# How to reply to "I say Merry Christmas!!1!"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359 "2018-11-30T23:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/1 "2018-11-30T23:28:56Z")
Where I work, I will be seeing 1000’s of people over the holidays. I plan on saying “Happy Holidays” to people. Last year there were some who took offense and would angrily and loudly proclaim “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” to my very innocuous “Happy Holidays!”. I never know how to respond to someone angrily shouting Merry Christmas at me. It doesn’t sound very merry. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/2 "2018-11-30T23:33:59Z")
Just say, “and a happy holidays to you too.” ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/3 "2018-11-30T23:34:59Z")
Say ‘happy ramadan’. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/4 "2018-11-30T23:35:36Z")
Ignore them. You’ve already wished them a happy holiday and they’re trying to pick a fight. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/5 "2018-11-30T23:36:55Z")
“Okay, Merry Christmas and I hope your New Year’s Day sucks.” ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/6 "2018-11-30T23:37:34Z")
It isn’t merry, and it isn’t meant to be. It’s an infantile passive-aggressive way of trying to force you to validate their way of thinking. Don’t fall for it. My standard greeting around this time of year is to say, “Enjoy your holidays!” Regardless of how someone responds, I simply smile and go on my way. If it’s one of the jerk types you’re describing, my smile tends more toward the indulgent-toward-small-children-throwing-a-tantrum variety. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/7 "2018-11-30T23:39:36Z")
I’d be tempted to go with “Hail Satan.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/8 "2018-11-30T23:44:31Z")
I just tell people to have a good day. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/9 "2018-12-01T00:00:54Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > It isn’t merry, and it isn’t meant to be. It’s an infantile passive-aggressive way of trying to force you to validate their way of thinking. Don’t fall for it. > > … Do what you want, but consider that what you say could be applied to those who say Happy Holidays as well. It all depends on the intent behind of what they say, and they are many people who say happy holidays with the infantile passive-aggressive intent of trying to force them to validate their way of thinking. Invalidating a tradition (or a traditional saying) is done for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/10 "2018-12-01T00:05:52Z")
> [@pohjonen](#): > > I’d be tempted to go with “Hail Satan.” I have GOT to remember this when I talk to my sister this December. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/11 "2018-12-01T00:08:04Z")
If they sound angry when declaring a “Merry Christmas”, how about responding with “good luck”? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/12 "2018-12-01T00:13:57Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Do what you want, but consider that what you say could be applied to those who say Happy Holidays as well. It all depends on the intent behind of what they say, and they are many people who say happy holidays with the infantile passive-aggressive intent of trying to force them to validate their way of thinking. > > Invalidating a tradition (or a traditional saying) is done for a reason. Happy Ramadan! ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/13 "2018-12-01T00:17:38Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Just say, “and a happy holidays to you too.” I’ve actually said this, preceded with “Why thank you…” and ending with turning and walking away. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/14 "2018-12-01T00:19:36Z")
I’ve always wanted to say, “WHAT’S MERRY ABOUT IT!”. 😃 Same with “WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT THE MORNING!” BTW, I usually pretend to be a Grinch/Scrooge around the holidays, but every knows I’m just playing around. Edit: Makes it hard when I’m really upset at something though, since I’m generally known to be always smiling and joking around. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/15 "2018-12-01T00:20:13Z")
Actually, this year I’m getting a LOT more Happy Holidays than in prior years. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/16 "2018-12-01T00:26:02Z")
“Go fuck yourself” “I’m not you” “I don’t care” “That’s great” Etc… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/17 "2018-12-01T00:27:24Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I plan on saying “Happy Holidays” to people. Last year there were some who took offense and would angrily and loudly proclaim “MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” to my very innocuous “Happy Holidays!”. Just checking: these people weren’t all four years old, were they? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/18 "2018-12-01T00:37:59Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > “Go fuck yourself” One day I’m going to quit via epic meltdown and that is what I’ll say 😃 > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Just checking: these people weren’t all four years old, were they? No, these are (mostly) middle class, white seniors. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/19 "2018-12-01T00:40:23Z")
Ignore them. I guarantee everyone who overheard knows they are being jerkish. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/20 "2018-12-01T00:40:24Z")
You could look deep in their eyes and calmly, slowly, softly, deliberately say “I hate you” as if you really mean it. Turns out this is really surprisingly creepy and disturbing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=2)