“Merry Christmas” vs.“Happy Holiday"

[Michael Rielly]

I saw a couple of posts on this subject and thought I’d share the following with you. As with many of you, the whole “Happy Holiday” thing is a big pet peeve of mine. I make it a point to say to folks “Merry Christmas” especially when they wish me “Happy Holiday”.

For several years now yours truly has appeared at my church on Christmas Eve. Each year I come out at a certain point in the Mass (the Homily for you Catholics out there) and talk to the folks about the true meaning of Christmas. It’s very entertaining (and hopefully inspirational) for both the children and the adults. The Priest and I usually interact with each other or the congregation and everyone seems to get a kick out of Santa visiting during the Mass.

Each year the Priest and I come up with a theme for Santa's talk. I am still working on this year's, but I thought I would share with you what Santa had to say last year...

FATHER: Oh thank goodness you got here. I was beginning to worry.

SANTA: I’m sorry for being late. Very busy night you know. Thank you for inviting me back. I always look forward to my visits to here at St. Mary’s. I trust the new joke book I gave you last year was helpful.

FATHER: Well to tell you the truth. I may need some new jokes. The last batch isn’t really cutting it. Do you think you can do anything on such short notice?

SANTA: I’ll see what I can do.

(Santa addresses parish)
SANTA: Well now. Merry Christmas everyone! Oh come now. You can do better than that! Now let’s try that again shall we? Merry Christmas!

CROWD: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SANTA: Ho! Ho! Ho! That’s much better! Did you notice I wished you all a “Merry Christmas” and not a “Happy Holiday”?

You know. I can remember it was only a few years ago that people would greet each other all the time with "Merry Christmas" or even “Happy Christmas”. Now hardly anyone says "Merry Christmas". Now it’s all "Happy Holidays", “Seasons Greetings”, or "Have a good one".

Oh I understand the concern not to offend anyone. But why should people take offense at greetings for a holiday that they don't happen to celebrate? Would any of us be offended if someone wished us Happy Chanukah? I would certain hope not. What could possibility be offensive about good wishes? Nobody gets offended at "Happy Thanksgiving” or "Happy New Year" or for that matter “Happy Birthday”.

So why not make it a point to wish people a Merry Christmas? And if someone does take offense, simply apologize. After all, Christmas is the birth of Christ. That’s why we celebrate Christmas. Isn’t it more appropriate for us as Christians to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays?

Well I don’t have a lot of time. After all this is my busiest night of the year you know and I must be on my way. But before I go let me wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

[Christy Carol]

Very well said SC!!

And a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to you!!!

[Crimbo_Spirit]

Well said friend

[Michael Rielly]

I am working on this years "script" right now. As soon as I finish it I will post it here. Maybe I can get some feedback on it.

[dvdguy]

i wouldnt be upset if someone said happy chanukah, I would prefer it to nothing

[joyful]

I say Merry Christmas and it's up to them to receive it or reject it.

So much fuss about this had made some people afraid to say it and I think that's sad for we do have freedom of speech which applies to everyone.

So MERRY CHRISTMAS and the best to you all in the coming year.

[Michael Rielly]

Two years ago I went into a Target around Christmas time to pick up a couple of things. While strolling through the “seasonal” isle I noticed a sign that read: “30% OFF ALL HOLIDAY TREES”.

I never heard of a "Holiday Tree" so I had to ask about them. I went directly to the service desk and asked the woman if they had any Christmas Trees. I told them I saw a sign for 30% off all Holiday Trees, but didn’t see any Christmas Trees there. I wanted to know if they would be getting any soon as I was looking to buy a Christmas Tree, not a Holiday Tree.

The woman looked at me like I had two heads. She told me that they were all Christmas Trees. I then told her that I wanted to purchase a Christmas Tree and if all they had were "Holiday Trees" then I would have to go over to Walmart to buy one.

:wiggy:

[Jeff Westover]

You could always do something like this....

http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/2006/images/0_38.jpg

[dvdguy]

nope

[e_xander]

I was watching the Christmas special of Blue Collar TV with Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engval, and there was a skit put on by Larry the Cable Guy where he does what's called a Pollically Corrected up Tale. He did 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I can't remember how it was PC'd, but it was funny how he said it. Even though it was done tongue in cheek, there was a message there that I liked. This country is getting to uptight not to offend anyone, that we are getting stupid with what we can and cannot say. What happened to the first ammendment. Now I'm not a bigot or racist and agree with what you can't say with those issues, but when it comes to Christmas, Jesus and what not, what the @#%! is going on here?!?! (I'll get off my soapbox now)

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!

