. Or maybe they’ll change my name altogether!?!?
Yes, it’s MERRY CHRISTMAS! Think of all the songs with the word Christmas in.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas!
We wish you a Merry Christmas!
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree!
Well this is silly. If they were trying to take christ out of christmas then we would be wishing everyone a Merry Mas.
Seriously though how about neither? If you have to say it then say it because you can always appologize and correct yourself if you are wrong. Grow up people.
@SunnyMitsu - The (Happy) Chanukah Song?
@madna - I’m for that!
@sarahb_86 - i saw it on a commercial a few years ago and it just stuck with me. Gotta include everyone!
@madna - Yeah it was gap or old navy I believe. I had that stuck in my head for a month after they showed it.
@sarahb_86 - Ah….I got sidetrack with the people who want to take Christ out of Christmas part of the post. Happy Holidays is all inclusive and there is nothing wrong with that. But as far as calling Christmas “Happy Holidays” because it has the word “Christ” in it is silly.
merry christmas
Either or….it’s still Christmas time
Either one works. I mean I guess it wouldn’t make sense if you were a different religion and someone said “Merry Christmas” and your just like “ahem, I believe in The spagetti monster” But I mean we’ve said Merry Christmas since forever, so why get mad now ?
I think going with Happy Holidays would be the safer one. I mean your still wishing people a ‘Merry Christmas’ or what ever. And like someone else said there is always New Years so it’s like an all in one, not going to hurt peoples feelings, easy to say…saying.
I think that Happy Holidays is a nice compromise, since there’s New Year’s in the same month as well as Christmas, and that’s only if you’re Christian. To Wiccans like myself, there is the sabbat of Yule on Dec. 21st, and other religions may celebrate Kwanzaa or other holidays. So I think “Happy Holidays” works both for religious and secular reasons.
I would rather it be Merry Christmas! That is the holiday after all on the 25th. What next, take away the jolly ‘ol Santas out there collecting money outside the stores?
Fuck the politically correct. They need to get those sticks out of their asses.
Makes no difference.
Either is fine. There’s already no ”Christ” in Christmas for me anyway, so it’s just a fun thing to say!
My preferred; “Have a fun holidays (the 3 months us uni students get off over summer, mwahahah!) and a great Christmas (the day i get to spend with my family, eat yummy food and open presents!)!”
Unless it’s Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Happy Holidays. Also, I’d like them to say Happy *other religion holiday* as well. December is full of festivities, why not celebrate them all? or at least acknowledge them all.
I think Christians who feel they own December need to remember that there’s a whole world out there and they are not the only ones living in it.
Merry Christmas!! It was a christian holiday and no one ever said other people can’t celebrate it, but don’t warp a holiday that isn’t yours.
We don’t say “You’re not allowed to say Happy Ramadan” because it’s their religious holiday. Why do they do that with Christmas? And as a side note, I’m not even Christian; I just think “Happy Holidays” is a little ridiculous. No one’s forcing you to practice a Christian holiday!
I like saying Happy Holidays, because I think it is respectfulof epople who may not be Christians.. then fi they say Merry Christmas, then I can say it back. Of course, if I am at church and among my Christian friends I will say Merry Christmas.
At first, I thought it was lame that businesses started making there employees say Happy holidays, mostly because I dont like it to be wrong to express ones faith anywhere – I think we should all be able to do that… but on the grounds of respecting people, I think Happy Holidays is better.
Merry Christmas
I personally don’t mind either, but ‘Happy Holidays’ is better. It encompasses other beliefs.
Merry Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and give thanks for His advent. That’s what the Holy Days are all about, aren’t they?
Well, not everyone celebrates Christmas, so I understand why business signs and commercials may say Happy Holidays, but when they don’t allow staff to say Merry Christmas, it becomes a bit absurd because they are allowing discrimination against Christmas itself, but not other winter holidays. When I worked retail or sales, I would always say Merry Christmas and noone was ever offended – who gets offended when someone wished them a happy time!?
Merry Christmas.
Since when has saying Merry Christmas become disrespectful and offensive?