The card bears two blank spaces for the names of both sender and recipient and a group of British revellers sharing a toast with glasses of wine at a restaurant table. There would be no "happy holiday" without the birth of Christ. Happy Holidays. In other words, I was brought up to believe in God, to celebrate Christmas, to worship the baby Jesus and to long to visit Bethlehem and see the special … Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays are simple greetings between friends, acquaintances, and strangers during a season where almost everyone is just a little merrier. If I see someone wearing a Christmas-themed sweater, I'll probably say "Merry Christmas", but I wouldn't want to guess incorrectly too often. “Merry Christmas” is used in the U.S. while “Happy Christmas” is used in the U.K. Holiday greetings have been debated for years. But what about the “holidays” for which we are wishing others such a nice time? How no-one dares to say “Happy CHRISTMAS” in public anymore? By a large margin. Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which, in Western Christian Churches, is held annually on 25 December.For centuries, it has been the subject of several reformations, both religious and secular. Which Country Has the Longest Holiday Season? Happy Holidays is more general. If someone chooses to say "Happy Holidays", I figure they're referring to the secular season of giving, not to the specific Christian holiday of Christ's Mass. “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You,” it reads as the world’s first official Christmas Card, and the beginning of a worldwide phenomenon that would help immortalize the phrase. Technically, retailers can say merry christmas, happy hanukkah, happy kwanzaa, etc, but it's just easier to say happy holidays. The phrase "Merry Christmas" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and other religions, too. People get so bent out of shape and can't accept the fact that Christ's birth should not be taken out of context. When one is speaking of a happy or merry Christmas, the adjectives are lowercase. But even this potted history begins at once to smack of the sort of rhetoric that’s almost as long seemed a boring cliché. culinary arts to criminal justice and education. Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which, in Western Christian Churches, is held annually on 25 December.For centuries, it has been the subject of several reformations, both religious and secular. So I switched to happy holidays, to which I was yelled at because of the war on christmas. However, it is more complex than that. An advertisement for a children’s toy store published in the, Hear me out: The kingdoms in the made-for-TV Christmas movies are all at war, The absolutely official, completely objective, not biased at all, definitive ranking of the 'so bad, they're good' Christmas TV movies, How The Holiday makes you glad (and a little sad) to be single at Christmas, tap here to see other videos from our team. For example, you might say: Have a very merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year! Kwanzaa is a festival not associated with any one religion, so it is not a holy day and not a holiday, just a festival. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. I sang in the church choir. My favorite Christmas song was “O Holy Night”. There is something different, but similarly pleasing about the alliterative pairing of “happy” and “holidays.”. Whether it’s “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” they say the same thing: I hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season. That is because “happy holidays” originated as a way to express gratitude and courtesy around the Advent. Many peopl… Both are meant in the same spirit, stating a wish that the recipient has a happy holiday season. Well, happiness is agreeable to all sensibilities, even those by which merriment offends. I’m confused, wondering how so many people fail to understand the simple logic of acknowledging the holiday celebrated by a whopping ninety percent of Americans. By a large margin. @16PinOak: You said it started as Merry Christmas so I was just working from that.We said all 3 Merry Christmas to Christians, Happy Holidays when it was not the exact day but in between Thanksgiving and NYE and Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends of which I have many and I'm 65. WalMart and other stores have decided to use 'Happy Holidays' as their official store greeting. Perhaps the endurance of these two phrases is due to the pleasant sound they create; charming in ways that “merry holidays” and “happy Christmas” — other than to the English — simply are not. Learn about a little known plugin that tells you if you're getting the best price on Amazon. Merry Christmas vs. These two wishes of good cheer are echoed on busy streets and in homes starting almost as soon as the Thanksgiving meal has been wrapped into leftover containers. Joanna Piacenza, 12.14.2015. It is an event unlike any other. Merry Christmas everyone! The “Happy Holidays” tyrants want to get rid of Christmas … I don’t know about you, but I want to stand up for this Christmas season I love. The very same year that Dickens published hisChristmas Carol, the Summerly’s Home Treasury Office of Old Bond street in London created a card that could be posted in the mail to wish family or friends greetings of the season. Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas Now that the holidays are behind us, I’ve been thinking about the use of “Merry Christmas” vs “happy holidays.” Wishing someone “Merry Christmas” has never been an issue for me, but then again “happy holidays” has never been an issue for me either. @16PinOak: You said it started as Merry Christmas so I was just working from that.We said all 3 Merry Christmas to Christians, Happy Holidays when it was not the exact day but in between Thanksgiving and NYE and Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish friends of which I have many and I'm 65. Happy Holidays, Round 2,016. Merry Christmas, Happy HolidaysN'SyncWith Lyrics*Add me as your friend =D* 'Merry Christmas' versus 'happy holidays': A tale of two expressions, "Would not true faith call for the exaltation of the broader spiritual spread?". In fact, there are many people who celebrate different holidays like Kwanzaa or Hanukkah that would still say, "These are photographs from Christmas last year." It appears that Wal-Mart has caved to the whiney christian movment who have the irrational belief (among many others) that there is a sincere "war against Christmas" and that the term "happy holidays" is an insult directed towards them. America was built on the idea of religious tolerance. