https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:45:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245523 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:25:07 +0000 Mae 1245523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't usually say either. I don't really get wishing people either for the whole month of december. I usually just tell people to have a good night/weekend/whatever. And when I think its actually appropriate to use one of these greetings it is like, Christmas day or Christmas eve when I pretty much am only seeing people I know. </p> <p>But, I guess if forced to make a decision on stranger my default would probably be Merry Christmas. We live in Ohio, which is very heavily Christian. The biggest religious minority are muslims who are easily identifiable via wardrobe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245503 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:13:01 +0000 NavyRN2012 1245503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Merry Christmas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245490 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 18:05:40 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1245490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Season's Greetings...really, I do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245476 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:58:40 +0000 pui 1245476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always say Merry Christmas. The only time I may say Happy Holidays instead is in an email to a client. I'm just not used to saying "Happy Holidays" so I immediately say Merry Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245420 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:28:34 +0000 nana87 1245420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish and agree completely with what artbee posted! I'm not offended if someone says "Merry Christmas" to me, but I do kind of roll my eyes at the presumption that everyone celebrates xmas. I get that it's meant the best of intentions, but I think the greeting should reflect the person receiving the greeting rather than the person saying it. So, I do say "Merry Christmas" to people who I know are celebrating it, but if it's someone I don't know, I say "Happy Holidays" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245395 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:20:14 +0000 travellingbee 1245395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say happy holidays to strangers or more often just "Have a great day!" But of course I'll say merry Christmas if I'm with people I know celebrate Christmas! I'd feel weird wishing people merry Christmas if they didn't celebrate Christmas. Kinda like wishing people happy birthday on MY birthday because I want to celebrate. But I grew up in NY and around lots of other religions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245380 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:14:18 +0000 swurlygurl 1245380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say Merry Christmas, but I know that the people I interact with DO celebrate Christmas. If I'm in public with strangers, I don't initiate any sort of holiday greeting, so I just mimic whatever they say. I like to think that if I knew people who didn't celebrate Christmas and/or celebrated other holidays I would aim to be inclusive though.<br /> I do send a 'Merry Christmas' card to my atheist Aunt, but she celebrates Christmas, just not religiously, so I don't see any harm in that </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245377 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:13:13 +0000 Greentea 1245377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say happy holidays. Unless I am with family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245376 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:12:19 +0000 HabesBabe 1245376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually say "Merry Christmas" out loud, but our holiday cards say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings"... 6 years of working for Disney has made me semi-PC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245370 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:09:40 +0000 jedeve 1245370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I don't go around saying either.</p> <p>I would put Merry Christmas on our holiday cards though. That's what we celebrate. I wouldn't be offended to get a Happy Hanukkah card. (Not saying that I wouldn't be annoyed by Christmas if I were Jewish.) But I do tend to send ones that are more like "peace on earth" to people I know who aren't religious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245369 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:09:18 +0000 lovehoneybee 1245369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Ours say "Warm Wishes, love the McK family". Last year I think it was something like "May your holiday season be warm and bright" (and had a picture of E holding a tangle of Christmas lights). </p> <p>I say Merry Christmas to my family and Happy Holidays to everyone else. Or if I'm feeling a little cheeky I say "Happy EVERYTHING!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-1245355 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 17:03:59 +0000 BSB 1245355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping this old thread. We just ordered our Holiday cards and DH wanted it to say 'Merry Christmas' and I wanted to be PC and say 'Happy Holidays.' </p> <p>I was going to let him 'win' and do Merry Christmas but, at the last minute, I changed it. He isn't that bothered by it. I was the one who initiated the holiday card and created the card so it wasn't a big issue. He was mainly concerned with making sure the photo we took didn't clash with the design I picked out. He decided on the design so we are both happy at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-28633 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:37:46 +0000 sbjmorgan 28633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Happy Holidays. Most people don't find "Merry Christmas" offensive, but there's more than one holiday during this time of year - New Years, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-28632 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:36:48 +0000 Mrs.KMM 28632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I typically say Merry Christmas but will also on occasion say Happy Holidays.