Another Holiday season, another time to see this debate dusted off and dragged out by people. For as long as I can remember, people have been saying both. From most of my personal interactions, people do not seem to care which I say. Happy Holidays is meant to be inclusive to those that might not celebrate Christmas, but I always viewed Merry Christmas as having its own inclusive nature. By wishing those that do not celebrate Christmas a Merry Christmas, it is inviting them to celebrate along with you, and is that not also inclusion?
I grew up with a mother from a Jewish family and a Catholic father, so both Chanukah and Christmas were marked in my house. Granted we only marked the first day of Chanukah. I also use this particular spelling of "Chanukah" because that's the one we used in my family and because we used to joke around pronouncing it like an English speaker would read that. In my house growing up, no one cared if someone said Holidays, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus. The important part was the good will to others and taking the time to say to have a good one.
As I get older, I find myself saying "Have a good Holiday" when not on a particular Holiday, or depending on the person may say "Christmas Season" and if it's Chanukah I'll say "Happy Chanukah" and on Christmas Eve and Day, I'll say "Merry/Happy Christmas." The reason I do is to invite people to celebrate with me whatever it is I'm celebrating at the time. As far as the "Have a good Holiday," it's my Holiday time "Have a good one."
The arguments on both sides as to which people should use have their merits, but it's all just dumb in the end. If you celebrate a particular Holiday, wish others to enjoy it with you by saying which it is. Maybe you can spark a conversation and people can actively choose to learn about other Holidays and beliefs. If you want to tell everyone regardless of what they celebrate to have good times, wish them a Happy Holidays. If you don't celebrate, say Christmas, and someone says "Merry Christmas," wish them a Merry Christmas back because they were kind enough to invite you into their fold so why not at least return the kindness and wish their Holiday to be merry.
Sometimes it seems like the arguments people have are just to make themselves feel special, and that is probably the case most of the time.
To all out there, Happy Chanukah! Have a Merry Christmas! I'm gonna get drunk all the same.
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