For some people, they mean completely different things. You use the plural form because you’re wishing happiness upon someone for a span of time instead of on one specific celebrated day. In the 17th century, the Puritans, contemptuous of how profane the holiday had become, banned Christmas altogether, ordaining that December 25th be a working day and that the birth of Jesus not be sullied by such revelry. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenges at all of us — including The Michigan Daily — but that hasn’t stopped our staff. The phrases Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays do have some differences. Calum Marsh: Language evolves. We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! That way you have covered all your basis without feeling like you have conceded. Well, happiness is agreeable to all sensibilities, even those by which merriment offends. It is a traditionally Christian sentiment. Which Country Has the Longest Holiday Season? Etymologists agree that the first recorded use of the expression is the one listed still in the Oxford English Dictionary: “And this our Lord God send you a merry Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire,” the English Catholic bishop John Fisher wrote to lawyer and Reformation advocate Thomas Cromwell in a letter dated the 22nd of December, 1534. 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. now I saw merry christmas, and when they complain because they aren't christian i politely tell them that I am atheist, and that I am just wishing them to have a good 25th of december, aka christmas day. Subject: Re:Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays! always enjoys becoming an expert on new and unfamiliar topics. I don’t know about you, but I want to stand up for this Christmas season I love. Still, Queen Elizabeth II — perhaps sensitive to all that “merry” might connote — elects to wish her subjects a “happy Christmas” in her annual address. 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. However, I still agree with you in that "Merry Christmas" should still be used. Subject: Re:Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays! Sometimes I say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Christmas, however, is no longer just considered to be just a Christian holiday by everyone. Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas is a moot point. Variations include “happy Christmas” and “merry Xmas” (where the “X” stands in for “Christ”). Sometimes I say Seasons Greetings. The traditional Christian Christmas, celebrated as the recognized day of Jesus’ birth, has been altered by many to a day filled with family, friends, food, and gifts. Technically, retailers can say merry christmas, happy hanukkah, happy kwanzaa, etc, but it's just easier to say happy holidays. In other words, “happy holidays” was never intended to reference a single holy-day, but rather several in succession. This little known plugin reveals the answer. Anonymous: Anonymous wrote:If I either know you and know what you celebrate, or there are clear signs of what you celebrate, I wish you that. I sang in the church choir. 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." The Jolly Family wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! By being asked to set aside the religious aspects of the holiday season, they feel that their own religion is not being tolerated. The next issue of Posted Newsletter will soon be in your inbox. Both wishes are meant to spread good cheer, little more. Otherwise Happy Holidays. Claims over the so-called “War on Christmas” erupt nearly every winter and, it would seem, with more vigor every time. For me, it isn’t about saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays." However, now it seems to be more of a PC (or Politically Correct) way to go about things. The word “holiday,” as you will might have guessed, derives from the Old English word “haligdaeg,” a compound of the words “halig” and “daeg” — “holy” and “day” — yoked together in that fashion as far back as the 10th century, or perhaps even earlier. "Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday". However, the debate over whether to wish “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” seems to have resurfaced again. There's also the idea of not knowing other people's religious or non-religious status. The “Happy Holidays” tyrants want to get rid of Christmas … What is the big deal? Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? Previous Post Next Post. It is an event unlike any other. 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. , exempted one from “labour or toil,” hence the evolution of the sense of “holiday” as a vacation or break from work. 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. 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. We're talking 17-to-1, here. It’s hard to deny that the words “merry” and “Christmas” — when spoken together with the right rhythm — create a certain music that pleases the ear. Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas is a moot point. December 7, 2016 / Employment Law. Whether it’s “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” they say the same thing: I hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season. So I switched to happy holidays, to which I was yelled at because of the war on christmas. By a large margin. No one is entirely certain of the answer, but there are several interesting theories. The word referred expressly to any day of religious observance that, according to the. 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. Why are people upset over this? Merry Christmas refers, specifically, to the Christmas holiday, celebrated December 25th. The phrases Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays do have some differences. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays used to be easily interchangeable. In a slightly ironic twist, this unconscious social reinvention is much of the order of the one Dickens and his contemporaries orchestrated a century earlier, only this time it’s fixated less on self-improvement and camaraderie and more on giving and receiving gifts. Joanna Piacenza, 12.14.2015. Merry Christmas OR Happy Holidays? Merry Christmas and Happy Christmas are both greetings used during the last part of December, around Christmastime.The first word of each is only capitalized when used as a greeting. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I say Merry Christmas a lot. You may hear the phrase “Merry Christmas” around the world, including in England. The concept behind "Happy Holidays" used to mean exactly what this article states. As historian Neil J. I had always before this thought holidays referred to the 12 days of Christmas from Dec 25 until January 6th (Epiphany) Since the word holidays is plural, and there are 12 days of Christmas, that is what I thought it referred to. How no-one dares to say “Happy CHRISTMAS” in public anymore? Like “how’s it going” or “have a nice day,” they have an automatic quality, uttered as a reflex to punctuate the beginning and end of civil conversation. “Happy Holidays” came to be used as an alternative to “merry Christmas” almost as soon as “merry Christmas” was standardized. Merry Christmas refers, specifically, to the Christmas holiday, celebrated December 25th. According to these books, the phrase "Merry Christmas" is a far more importantpart of our literary culture than "Happy Holidays." Happy Holidays is more general. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Have a great solstice whatever. 