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. "The phrase "Happy holidays" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddists, and a handful of other religions I mentioned and cited in R1." Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas is a moot point. Stockings, presents, and Santa are concepts that everyone can enjoy. Well, happiness is agreeable to all sensibilities, even those by which merriment offends. What is the big deal? For the retail worker in December, season’s greetings are an art. We’ve loved having all of you as part of our Fat Quarter Shop family this year and cannot wait for what 2021 will bring! I really believe that this is a "freedom of speech" type of subject. How to Use “Merry Christmas” “Merry Christmas” is a traditional greeting used to express good tidings during the holiday season. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Deck the halls, as they say, with boughs of holly, that are themselves as Christian or not as you want them to be. We're talking 17-to-1, here. As the centuries elapsed so too did that “a” develop into an “o,” until, in the 16th century, we find the first recorded use of “holy-day” as one word, combined neatly with an “i” into the word we use today. There is a lot of controversy over the difference between Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, however. Andrew McGill December 20, 2016. Or should we say Happy Holidays? You probably remember last year … In this case, it has evolved to the point of nondescript, perfunctory salutation. However, now it seems to be more of a PC (or Politically Correct) way to go about things. Young observed last year in theL.A. Trump has decided to take a less politically correct approach, by boldly proclaiming “Merry Christmas” on the official cards. And compared with five years ago, a growing share of Americans (52%) say it does not matter to them how they are greeted in stores and businesses during the holiday season – whether with “merry Christmas” or a less-religious greeting like “happy holidays”. There's a huge difference between saying Merry Christmas and launching into a "Jesus is the reason for the season and I want to put my rosaries on your ovaries" sermon. A tweet from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reignited the debate of saying 'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays' this season. Sometimes I say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Happy Holidays! The truth is, I don’t think many Canadians care— as long as Merry Christmas isn’t said to someone whom one knows is not a Christian as some sort of insult In reality, Christmas is almost completely a secular holiday now. Happy Hanukkah! 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. They are not means of converting non-Christians, or denouncing Christ as the reason behind Christmas. Merry Christmas refers, specifically, to the Christmas holiday, celebrated December 25th. Every year, around this time, the same debate comes to light. Personally, I'm not a religious person and I PREFER "Merry Christmas," however can also see the side that people who celebrate other holidays in lieu of Christmas should also be shown respect. Christmas, however, is no longer just considered to be just a Christian holiday by everyone. Why are people upset over this? Otherwise Happy Holidays. Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters. Language evolves. Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays What do you say? According to church groups, this should not mean only for religions other than Christianity. To me, the religious holy day known as Christmas is a different entity than the bloated secular holiday most people observe. Wherever Santa Claus takes prominence over the nativity, someone will complain that we’ve lost the true meaning of Christmas. Calum Marsh: Language evolves. Happy Holidays: Should I Say Either At Work? Tradition has not been distorted or perverted, in any case. For some people, they mean completely different things. That way you have covered all your basis without feeling like you have conceded. The phrases Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays do have some differences. The origins of “merry Christmas” are obscure. This phrase is considered more politically correct, as it does not leave anyone’s religion or beliefs out. Breadcrumb Trail Links. Previous Post Next Post. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. So you could either be talking about your own Christian religion, which includes Christmas and the 12 days after or someone else's religion that you don't know. Expressions of greeting and courtesy, “merry Christmas” and “happy holidays” can be thought of as seasonal variations on the usual diplomatic clichés. A generic "Happy Holidays" greeting covers my bases better than a specific "Merry Christmas". By Taryn Asher Posted December 9, 2020 Semantics spoil the gesture, when all you want is to be affable, and idle would it be to get too invested in what either phrase, in any ordinary social context, really means. How should a Christ-follower respond to all this? Semantics spoil the gesture, when all you want is to be affable. The "Merry Christmas vs. It is a traditionally Christian sentiment. As a practicing Christian, I realize I'm expected to be bothered by the use of "Happy Holidays" in place of "Merry Christmas", but honestly I'm not. As historian Neil J. The Jolly Family wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Holidays: Should I Say Either At Work? We encountered an issue signing you up. A battle so heated and a rivalry so strong that even the Wolverines and Buckeyes think it is too intense. Of course, the religious have long had reason to regard holiday merriment with skepticism, and have wished, perhaps justly, to protect the sanctity of Christmas from the compromising interests of those who would seek to appropriate it as a non-denominational affair. But what about the “holidays” for which we are wishing others such a nice time? Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Have a great solstice whatever. Expressions of greeting and courtesy, “merry Christmas” and “happy holidays” can be thought of as seasonal variations on the usual diplomatic clichés. 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