</p> <p>Personally, I think people need to stop trying to be offended by everything. I'm not Jewish but if someone said "Happy Hanukkah" to me, I wouldn't be offended in the least. The intent and purpose behind the message is wishing me well, no matter what terminology they use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-28090 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:16:48 +0000 eupenmalmody 28090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always said Merry Christmas until I moved to NYC. Now, it's Happy Holidays. I think especially in NYC where it is so diverse one needs to be cognizant of other beliefs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-27878 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:11:33 +0000 prettylizy 27878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a 'judge the situation' type of person I guess. If I'm at the grocery store and the cashier has a santa hat pinned to her smock, I say Merry Christmas, if I'm unsure it's usually Happy Holidays. I worked with a woman who is a Jehovas Witness and she didn't celebrate Christmas (though her husband did and she truly enjoyed the holiday spirit and cheer) and she wouldn't get fussed if people wished her Happy Holidays, she would just wish them the same. I asked her about it one, and she said she just got sick of explaining to people that she didn't celebrate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-27877 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:11:28 +0000 BSB 27877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I say it, I say 'Merry Christmas.' When I write it, I say 'Happy Holidays'. I just don't think about when I say it. I'm usually really considerate of people. I think this thread will remind me to stop saying 'Merry Christmas'. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-27863 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:02:05 +0000 Weagle 27863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say Merry Christmas mostly, but probably because I'm just used to it. I think this article very well expresses my thoughts on it...</p> <p><a href="http://www.9marks.org/blog/defense-happy-holidays" rel="nofollow">http://www.9marks.org/blog/defense-happy-holidays</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas/page/2#post-27861 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:01:16 +0000 LuLu Mom 27861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say Merry Christmas for the majority, however if I"m interacting with someone I have never met I will say Happy Holidays as not to offend. Most people in my life are Christian (and in my area) so I have never thought about offending someone, makes me think about it a little big more :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27857 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:57:34 +0000 heffalump 27857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ecogirl: That's exactly how I feel. It's not offensive to me, just annoying.</p> <p>Although I do know many Jews who are offended by it... and I don't feel like people have the right to tell them what they should and should not be offended by. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27854 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:55:38 +0000 ecogirl 27854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet Yes she finds it a chance to enlighten but in a pleasant way. I don't think you can say the sentiment of the greeting is rude because it is meant in a positive way. I do think assuming everyone is of one religion or celebrates one holiday is presumptuous but not rude per se. It would be akin to wishing everyone a Happy Kwanzaa. No I don't think people would get mad about it but it would probably be a bit annoying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27646 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:24:47 +0000 Pancakes 27646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say "Merry Christmas," although if someone said "Happy Holidays" to me, that's probably what I would say back to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27632 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:12:45 +0000 Mrs. D 27632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally I say Merry Christmas, but when I'm on work time, I say Happy holidays, unless I know from the rest of a transaction that the purchase is for Christmas. In that case, I WILL say Merry Christmas. I don't want to have a customer complain about my choice of words! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27629 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:08:27 +0000 mrsjyw 27629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Merry Christmas... but the only places I've really had to say it are all with people who I know celebrate Christmas (Church, work team, family, friends). I do say Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends, but I don't think I've ever said "Happy holidays." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27561 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:28:01 +0000 Nskillet 27561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eco girl your friend has it just right! I think you should say whatever you want and just respond with what you celebrate. No one is wishing you happy holidays or merry christmas to offend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27548 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:18:36 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 27548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say both. But Merry Christmas is what I use most. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27540 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:04:32 +0000 ecogirl 27540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say Happy Holidays. I too am in NYC so maybe we are surrounded by such diversity that you assimilate? haha I was out with my friend shopping and in NYC you wouldn't typically hear a salesperson say Merry Christmas. My friend is Jewish and when we left Starbucks the girl behind the counter said merry christmas!. My friend said "thank you. Happy Hanukah!" and I think that was a nice way to handle it. That way you appreciate the sentiment and wish your holiday back. Perhaps it also would ring a bell to the counter girl that happy holidays is a much more polite and inclusive way of including everyone when you don't know what they celebrate. It doesn't take much more time to say happy holidays and at least you know it will be taken as nicely as your intentions :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27461 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 15:33:51 +0000 Miss Adia 27461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say Merry Christmas unless someone says Happy Holidays to me.<br /> I'm Buddhist and I actually know the real history of Christmas so I don't feel like saying Christmas if offensive. </p> <p>Obviously Christmas is a huge holiday and people shouldn't waste their energy being offended by the word.<br /> I mean, do we make up something for Halloween for all the people who don't celebrate it? Like uh...Happy Eat Candy until you pass out day! Woot!<br /> Don't give words power. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27419 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:03:42 +0000 autumnlove 27419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tend to say Merry Christmas but I always buy Happy Holidays or Season's Greeting cards! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-tell-people-happy-holidays-or-merry-christmas#post-27301 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:07:35 +0000 Boogs 27301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have to say either often, but usually Happy Holidays so I don't offend anyone. If someone says Merry Christmas to me, I do reply with Merry Christmas to you, too, in return. </p>