'Happy Holidays' Instead Of 'Merry Christmas': Your Legal Right At Work, Not A War 12/22/2015 10:04 am ET Updated Dec 06, 2017 I know some folks claim there's a "war on Christmas" that includes saying, "Happy Holidays" instead of, "Merry Christmas." Stockings, presents, and Santa are concepts that everyone can enjoy. The perennial debate gets a new coat of cheer from Donald Trump. When one is speaking of a happy or merry Christmas, the adjectives are lowercase. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Merry Christmas OR Happy Holidays? Holiday greetings have been debated for years. That is because “happy holidays” originated as a way to express gratitude and courtesy around the Advent. A tweet from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel reignited the debate of saying 'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays' this season. The origins of “merry Christmas” are obscure. Happy Holidays. Otherwise Happy Holidays. I don't think this should be such a controversial subject. Every year, around this time, the same debate comes to light. Happy Hanukkah! My favorite Christmas song was “O Holy Night”. Ilana Mermelstein can be reached at imerm@umich.edu . Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. 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”. Should we greet each other with vague holiday cheer or specific Christmas-related well wishes? culinary arts to criminal justice and education. By a large margin. Still, Queen Elizabeth II — perhaps sensitive to all that “merry” might connote — elects to wish her subjects a “happy Christmas” in her annual address. People should say Merry Christmas — or Happy Hanukkah, Happy Diwali, Eid Mubarak, or any other holiday greeting proudly and happily, and hope others will take it in the festive spirit it is offered. Merry Christmas! A generic "Happy Holidays" greeting covers my bases better than a specific "Merry Christmas". Merry Christmas vs. Don't smack America's religious beliefs in the face just because you want to be tolerant. Happy holidays includes more religions than Merry Christmas, which is why it is better. People should say Merry Christmas — or Happy Hanukkah, Happy Diwali, Eid Mubarak, or any other holiday greeting proudly and happily, and hope others will take it in the festive spirit it is offered. © 2021 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. America was born on Christian beliefs, so if you want to say "happy holidays", go somewhere else. 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. 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. Tweet. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. “Happy Holidays” came to be used as an alternative to “merry Christmas” almost as soon as “merry Christmas” was standardized. You probably remember last year … It encompasses all holidays, religious in nature or not, that are celebrated during the winter holiday season. Kwanzaa is a festival not associated with any one religion, so it is not a holy day and not a holiday, just a festival. Many years ago I worked in a county courthouse. Isn't that what a lot of people say anyway? 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. Anonymous: Anonymous wrote:If I either know you and know what you celebrate, or there are clear signs of what you celebrate, I wish you that. The Obama and Bush administration both said “Happy Holidays” on the White House cards, but they both also wished the nation a “Merry Christmas” as a whole. Read more about cookies here. To me, the religious holy day known as Christmas is a different entity than the bloated secular holiday most people observe. Is it really a big deal if someone you don't know, that doesn't know you or your beliefs, gives you a warm friendly greeting. By a large margin. Margo has a varied academic background, which has involved everything from psychology and If you don't see it please check your junk folder. Should Americans wish each other "Happy holidays" or "Merry Christmas"? 'Merry Christmas' versus 'happy holidays': A tale of two expressions, "Would not true faith call for the exaltation of the broader spiritual spread?". Wherever Santa Claus takes prominence over the nativity, someone will complain that we’ve lost the true meaning of Christmas. Topics: Religion & Culture. According to church groups, this should not mean only for religions other than Christianity. Well of course, it’s all down to “political correctness”. Andrew McGill December 20, 2016. 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. Calum Marsh: Language evolves. “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. Sometimes I say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 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. "The phrase "Happy holidays" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddists, and a handful of other religions I mentioned and cited in R1." Many peopl… The phrase "Merry Christmas" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and other religions, too. "The phrase "Happy holidays" ignores non-believers, Muslims, Buddists, and a handful of other religions I mentioned and cited in R1." If people want to say one or the other, then more power to them, but just because you want to say "Happy Holidays" doesn't mean that music during Christmas will be called "Holiday Music.". Happy Holidays, Round 2,016. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!”. “Merry Christmas” is used in the U.S. while “Happy Christmas” is used in the U.K. Saying "Happy Hannukah" to someone who is not Jewish would be just as bothersome as saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is not particularly religious. For example, when “it doesn’t matter” is included as an option, 63% of Republicans or those who lean Republican say they prefer “Merry Christmas,” while 5% choose “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” and 32% say it doesn’t matter. I don’t know about you, but I want to stand up for this Christmas season I love. But what about the “holidays” for which we are wishing others such a nice time? This season, I want to greet people the way I want to without being afraid of criticism from others. Deck the halls, as they say, with boughs of holly, that are themselves as Christian or not as you want them to be. “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. Tradition has not been distorted or perverted, in any case. I sang in the church choir. This disagreement over the use of Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays leaves some people worried about offending someone over their choice of greetings. It is a traditionally Christian sentiment. Nov 19. No one is entirely certain of the answer, but there are several interesting theories. The Advent is a cycle on the Christian calendar that includes not only Christmas Day but the Epiphany on the first Sunday after January first. Unsurprisingly, they may be heard most often where repetitious chit-chat and mechanical politesse forever reign supreme: the shopping mall and the friendly stores within, which have developed philosophies of cordial inoffensive idiom more sophisticated than the layman can hope to comprehend. I was raised a Catholic—attended Catholic school through high school.I lived in a white, suburban Christian community. Merry Christmas, Happy HolidaysN'SyncWith Lyrics*Add me as your friend =D* When we compare the meaning and significance of “merry Christmas” and “happy holidays,” it seems clear that the latter, at least in historical and etymological terms, is the decidedly more devout. Has failed to load that Saves you time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money that actually.... War on Christmas ” on the fence about it Inc. all rights reserved they that... “ political correctness ” be taken out of context conviviality is a Merry... 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