# Does anyone in the USA actually say "happy holidays"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 22, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145 "2004-12-22T13:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/141 "2004-12-22T22:16:17Z")
Hey, **yojimbo** , thanks for the link! I particularly enjoy this [adorable pair of tits,](http://www.nice-tits.org/tits/xxx_willow_01.jpg), although you can tell right away it’s probably pretty chilly where they are. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/142 "2004-12-22T22:32:34Z")
Here is the perfect [compromise](http://www.ifilm.com/viralvideo?ifilmid=2658463), you won’t offend, and you won’t ignore the holiday itself. ---
**Author:** ![amphibian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@amphibian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amphibian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/143 "2004-12-22T23:32:20Z")
> [@Boldface Type](#): > > Yes, quite so, ‘The Brits’ think everyone is C of E. Every single fucker in the universe, including pet mice. It’s a good job you ‘amended’ your prior statement, heavens, you might look like a bit of a twat otherwise. Does he actually believe that the British are not aware of their own multiculturalism? Because that would be twattish. Maybe this whole thread should really be viewed as gentle pisstaking banter? I don’t have a problem with ‘happy holidays’, although I don’t think you can get thsoe cards over here. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/144 "2004-12-23T00:48:25Z")
Thought #1: Man, I really don’t give a shit. I can’t believe I read this whole thread. I REALLY can’t believe I’m replying. Thought #2: Sometimes, it’s nice, when part of a minority, to have your existence recognized. All too often people just assume and while I’m never offended per se, I often wish it were otherwise. For example, when travelling overseas, people often assume I’m from the States. It’s lovely to have someone ask me where in North America I’m from - oh, say, for example, Canada. Another example would be “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays.” I don’t really care, and I appreciate the sentiment either way, but I like to think that people are aware that there are those of us out there who don’t celebrate Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/145 "2004-12-23T01:13:49Z")
So is this whole rant the result of some national christian movement urging people to piss and moan about people not saying “merry Christmas”? In our local paper today, there was an editorial by some knothead AND a letter to the editor bitching about the same damn thing. What, is there a chain letter making the rounds urging people to whine about Jesus not getting his props? Put a fucking sock in it, for shit’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/146 "2004-12-23T01:18:24Z")
> [@amphibian](#): > > Does he actually believe that the British are not aware of their own multiculturalism? Because that would be twattish. Maybe this whole thread should really be viewed as gentle pisstaking banter? > I don’t have a problem with ‘happy holidays’, although I don’t think you can get thsoe cards over here. If here is UK, what about all the cards with ‘season’s greetings’? That’s been done since time immemorial. Doesn’t it serve the same purpose as ‘happy holidays’? The first time I visited the US I noticed the way some companies answered the phones in December. ‘Happy holidays, friend, how can I help you?’ It was the ‘friend’ rather than the ‘happy holidays’ that sounded odd to my Brit ears. I have to mention that I once had an argument with a whole bunch of Americans where they took **Owl** ’s stance and I was defending ‘happy holidays’. It’s not a Yank vs. Brit thing at all. And I suspect **Owl** was having a little bit of fun at your (our?) expense. ¡Felices fiestas, amigos/as! ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/147 "2004-12-23T01:18:43Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Speaking of the ‘militant atheist’ thing, are people in the States really going up to one another all the time and saying “God bless you”? I’ve never heard anyone do this up here, except sometimes in church, and most sneezes of my acquaintance have been greeted with “Gesundheit” or, at most, “Bless you.” Here in Texas I get told “God bless you” all the time. Not for sneezes, just for living. Half my customers today said “Merry Christmas and God bless you!” or just “God bless!” It doesn’t offend me, per se, certainly not enough to SAY anything to them - they mean it kindly - but it does make me feel a little uncomfortable ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/148 "2004-12-23T02:18:00Z")
I was under the impression that one of the standard European stereotypes of us Americans was that we were overly-religious. Now that there’s an example of us removing the religious content of an innocuous, ‘have-a-nice-day’ level statement to include everyone, suddenly we’re being ‘silly’? I realize this is just one twit saying this, and perhaps not representative of the feelings of the majority of Europeans of us. I hope so. Because the whole thing is rather… silly. Not to mention idiotic. Happy holidays. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/149 "2004-12-23T03:26:01Z")
[Der Bingle] Happy Holidays. Happy Holidays. May the calendar keep bringing Happy Holidays to you. [/Der Bingle] ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/150 "2004-12-23T06:47:02Z")
