"Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays": A Summary of U.S. Holiday Greetings. The Carol "we wish you a merry christmas" is thought to date back to about the 16th century. It might also be worth noting that merry is used in phrases like play merry hell , play Merry Andrew and the alternative meaning of merry (meaning 4) meaning somewhat inebriated, which are all short-term (one hopes) states of affairs. While merry depicts an active behavior of boisterous gaiety, mostly raucous. If I were the type of person to give any holiday greetings to people, I'd hate it if I said "Happy Holidays" without thinking and someone told me I couldn't say that, so I understand. Happy is a synonym of merry. Should we greet each other with vague holiday cheer or specific Christmas-related well wishes? If "Happy Holidays" translates to "Happy day off," the same could be said about the phrase "Merry Christmas" since Christmas is usually a day that people have off. Or should we say Happy Holidays? Warm wishes 19. During the holidays of Christmas and New Year, people go for dinner, movies or clubs to celebrate the festive season. Happy Hanukkah! And rightfully so. Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas: The Last Thing That Ever Needs To Be Said About It 12/04/2013 04:00 pm ET Updated Feb 03, 2014 Every year at the beginning of December some Americans engage in a ridiculous rhetorical ritual that recycles righteous arguments about whether people should say to one another Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas is well used in Britain. Why do they call it "Happy Christmas" in the UK, and "Merry Christmas" in the states? ‘Tis the season for some to take offense when a store clerk says “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas,” or when a coffee chain converts to plain red cup… Whether it’s “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” they say the same thing: I hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season. Merry Christmas Vs Happy Christmas. On these days everyone gets ready to receive Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Wishes from their relatives and friends. They used to replace Christ with “X” in their advertisements or cards and write, “Merry Xmas.” But even that isn’t tolerated anymore. However, the debate over whether to wish “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” seems to have resurfaced again. The controversy over Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays is one of the by-products of this culture war. Merry Christmas everyone! If you are anything like me, your social media feed has been full of debate relating to the use of “Merry Christmas” this holiday season. Never do this - it's one of the quickest and easiest ways to irritate a Brit. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 13. Now that I am old (40) I don't care. Everyone seemed to understand that the spirit of the wish was more important than the exact words said. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Have a great solstice whatever. The use of the term "Happy Christmas" is quite modern and was really to get away from the drunken connotations of the word "merry". @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. Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays What do you say? I take it in the presumed spirit of goodwill in which it's offered, and return it. https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/qa-merry-christmas-vs-happy-christmas (even though now we say "Happy Holidays") 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. Main Points About Merry Christmas vs Happy Christmas. Wishing you a season filled with sweetness 17. Happy Friday! As adjectives the difference between happy and merry is that happy is experiencing the effect of favourable fortune; having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace, tranquillity, comfort; contented; joyous while merry is jolly and full of high spirits. The definitions of merry I found here and here , and for happy here and here . You need to look this up on Wikipedia. Secularists HATE the greeting “Merry Christmas” because it mentions the name of Christ. Merry Christmas is felt to leave out too many people. When asked about how stores should greet their customers over the holidays, 42% of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas,” 12% prefer “Happy Holidays” and 46% say it doesn't matter. Ilana Mermelstein can be reached at imerm@umich.edu . and other seasonal greetings.” The dictionary says “happy” is used similarly “in expressions of good wishes for a person or persons on a celebratory occasion, event, day, etc., as happy birthday, happy Christmas, happy New Year, etc.” Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays used to be easily interchangeable. Warm Holiday Greetings 14. First of all, wish you Happy Christmas from whole Team of One Mind Thoughts. Whoever told you that sounds like an a-hole. Holly Jolly Holidays 18. 11. neither is a problem...if just offends some people when it is considered incorrect for us to say Merry Christmas even though that is the holiday we celebrate. I'll take Merry Christmas over Happy Yom Kippur! It's a controversy that everyone has an opinion on. Happy Birthday! 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. The word “Merry” stems from the old English myrge, which means “pleasing, agreeable, pleasant or sweet”, and Christmas stems from the late Old English Cristes mæsse, that means “Mass of Christ.” Every year, around this time, the same debate comes to light. Happy New Year! Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays. Most people mean it well and/or say it reflexively, even knowing I am Jewish. You are confusing England with the UK. If anyone means it as a dig, that's their pettiness, not mine. 'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays' — a Look at the Numbers By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries. Happy Holidays 12. Why do we say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Christmas? Now, however, these phrases have become casualties in the battle of political correctness. We do say both, but Happy Christmas tends to predominate. Merry Christmas is frequently used by the American people while Happy Christmas is commonly used by the British. Wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year 2021. Happy Holidays versus Merry Christmas is a moot point. Happy describes inner emotional conditions too deep to demonstrate. Happy Easter! I'm sorry if you've been told you can't say Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas Gifts Idea 2020, Happy Xmas Presents And Gift Ideas 2020 For Friends, Her Or Him December 23, 2020; Merry Christmas Countdown 2020, Days Till Christmas 2020, Happy Christmas Weeks December 23, 2020; Merry Christmas 2020 Wishes For Boyfriend, Christmas Quotes & Messages For Husband December 23, 2020 if someone knows I celebrate Christmas then I would rather them say Merry Christmas, but nothing is wrong with Happy Holidays considering New Years is a holiday too and its right after Christmas. The debate between the 2 phrases goes back several decades. Anonymous: If you know the other person celebrates Christmas, "Merry Christmas". Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Happy Christmas -- the season of goodwill and peace carries loaded greetings. 16. I don't care what you wish me. 12/25/2020 01:35 Subject: Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays! Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year 15. To wish you the special gifts of this holiday season – Peace, Joy and Lasting Happiness. That said, the reason I cited in the last round about why "Merry Christmas" is acceptable was (let me copy and paste to prove I addressed this) -- "Con is is ignoring people's right to free speech. Merry Christmas! That would square well with the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year usage. December 25, 2016 December 26, 2016 Rakesh Prajapat. Christmas has almost arrived and while it is time to exchange pleasantries — this year it would be mostly virtual meet-ups and couriered presents due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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