Hellobee Boards

Always happy holidays. I work with people of all different religions and philosophies and I'd rather not assume that they celebrate Christmas.

It depends on who it is for! Our family members, usually Merry Christmas because I know they all celebrate it. For people like coworkers or friends I'd probably go with Happy Holidays. I like the idea of HH because it encompasses the entire season (Christmas/New Year).

Depends who the gift is for. If i'm giving a Christmas gift to someone I know celebrates Christmas, it's "merry christmas". If it's someone kind of random, it's "happy holidays" but i don't gift many random gifts......

Feel the same way as Swurlygurl!

I think I usually say Merry Christmas!

I say Happy Holidays. I didn't like hearing Merry Christmas all the time growing up, so I try to remember that.

I say Happy Holidays because I feel like it's more inclusive, though I don't necessarily think someone would get offended hearing "Merry Christmas" even if they don't celebrate it. We always do a generic greeting/saying for our holiday cards, too, even though we celebrate Christmas.

Happy holidays.

This years ours said "merry and bright"

We got some that say "joy" and "peace" which I also think are great alternatives.

@swurlygirl: Love it! That's awesome!

@ShootingStar: Agreed. I'll say both. I think it's a little crazy that now people are getting offended by "Happy Holidays" (ie the "war on Christmas"). Let's all just agree to not be offended when someone wishes us well, yes?

I say both. And my Jewish friends tell me they enjoy receiving Christmas cards, so I don't worry too much about offending.

I say Merry Christmas because everyone on our Christmas card list celebrates Christmas and I've never worried about gift tags because I haven't given Christmas gifts to people who don't celebrate Christmas. If I know someone is Jewish I say happy Hanukkah if it's during Hanukkah. If I'm not sure I just follow their lead, i.e. if a stranger says merry Christmas or happy holidays, I respond in kind. Just seems like a non-issue to me.

I could be wrong, but didn't this all start when Christians were getting offended that people and businesses were wishing them "Happy Holidays" instead of acknowledging Christmas? And this is where the "war on Christmas" comes from? So maybe I'm actually offending more people by saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Who knows...

Most people on my card list are Christian (it's mostly family so fairly homogenous) and he ones who aren't are agnostic/non-practicing and still celebrate Christmas. So we say Merry Christmas on our cards.

If I'm talking to someone who is Jewish though I wish them a Happy Hanukkah! And really I just say Merry Christmas actually on Christmas Wve/Day.

I don't get why people get mad about Happy Holidays though. There are several holidays this time of year! Thanksgiving, religious celebrations, New Year.

Season's greetings seems a little lame though.

I say Merry Christmas. My cards also say Merry Christmas. I don't know anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas so I doubt anyone is offended.

@Smurfette: haha, same!

I say Merry Christmas to people that I know that celebrate Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone else. When I sent out my Christmas cards this year, I wrote "Merry Christmas" on them, except to my Jewish friends, I wrote "Happy Holidays."

If I don't know what someone celebrates, I say "Happy holidays." I wouldn't be offended if someone said, "Happy Hanukkah" to me. At the same time, I understand that Christmas is by far the dominant holiday this time of year, and I could imagine that if I celebrated something different (Hanukkah for example) it could get grating hearing "Merry Christmas" over and over again.

I also think the whole "war on Christmas" idea is absurd. Someone I know recently posted on Facebook something to the effect of, "If you think I'm going to say a PC 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas' F off." Which is a...charming holiday message. That's the spirit!

If it's someone we know, and we know they celebrate Christmas, merry Christmas.

If it's someone we don't know, or who we know doesn't celebrate Christmas, Happy Holidays. I don't care how people address me. If someone is wishing me good, I'll take it!

I find the "War on Christmas" to be incredibly egocentric. Being offended that people acknowledge your holiday along with the others, rather than automatically putting it on a pedestal above the others is ridiculous.

My inner Brit likes Happy Christmas, so that's what I go with (verbally, anyway), and I feel that if someone wished me a Joyous Festivus or whatever, I'd say it right back without a second thought. They are wishing me a happy time with my family, and isn't that wonderful?

I am so beyond sick of seeing the war on Christmas crap posted on social media (I'm looking at you, grandma!) It feels like you can't win with some people no matter what you say. Everyone just needs to learn to play nice in the sandbox!

I prefer to just say merry Christmas. My intentions are good, so if I am being nonPC I hope they'll forgive me (and if I am sending them a card thy are someone close and it is in good spirits.) It's Christmas for me. If I know for sure they don't celebrate then I might write happy holidays.