> [@LaurAnge](#): > > Thought #2: Sometimes, it’s nice, when part of a minority, to have your existence recognized. All too often people just assume and while I’m never offended per se, I often wish it were otherwise. For example, when travelling overseas, people often assume I’m from the States. It’s lovely to have someone ask me where in North America I’m from - oh, say, for example, Canada. Another example would be “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays.” I don’t really care, and I appreciate the sentiment either way, but I like to think that people are aware that there are those of us out there who don’t celebrate Christmas. YES! Exactly! I could get way more riled up about this than I do (try asking me if I’m seeing any cute girls…). Being told to have a merry Christmas doesn’t bother me (for one thing, I will, in fact, be observing the non-religious Christmas family traditions with mine); but it’s just kind of nice to have your existence recognized from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/151 "2004-12-23T07:03:03Z")
A most Wolish thread, if ever I saw one. Only read the first 30 or so entries thus far, but will dip in from time to time when I need a laugh. Does Wol’s SOH remind anyone else of Hugh Grant? **Wol** , you make me both proud and trepidacious to be British. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/152 "2004-12-23T07:25:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So is this whole rant the result of some national christian movement urging people to piss and moan about people not saying “merry Christmas”? Yup. Yet another example of Mass GroupThink™ brought to you by the right-wing media echo chamber. These coordinated memes are easy to identify, since nine times out of ten they repeat the same arguments and sound bites, with only the smallest variations. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/153 "2004-12-23T09:51:11Z")
This is why I don’t wish anybody a happy or merry anything. That and the fact that they can all fuck off, the fuckers. Your right to seasonal cheer stops at the end of my fist, or something. ---
**Author:** ![amphibian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@amphibian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amphibian)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/154 "2004-12-23T13:13:26Z")
> [@Martha](#): > > If here is UK, what about all the cards with ‘season’s greetings’? That’s been done since time immemorial. Doesn’t it serve the same purpose as ‘happy holidays’? Yeah, that’s true. Has owl not noticed this or does it not anger him so much? ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/155 "2004-12-23T13:25:35Z")
Piss on the Euros (Brits especially) if they can’t understand the Happy Holidays is a nice thing to say. First we’re too rude, not understanding culture and how sophisticated the Euros are, Then we’re too sensitive, by trying to be as inclusive as possible to all faiths in our country, Now we’re idiots because we’re just being nice to as many people as possible with one simple statement and trying _ **not** _ to offend anyone! Make up your Goddamned minds! Now, I’m going to drive my American ass in my Swedish car to my London home and my Australian girlfriend and drink myself into a coma. Happy fucking Holidays you miserable Euro-centric trash bags! Oh, and by the way - I don’t speak the Queens English because I don’t have a fucking Queen! man, that one’s been building for a while… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/156 "2004-12-23T13:55:48Z")
Happy Festivus! You have all disappointed me in the last year. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/157 "2004-12-23T14:03:15Z")
Now the rubes are calling the radio station saying there’s something wrong with the world when you can’t say “Merry Christmas.” Excuse me, fucking moronic Christian rubes. YOU CAN SAY MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS ALL YOU FUCKING WANT. Just because other people say “Happy Holidays,” or whatever, doesn’t mean that you have to. It’s classic persecution complex by the majority whent the fact that they can’t make everyone else say “Merry Christmas” means there’s something wrong with the world. Why the fuck do you need everyone to say “Merry Christmas?” Why are the simple reasons people choose to do so offensive, and why does it make you feel “Merry Christmas” is criminalized? Christ, I hate Christians. Christ: You know what, Cricey? I do to sometimes. Insufferable brats, but I have to put up with them. I guess that’s just my, you know, cross to bear. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/158 "2004-12-23T14:22:37Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I could get way more riled up about this than I do (try asking me if I’m seeing any cute girls…). So are you? You two must be lovely together! Picking out china yet? Happy Whatever! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/159 "2004-12-23T16:01:44Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Yup. Yet another example of Mass GroupThink™ brought to you by the right-wing media echo chamber. These coordinated memes are easy to identify, since nine times out of ten they repeat the same arguments and sound bites, with only the smallest variations. Not quite. One of the (many) times I’ve heard it this year, and in fact the most emphatic way I’ve heard it (other than this thread) was from a very left-wing couple. It’s hard to find people more left-wing than them, and it’s often amusing to see the wife, who is a meek and mild-mannered little slip of a woman, go off on Bush in the most vile and hateful way. But they loathe “Happy Holidays” and can speak for hours on how it’s inappropriate. No, it has nothing to do with politics, and probably little to do with religion. It’s simply the whine du jour. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145/160 "2004-12-23T16:04:56Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > try asking me if I’m seeing any cute girls… If you see any, can you send them this way? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-in-the-usa-actually-say-happy-holidays/281145.md?page=9)