'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays' debate warrants different approach Print Email Details Will Robertson. By Taryn Asher Posted December 9, 2020 Read full article. I think Happy Holidays is a little more, yes I hate to say it "politically correct" but in this case it makes more sense, since by saying " Merry Christmas" you assume someone celebrates it as oppose to using the more general Happy Holidays, but hey whatever. Happy Holidays, Round 2,016. Republicans and Democrats also are split with 67 percent of GOP supporters picking "Merry Christmas" and 66 percent of Democrats siding with "Happy Holidays". eventAction: 'click_adunit' The cup debate is rather dumb, and I am big on abbreviations so I do sometimes use X-mas. And honestly, if you're getting all upset over the difference then it really doesn't matter. The library will host an SFU Philosophers' Cafe tonight at the Port Moody Public Library on the longstanding debate over which to use. hitType: 'event', This is the question many people ask themselves this time of year. It�s always a hot topic when the holidays come around, and this year is no different. With all of the chaos going on in the world, that energy should be used to unite the already divided church and love the unchurched. 2019 Holiday Exchange! That you should say Merry Christmas because that is what is celebrated this month. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas: The Last Thing That Ever Needs To Be Said About It 12/04/2013 04:00 pm ET Updated Feb 03, 2014 Every year at the beginning of December some Americans engage in a ridiculous rhetorical ritual that recycles righteous arguments about whether people should say to one another Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. And clearly, this is some political ploy to make people feel better in some way.” Goldberg added, “But the truth of the matter is this is America where we celebrate all of our holidays ― whenever they are ― and we don’t necessarily say 'happy this' or 'happy that', we say 'happy holidays'. Quote Posted on December 17, 2014 by hissmonster ~ SIGH~ It’s the silly season and I bet, like me, all of you have have been inundated with negative sentiments on social media, in person, or in the mail. pg.acq.push(function() { Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays is a saying for people who are politically correct. Variations include “happy Christmas” and “merry Xmas” (where the “X” stands in for “Christ”). Kind of like the whole "Bless you," to an atheist that sneezed debate. }) “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”? A tweet from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reignited the debate of saying 'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays' this season. The "Merry Christmas vs. }); ga('ads.send', { So why would I not say Merry Christmas haha. }); Christmas has almost arrived and while it is time to exchange pleasantries — this year it would be mostly virtual meet-ups and couriered presents due to the coronavirus pandemic. Thus it would be polite to just give a more general, Happy Holidays. ga('ads.send', { "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays": A Summary of U.S. Holiday Greetings. Yup. The political correctness police will chastise you for wishing someone "Merry Christmas," and it's time we break down the ridiculous nature of this argument. Why does the “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” debate exist? For these reasons, Happy Holidays is better than Merry Christmas. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), A New and Exciting Beginning . I’m sure you know people who, every December, ignite the “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays” debate. The article had cited a Public Policy Polling survey that found that more than 80% of Americans didn't care which one people said. },false) Politicians will take a stand, bloggers and social influencers will argue back and forth, even brands may pick a side! Rev Paul Brandeis Raushenbush wrote an article for HuffPost in 2013, and stated, “Let’s start with the fact that there are several holidays that fall during December including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and the newly minted secular HumanLight.”, “They all would like, and deserve to be acknowledged and respected.” He explained, “So this brings us to the Merry Christmas vs Happy Holiday debate that is not complicated and is solved with basic etiquette. The "Merry Christmas vs. Should we greet each other with vague holiday cheer or specific Christmas-related well wishes? Home; MTG Salvation Forums; Retired Forums; Retired Forums; Debate; Saying Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays; Search Search all Forums Search this Forum Search this Thread Tools Interestingly enough, this follows very closely to what some consider to be the �Bible Belt.� So there is likely a religious component at play here. }); I specify my holidays. Every year, around this time, the same debate comes to light. What about your state specifically? eventAction: 'render' For me, it isn’t about saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays." All it takes is one person to take offense and soon our social streams are exploding with opinions on every side. Merry Christmas vs. Here is the 2012 Presidential Election Map: While there seems to be less of a correlation, it�s interesting to note that most of the �Merry Christmas� states have been solidly Republican in the last few years. This season, I want to greet people the way I want to without being afraid of criticism from others. I'd like to thank my opponent for a great debate. eventAction: 'load' The blog also acknowledges the other situation where someone who celebrates Christmas might also feel bad, but they reason, “Think of it this way: 'Happy Holidays' includes Christmas as one of those holidays and 'Merry Christmas' leaves out everything other than Christmas.”. } That is the tragedy of this whole debate on Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas - many are greeting others based on fear rather than greeting them. Christmas has almost arrived and while it is time to exchange pleasantries — this year it would be mostly virtual meet-ups and couriered presents due to the coronavirus pandemic. So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Winter Solstice, and Happy... anything else we may have missed! It’s ridiculous. If you�re not familiar with �geotagging� it simply means that certain users have allowed their location to be recorded when they post a tweet. By Tara Benwell on December 6, 2011 Authentic Materials, Tips and Ideas. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ And for the first time ever, in 2009, the White House called their "Christmas tree" a "holiday tree." However, the debate over whether to wish “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” seems to have resurfaced again. We are one of the world’s fastest growing I find it very amusing when people get mad at each other or argue for saying "merry christmas" instead of "happy holidays", or vice versa. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel"},"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel"},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Below_Next_Rel"},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel"},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel"},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel"},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel"},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel"},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel"},"positionSticky":{"code":"Article_Mobile_320x50_ATF_Rel"},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle10"},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle11"},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle12"},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle13"},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle14"},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle15"},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle16"},"position17":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle17"},"position18":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle18"},"position19":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle19"},"position20":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle20"},"position21":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle21"},"position22":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle22"},"position23":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle23"},"position24":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle24"},"position25":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle25"},"position26":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle26"},"position27":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle27"},"position28":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle28"},"position29":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle29"},"position30":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle30"},"position31":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle31"},"position32":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle32"},"position33":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle33"},"position34":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle34"},"position35":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_Middle35"}} While it may seem trivial, the argument comes down to a friction that exists between those who believe in maintaining political correctness and those who believe we should stand by established traditions and religion. Comparatively, the most aggressive �Happy Holiday-ers� live in the following states: All in all, regardless of whether you wish others a �Merry Christmas� or �Happy Holidays� this time of year, the true nature of the season is to be kind to one another and enjoy friends and family. I live in the Bible Belt, so saying Merry Christmas is pretty much a given : ). Wednesday, December 16, 2015 }); Let’s Debate! Does it really even matter that much? Happy holidays includes more religions than Merry Christmas, which is why it is better. Every year, around this time, the same debate comes to light. Traditionally, the term happy means to be pleased, c… window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { }); However, the debate over whether to wish “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” seems to have resurfaced again. Check my small research on why Corporate Holiday Party style is acceptable for both parties. },false) Happy Holidays up for debate. }) hitType: 'event', That’s what you say.”. } Do the people around you tend to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays?" Happy Holidays" debate has been a hot topic for a while now. ga('ads.send', { Both are about enjoying Christmas…the only difference lies in the beginning adjectives. Tis the season to say something. The public was in an uproar debating the pros and cons of the decision. There is no denying that these two terms are quite similar, and almost identical in nature. Should these companies, organizations, and governments have policies favoring the use of "merry Christmas" or "happy holidays." if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ pg.acq.push(function() { Strong Special to The Star December 14, 2017 06:21 PM We reviewed a sampling of 300,000 tweets that included the phrase �Merry Christmas� or �Happy Holidays� and plotted out our findings on a map of the US. So, is there a politically correct way to wish someone during this festive season? The phrase "Merry Christmas" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and other religions, too. Another interesting comparison would be to look at the red states (Republican) vs blue states (Democrat). MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), But this is a free country. Shop Colorful Artificial Christmas Trees By, *Shipping outside the contiguous US will incur additional shipping fees, Decorating Ideas for Every Christmas Tree. With all the anxiety over the correct holiday greeting as led people to forget the spirit of the holiday. However, others would point out that there are more than 14 different religious holidays going on during this month, and you never know which religion the person you are greeting ascribes to. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ When you’re walking past somebody, you don’t know what their religious beliefs are or whether they have them. ga('ads.send', { ... Open up the conversation by discussing some real life controversies related to the “Christmas” vs. “Holiday” debate. If they have religious beliefs and you can’t tell what they are, say 'Happy holidays'.”, She added, “This idea that we can only say one thing is ridiculous. hitType: 'event', Which states dominate the �Merry Christmas� greeting? They are generally used interchangeably but let’s take a closer look. It is an appropriate and inclusive salutation that recognizes that there are many ways that people are observing the season and you don’t know enough to be specific.”, Actor Whoopi Goldberg in a 2017 HuffPost article had said, “'Happy holidays' allows everybody to be included. }); MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. The remarks and opinions included in this article are by individuals and independent organizations. So of course I say Merry Christmas. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ A 2017 Business Insider article stated that President Donald Trump had promised during his presidential campaign to free America of the generic holiday greeting, which he considers a form of political correctness gone awry, and replace it with his preferred “Merry Christmas”. I just want others to respect my belief in return when I say Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas is a moot point. 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