Sean

[dvdguy]

i have this on dvd

[Merry Sage]

Its Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas not Happy Christmas, which seems to be more prevalent on this side of the Atlantic. Gets on my last nerve that.

Anyone know what or if there was an original Seasonal greeting?

[Michael Rielly]

Its Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas not Happy Christmas, which seems to be more prevalent on this side of the Atlantic. Gets on my last nerve that.

Anyone know what or if there was an original Seasonal greeting?

Anyone know why they say "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas" in the UK?

:wiggy:

[Merry Sage]

Its Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas not Happy Christmas, which seems to be more prevalent on this side of the Atlantic. Gets on my last nerve that.

Anyone know what or if there was an original Seasonal greeting?

Anyone know why they say "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas" in the UK?

:wiggy:

I've not been able to find out. But they insist its correct.

[Michael Rielly]

History of the phrase

"Merry", derived from the Old English myrige, originally meant merely "pleasant" rather than joyous or jolly (as in the phrase "merry month of May").

Though Christmas has been celebrated since the 4th century AD, the first known usage of any Christmastime greeting, "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" (thus incorporating two greetings) was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. The same phrase appeared in the first Christmas card, produced in England in 1843, and in the popular secular carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

The then relatively new term "Merry Christmas" figured prominently in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in 1843. The cynical Ebenezer Scrooge rudely deflects the friendly greeting and broods on the foolishness of those who utter it. "If I could work my will", says Scrooge, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding." After the Spirits of Christmas effect his transformation, he is able to heartily exchange the wish with all he meets. The continued popularity of A Christmas Carol and the Victorian era Christmas traditions it typifies have led some to credit Dickens with popularizing, or even originating, the phrase "Merry Christmas"[2].

The alternative "Happy Christmas" gained wide usage in the late 19th century, and is still common in the United Kingdom and Ireland. One reason may be the alternative meaning, still current there, of "merry" as "tipsy" or "drunk". Queen Elizabeth II is said to prefer "Happy Christmas" for this reason[3]. In American poet Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (1823), the final line, originally written as "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night", has been changed in many editions to "Merry Christmas to all", perhaps indicating the relative popularity of the phrases in the United States.

SOURCE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Christmas#History_of_the_phrase)
:-)

[dvdguy]

thats why its good to have a santa mod

[Merry Sage]

Thanks for the info. Since Her Maj and I aren't close, personal friends, I'm sticking with "Merry Christmas" thanks. :-D

[dvdguy]

nuts, I thought we had an in with the crown

[Merry Sage]

nuts, I thought we had an in with the crown

Nah. Sorry. I'm just a lowly Colonial. :D

[dvdguy]

ah well no christmas at the palace

[Jinglebelle]

I was watching the Christmas special of Blue Collar TV with Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engval, and there was a skit put on by Larry the Cable Guy where he does what's called a Pollically Corrected up Tale. He did 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I can't remember how it was PC'd, but it was funny how he said it. Even though it was done tongue in cheek, there was a message there that I liked. This country is getting to uptight not to offend anyone, that we are getting stupid with what we can and cannot say. What happened to the first ammendment. Now I'm not a bigot or racist and agree with what you can't say with those issues, but when it comes to Christmas, Jesus and what not, what the @#%! is going on here?!?! (I'll get off my soapbox now)

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!

Sean

I too saw that episode it WAS funny. But your right, it made me think,
how stupid to have such a controversy over something as harmless as saying Merry Christmas... Besides, it really dosen't matter how politically correct you are, SOMEONE somewhere will always be offended by anything, and everything!

:(

[dvdguy]

didnt you hear the one about the guy suing to get "in god we trust" taken off money, because he was an atheist? So we should change the currency of the entire country for one person?

[Jinglebelle]

No I hadn't heard that yet, I believe it ... people are so unrealistic anymore...
Maybe he should just stop using our currency, and switch to checks, and debit/credit cards, if he has such a problem.

In this day of direct deposit I think anybody with a checking acount (which are usually free for the basic account), could live with out cash.
Seriously, I rarely use cash except for fast food drive thru's and the occasional yard sale.

