# Happy Holidays? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2008, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720 "2008-12-18T07:28:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SomeBodyUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@SomeBodyUK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeBodyUK)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720/1 "2008-12-18T07:28:33Z")
What’s the story with Happy Holidays? I’m a Brit in LA and we always say happy christmas or merry xmas over there… ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720/2 "2008-12-18T07:44:41Z")
It’s a politically correct seasonal wish to use in a general manner, so as not to offend someone who may not celebrate Christmas specifically. I feel as if I just took some bait… ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720/3 "2008-12-18T08:04:18Z")
I think the difference is that to a Brit the term “holiday” refers to any vacation, and not specifically to Christmas. Thus you get “holiday resorts”, “holiday airlines” and holiday makers". ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720/4 "2008-12-18T08:12:07Z")
It can also be used to indicate general well wishes that all the holidays are happy, whether that’s Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years or Hanukkah, Ramadan, Winter Solstice, Boxing Day etc. I don’t have to know or ask which holidays you’re celebrating, just a one size fits all general wish that you’re happy celebrating them. Know that part in the movie Truman where Jim Carrey’s character wishes his neighbor a good morning, then adds good afternoon and good night too; in case I don’t see you later? It’s kinda like that. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays/477720/5 "2008-12-18T08:13:46Z")
Oh, well, in that case, yes. In the US, holiday is a word used for a day or days recognized as something to remember or celebrate.