# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/21 "2018-12-01T00:43:38Z")
Oh, well white seniors, that makes sense. They’re the primary group watching Faux News and the war on Christmas is making them confused and therefore angry. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/22 "2018-12-01T00:49:14Z")
> [@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. That is only true if one assumes that all involved are Christians or are expected to respect the Christian traditions more than any others. I don’t, and I’m not invalidating anything. My greeting is merely more inclusive. ETA: Moreover, I don’t care how you say it. If you want to say, “Merry Christmas!” I’m fine with that. That does not impose on my any obligation to reply in kind. ---
**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, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/23 "2018-12-01T00:50:01Z")
Since I’m Asian, I’ve used “I’m Buddhist” a few times just to see their expression. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/24 "2018-12-01T00:54:12Z")
I did this once, but it only works before sundown on December 24: “Christmas? Seriously?” (Checking imaginary watch) “But…but it’s still Advent. It’s not appropriate to wish someone a merry Christmas until the Christmas season has truly begun and Advent has come to a close.” I’ll probably never do it again, and it WAS kind of jerkish. But it sure felt good. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/25 "2018-12-01T00:56:10Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I’ve actually said this, preceded with “Why thank you…” and ending with turning and walking away. When someone wishes me “merry christmas” or “happy holidays”’ I usually say “thank you” and walk away. They aren’t my holidays. I don’t celebrate any of them. But there is no point in lecturing a stranger about that, so I just walk away. I do return “happy new year” with a “to you as well” or similar, tho. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/26 "2018-12-01T01:10:55Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > I did this once, but it only works before sundown on December 24: > > “Christmas? Seriously?” (Checking imaginary watch) “But…but it’s still Advent. It’s not appropriate to wish someone a merry Christmas until the Christmas season has truly begun and Advent has come to a close.” > > I’ll probably never do it again, and it WAS kind of jerkish. But it sure felt good. Why jerkish? Anyone who believes that there ever was a “war on Christmas” is a moron, and deserves it. I would go further. I would say, “Sorry, I’m a _ **real** _ Christian. We can’t say that yet–because Advent isn’t over. What’s _ **your** _ religion? Are you atheist? How nice! Tell me about that.” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/27 "2018-12-01T01:16:39Z")
“And does that mean you win?” ---
**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:** [December 1, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/28 "2018-12-01T01:40:23Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I’ve always wanted to say, “WHAT’S MERRY ABOUT IT!”. 😃 Same with “WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT THE MORNING!” You could always go with Tolkien’s suggestion; > [@Gandalf the Grey](#): > > Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/29 "2018-12-01T01:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > “All of them at once,” said Bilbo. "And a very fine morning for a pipe of tobacco out of doors, into the bargain. Well diffused by Bilbo of course. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/30 "2018-12-01T01:47:47Z")
Thumbs up, grin, no words. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/31 "2018-12-01T01:48:46Z")
Get indignant right back. “How dare you take the “holy” out of the holidays!” ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/32 "2018-12-01T01:54:48Z")
It seems like this time of year has become so fraught with perceived offense and the desire to not offend that you can’t say anything without someone getting bent out of shape about it. Being rude, or snarky, or snippy back isn’t going to help anyone’s mood, and if the purpose of your “Happy Holidays” greeting is to be pleasant and friendly, then just wish them a cheery Merry Christmas back. Nothing takes the wind out of a rude person’s sails like being met with politeness. Or is there a personal reason you don’t say Merry Christmas? Then perhaps a better response would be “Festive Greetings to you, too” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/33 "2018-12-01T01:58:35Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Then perhaps a better response would be “Festive Greetings to you, too” Nuts to that: they aren’t my holidays. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/34 "2018-12-01T02:01:30Z")
Seriously, fight a little ignorance, take a moment to teach them that ‘holidays’ derives from the conflation of ‘Holy’ and ‘Days’. It’s meaning is actually, ‘Happy Holy Days’. And how can that be offence to a God fearing Christian? Then imply people offended by it are likely just a little uneducated or ignorant of its real meaning, and everyone else ought to take a moment to correct them, so they can stop embarrassing themselves like that, dontcha think? ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/35 "2018-12-01T02:09:28Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Nuts to that: they aren’t my holidays. But you aren’t encountering 1000s of people around this time of year, and presumably greeting them with something you hope is seasonally appropriate, as it seemed to me, the OP is. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/36 "2018-12-01T02:26:30Z")
Mazel tov. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/37 "2018-12-01T02:28:57Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > But you aren’t encountering 1000s of people around this time of year, and presumably greeting them with something you hope is seasonally appropriate, as it seemed to me, the OP is. The encountering 1000s of people, yes. The greeting them with something I hope is seasonally appropriate, no. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/38 "2018-12-01T02:41:10Z")
If you don’t mind using a little Yiddish, the perfect response is “Merry Kratsmach” which translates to “Merry Scratch Me.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/39 "2018-12-01T02:53:39Z")
Say feliz navidad. Then they can hate you for not talking American. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/40 "2018-12-01T03:00:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Ignore them. I guarantee everyone who overheard knows they are being jerkish. This is the winner. Smile and move on to the next person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=3)