I guess having an entire country's currency change, would be easier than just not using it anymore...? :-o

[Jeff Westover]

I only use cash for two purposes: to get across bridges and to pay the kids their allowance (they don't take credit cards yet).

Jeff

[Jinglebelle]

I guess not using cash anymore would take some creative thinking...

Perhaps your kids would accept pre-loaded Visa cards? You could load them on-line and never have to touch cash again... maybe you could get a toll bridge pass or something, on-line...never use change again??

But I have no thoughts on avoiding using cash at things like school events, carnivals, pageants, bake sales, and girl scout cookies... oh yeah, and yard sales... :-?

[dominick]

No matter what anyone says, cash is still king... at least for now it is. It's my understanding that they've been trying something in parts of Europe and Asia that links your phone to your credit card or bank account, and people could transfer funds from person to person by linking phones. Sounds like another opportunity for fraud to me, but it's not like they're at a loss for scams now.

[dvdguy]

I know in japan they do it with cell phones. Wanna buy a newspaper? Boop. there you go. Want a soda from the machine? Boop
its coming you watch

[Michael Rielly]

I only use cash for two purposes: to get across bridges and to pay the kids their allowance (they don't take credit cards yet).

Jeff

WHAT!? You mean to tell me they don't have automatic tolls in UT?
:-)

[dvdguy]

automatic?

[caseydbell]

I say Christmas, now that I have started Target I may have to say happy holidays, Ill ask when the season draws near, dont want to ask now, to early for most

[dominick]

We have that in IL. It's called IPASS or something like that. It's a little box that you mount in your windshield.

[dvdguy]

oh yeah, i know what you mean
EZpass is what we call it

[Michael Rielly]

EZPass! That's it! :-D

[dvdguy]

it took the wife & I a couple minutes to remember

[Jinglebelle]

My husband is an OTR truck driver, EZPass saves him time and it's all automatic, very cool!

[Chillywilly]

I am bring back a old one. But for me and my house it is Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

[Head Elf]

In our house it is Happy Christmas or Merry Yule. Either way it's Merry Christmas!!!!

[Billy Battles]

Always Merry Christmas.

[scooterbugs25]

We have Always Said Merry Christmas as well

This past year me and my brother started playing with the words

And came up with; Happy Kwana-Christa-Chanuka-mas-adan

For Kwanza Christmas Chanukah and Ramadan... :P

We may played with the words but still it is Merry Christmas

[ilovesilentnight]

i say happy holidays when it's thanksgiving. But after thanksgiving it's merry christmas for me

[sarahelizabeth]

I don't think there is anything wrong with saying "Happy Holidays", but I also don't think people should take offense when someone wishes you Merry Christmas.

I say "Happy Holidays" around Thanksgiving time and then usually Merry Christmas after Thanksgiving. I usually don't pay much attention to what I say, as long as I get the point across. People really overanalyze things.

[snowangel77]

Coming in late on this one ... but yes, I always wish people a very 'Merry Christmas'. If they choose to be offended by that then it's down to them. I wouldn't be offended if someone wished me "Happy Holidays" either but for me it's Merry Christmas all the way!

[kidzrme]

personally I have always said MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[gameshowguy2000]

I think Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays are one and the same. Just like I point out in the "Christmas Tree vs. Holiday Tree" thread, it's not just the Christmas season, it's the Holiday Season, and it involves 3 holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's; those who celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa can make it 5)

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

To people i know and love i'll always say "Merry Christmas", but to people i don't know as well, I'll say happy holidays, but that is just because all my life i've been at school, and it's always been 'Holiday Parties' and 'Holiday Concerts' and 'Winter Dances'

(I love this one song "Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday" where every time they say Christmas, they get bleeped, and when they start to sing White Christmas, they get bleeped out because they said white and they're supposed to say 'Caucasion'. Extremely funny.)

[kgstyles]

From the 1st of November until Thanksgiving Day, I say Happy Thanksgiving. From Thanksgiving Day unil December 26th I say Merry Christmas. From December 26th until January 1st I say Happy New Year! I usually correct people when they say Happy Holidays to me and say you mean Merry Christmas. A lot of people want to say Merry Christmas but they are afraid of offending other people which I found to be disgusting. I tell them they watch the news too much. But any greeting is better than no greeting at all.

[gameshowguy2000]

Exactly. Which is why Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings are all one and the same. (Just like the Christmas season=Holiday season, because of the 3 major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's; those who celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa can make it 5)

[Michael Rielly]

Exactly. Which is why Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings are all one and the same. (Just like the Christmas season=Holiday season, because of the 3 major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's; those who celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa can make it 5)

Keep trying GameShowGuy. Oh and...

