“Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”? While schools and businesses are far more inclined to use the former lest they offend someone, it turns out that, on this issue anyway, the United States is actually, you know…united.
According to Pew Research Center, 92% of Americans celebrate Christmas. A whopping 81% of non-Christians—including 87% of those with no religion, 76% of Asian-American Buddhists, and 73% of Hindus—also celebrate the holiday. Heck, nearly a third of U.S. Jews had a Christmas tree in their homes during the 2012 holiday season.
What’s more, when asked how stores should greet customers over the holidays, nearly half of Americans say it really doesn’t matter. “Merry Christmas” is preferred by 42%; 12% would rather hear “Happy Holidays.”
And this is all happening as the percentage of Christians in America is actually dropping.
So basically we have a cranky minority—around one in ten—who’s at least indirectly responsible for the terrible clichés we see every year on corporate Christmas holiday cards. Not to mention for creating a situation in which this sort of nonsense is taken seriously.
So go ahead. Say whatever you like. Chances are pretty good the recipient of your chosen holiday greeting will be totally fine with it. Even if it is “Merry Christmas.”
