Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

You're greeting people around this time of year and you want to show that you're in the seasonal spirit. What do you say and what would you prefer to hear if someone at the store was greeting you?

Depends on whether the person celebrates Christmas or not. I'm leaning towards "Merry Christmas" until the 25th, or a combination of "MC" and "Happy Holidays". I'll start introducing "Happy New Year" after the 25th.

I'm definitely a "Merry Christmas" person. That was the holiday I grew up celebrating with friends and family. "Happy Holidays" as a politically correct substitute for "Merry Christmas" just doesn't sound right and is way too vague to mean anything to me. If it means something to you, then by all means wish me "Happy Holidays," but if you're just saying it as a euphemism for Merry Christmas, let's cut through the double-speak and loosen up a bit.

People in my family are always wishing me a Happy Chinese New Year even though I never celebrate it and I'm not fond of moon cakes. Nonetheless, I'm happy to receive their good intentions. Happy Chinese New Year back or at least "Thanks!" Wish me a Happy Hannukah! As long as it means something to you and you mean well by it, I don't care. Thanks and the same back to you!

Christmas is on American calendars the same way 4th of July is on there. I'm don't understand why there's so much wrangling over a holiday greeting for an occasion that is as much of a secular observance as it is a religious one. After all, if we want to trace it all the way back, the origins of Christmas predate Christianity.

I pretty much agree with you Sheldon. I just think that Merry Christmas is more specific than Happy Holidays. To me HH means both MC and Happy NY, and it just depends whether or not it's before Xmas that I say one or the other. I'm not religious but I've always celebrated Xmas and enjoy the holidays for what it is, even if the meaning is not as deep as those who are religious. For me, Christmas is a time to be with friends and family. I especially agree with the good intentions part. I don't tend to take things too personally or too liberally. Most people have good intentions.

I don't so much celebrate Chinese NY either but I'm happy to take any unwanted mooncakes that come your way. =)

This post has been edited by mobyfan on Dec 25 2005, 04:04 PM

HH sounds more politically correct cognizant of the increasing cultural diversity in CA (and US in general). Not all people in the community celebrate Christmas. HH would include the various occasions that are being observed within the same month such as Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah.

How about "Happy Festivus"? =) That seems to be popular amongst my friends. I appreciate that not everyone celebrates Christmas and try to be sensitive to that. I personally don't know many people who celebrate holidays other than Christmas.

Always a fan of the Festivus!
My husband is a fan of the Feats of Strength, while I particularly love the Airing or Grievances.
Typical of the sexes, no?

LOL. Welcome, Songbirdmelaura.