Merry Christmas!

[Jeff Westover]

Exactly. Which is why Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings are all one and the same. (Just like the Christmas season=Holiday season, because of the 3 major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's; those who celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa can make it 5)

No, they are not one and the same.

You can say "Happy Holidays" to anyone but you cannot say "Merry Christmas" to every one.

Perception is not in the eye of the speaker but rather in the listener.

[Jinglebelle]

I don't think there is anything wrong with saying "Happy Holidays", but I also don't think people should take offense when someone wishes you Merry Christmas.

People really over analyze things.

Very good piont, I agree totally!

But, I'm a "Merry Christmas" kind of gal myself :D

[Billy Battles]

Perception is not in the eye of the speaker but rather in the listener.


I think it would be in the earcheesy

[Jeff Westover]

I think it would be in the earcheesy

Bah-dum-dum.

[Jeff Westover]

Seriously. As long as we have people being this brain dead (http://defendchristmas.com/2007/10/04/canadian-muslims-debate-christmas/) we're going to have folks who will get offended by the words "Merry Christmas".

We're working on our annual list of "who will and who will not say it" and I find it even part of my own training with my troops over the holidays. Officially, the company doesn't have a "Merry Christmas" policy. But many more are going that way because...some people are just brain dead and itching to fight over nothing.

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

I'll happily say "Merry Christmas!"....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

[Billy Battles]

And a Merry Christmas to you

[HollyJells]

Last year I got some strange looks when I wished everyone merry holidays and Happy christmas. I mean how in the world are we supposed to know what people celebrate this time of year anyhow? I have also gone so far as to tell several people Happy Merry Yuletide, because I get frustrated when SOME people get offended and I am not one to want to get huffy right back. I think this year I will just tell them Merry Merry and be done with it. We had a jewish couple come to our house for a meeting and they were both impressed with how pretty our house was. They had adopted a non jewish child and the mother wanted me to give her tips as to how to decorate and incorporate Christmas into their festvities. I gave her a few books I had gotten from a friend that explained different ways to incorporate different holidays together. We went over a week later and I was seeing green because they had a tree that was absolutely off the pages of a Chirstmas catalog. Now when we wish them a Happy Hannukah- they all wish us a Merry Christmas. So I dont think it really matters what you say- it is in the meaning that you say it.

[scooterbugs25]

Last year I got some strange looks when I wished everyone merry holidays and Happy christmas. I mean how in the world are we supposed to know what people celebrate this time of year anyhow? I have also gone so far as to tell several people Happy Merry Yuletide, because I get frustrated when SOME people get offended and I am not one to want to get huffy right back. I think this year I will just tell them Merry Merry and be done with it. We had a jewish couple come to our house for a meeting and they were both impressed with how pretty our house was. They had adopted a non jewish child and the mother wanted me to give her tips as to how to decorate and incorporate Christmas into their festvities. I gave her a few books I had gotten from a friend that explained different ways to incorporate different holidays together. We went over a week later and I was seeing green because they had a tree that was absolutely off the pages of a Chirstmas catalog. Now when we wish them a Happy Hannukah- they all wish us a Merry Christmas. So I dont think it really matters what you say- it is in the meaning that you say it.


I agree with you.

[MerrySouthernChristmas]

... So I dont think it really matters what you say- it is in the meaning that you say it.

Totally.
It doesn't matter what you wish someone, as long as you wish them all the joy and happiness that comes with the season.

[kidzrme]

Merry Christmas all the way!

[Miss Darcy]

I generally say Merry Christmas and I do think it is much nicer then saying Happy Christmas, but I have to admit that I do sometimes find myself saying Happy instead of Merry.

[gameshowguy2000]

Totally.
It doesn't matter what you wish someone, as long as you wish them all the joy and happiness that comes with the season.

Agreed, meaning don't always stick with just one greeting (Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, OR Happy Holidays). Use 'em all, but use them interchangeably.

[haagarr]

Love the picture its funny.
You could always do something like this....

http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/2006/images/0_38.jpg

[whychristmas]

I'm a 'Happy Christmas' - er. I wonder if it's a 'across the pond' thing, but to me it seems Happy is more UK and Merry more USA?!

[dvdguy]

quite possibly