Poll: Do you Prefer “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?”

Ginnie Arnold December 13, 2012 at 02:17 pm

Merry Christmas . . . of course . . .

Miss Moon December 13, 2012 at 02:51 pm

This probably isn't the popular thing to say, but I like Happy Holidays. It's more polite and inclusive. Not everyone celebrates Christmas

Tom LaSusa December 13, 2012 at 03:30 pm

With all due respect, this is a silly survey. Of course a Christian is going to prefer "Merry Christmas" just the same as a Jewish person would prefer "Happy Hanukkah."
I've said this time and time again -- if I know you celebrate Christmas, I'll wish you a Merry Christmas. If I know you celebrate Hanukkah, I'll wish you a Happy Hanukkah. But if I don't know your beliefs, or if you even celebrate anything, the more respectful thing to do is say "Happy Holidays!" Why is this so unbelievably hard?

av1891 December 13, 2012 at 03:31 pm

Merry Christmas. It's been that way since before I was born. For me, nothing has changed about the season, other than the offensiveness of what political correctness has brought into society.
I have never been concerned about the religious connotation, whether it's a school or govt setting, or anywhere for that matter. I was brought up with it and will continue living it. As long as one isn't doing anything morally wrong, one shouldn't become a chameleon and change themselves out of fear of offending others. My husband befriended a Jewish salesman at his previous job. He would greet the salesman with a Merry Christmas while the salesman responded with Happy Hannukah. There was no 'war', only peace and happiness, which isn't at all offensive to us. :) There are so many real offensive goings-on in the world today, such as real wars, shootings at schools/movie theaters/malls, child abuse ... etc ... Those are what harm people, both physically and mentally. Christmas doesn't harm nor kill anyone.

av1891 December 13, 2012 at 03:36 pm

My idea isn't that it's "hard", but that it comes down to what I've done ever since I was a child. I don't say Merry Christmas to disrespect anyone, I simply say it because that is what I've always said.
Naturally if I actually knew that someone is Jewish, I would say both Happy Hannukah and Merry Christmas. We're all celebrating a special time. :)

Kiwi December 13, 2012 at 04:10 pm

I am completely sick of "Happy Holidays." Why pretend we are celebrating something other than Christmas? Non-Christians know perfectly well what holiday is being celebrated, so why the charade? I wouldn't mind one bit if someone wished me a happy Hanukkah, even though I am not Jewish. It has been my experience that it is ATHEISTS, and not Jews, or people of other non-Christian religions, who are trying to get recognition of Christmas removed from our common cultural experience. When I am out shopping for CHRISTMAS gifts, I would like stores and sales people to acknowledge the obvious and wish me a Merry Christmas. I do realize there are other holidays at this time of year, but they do not account for much of the shopping. How many New Years gifts are exchanged? So if you want me to spend money at your store buying Christmas gifts, you can at least show me enough respect to acknowledge the actual holiday. Who are they worrying about offending? The people who are NOT shopping?

Kiwi December 13, 2012 at 04:18 pm

Also, the fact that Moon Schools (like many other public schools) also refuse to acknowledge the fact that the majority (I know, not all, but the vast MAJORITY) of their students and employees celebrate Christmas, is also ridiculous. Christmas IS a federal holiday, for Pete's sake! But we have to have "Winter" concerts, and "Winter" break, so as to avoid offending the minority by stating the obvious. My child brought home papers the other day that referred to the "Winter" holiday. The "Winter" holiday? What am I, then? A Druid?