# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/41 "2018-12-01T03:05:16Z")
ignore people that want to pick a fight with you over horseshit. Know that these people are looking for a fight and are best left to stew in their own juice. Nothing you can do to help them. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/42 "2018-12-01T03:13:28Z")
“Bless your heart.” Three words that convey a lot of meaning. Said condescendingly, it’s pretty lethal. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/43 "2018-12-01T03:17:39Z")
“A violent Christmas and a savage New Year.” ---
**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, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/44 "2018-12-01T04:21:38Z")
“Merry Everything! & Happy Always!” ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/45 "2018-12-01T04:27:07Z")
I reply with “And a Happy Festivus to you!” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/46 "2018-12-01T04:28:06Z")
I just kind of back away and then say something like, “Umm, yeah, oookay.” What else can you do? These people are generally insane. Fortunately I haven’t really encountered them all that much, if at all. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/47 "2018-12-01T04:50:29Z")
Seems like **Floaty** may work in retail? In which case some of the appropriate but angrier responses might not be…appropriate. I like the idea of something along the lines of the suggestions upthread, something like “Yes, that’s one of the holy days I was wishing you happiness for!” said with a smile. Of course I’m too curmudgeonly to take my own advice. I’d probably plan to say nothing at all in such a position, and smile or just nod curtly depending on my perception of the greeting thrown my way. However, I also like saying Merry Christmas (even though I’m not a believer) because, well, that’s what the holiday is. I’m a self-contradictory narcissist, what can I say? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/48 "2018-12-01T07:42:48Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Mazel tov. I’d go with “And Happy Hanukah to you.” “Putz.” ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/49 "2018-12-01T09:43:06Z")
If someone takes offense to 'Happy Holidays", smile at them and shout, “You should be boiled in your own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through your heart.” Walk away muttering “Bah Humbug”. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/50 "2018-12-01T09:52:33Z")
“I will not stand idly by as you perpetrate your war on unnamed holidays!!” ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/51 "2018-12-01T11:33:58Z")
Almost completely nonapropos, I used to work with a kind of weird guy who’d always greet me each morning with “May the Force be with you”. I took to responding with “Hail Ming”, and he was completely satisfied with that. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/52 "2018-12-01T12:45:37Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > 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. Stick with your _Happy Holidays_ and if you get somebody taking offense and yelling back angrily to you, _MERRY CHRISTMAS_, then come back with _MERRY MYTHMAS TO YOU TOO!_ But be merry about it, the bigger the grin when you say it the better. Or if they are really pissed, and you’re too, yell back, **MERRY MYTHMAS TO YOU TOO, YOU SON OF A BITCH!** Aw, nothing like the holidays. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/53 "2018-12-01T13:22:22Z")
“Well fuck off then, why don’t ya”. I’ve said that with a smile. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/54 "2018-12-01T14:39:55Z")
I never initiate any sort of holiday greeting. When someone says “Happy Xxxxx” to me I say “Yeah, ho ho ho and all that stuff.” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/55 "2018-12-01T16:19:34Z")
“And a happy, ‘Ack, Ack, A-Dak to you.’” If they get it, you defuse the situation. If not, they think you’re crazy and will avoid you. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/56 "2018-12-01T16:47:23Z")
I work in a store owned by Jewish people, and I get “Merry Christmas” a lot. I always say “Thank you.” Same with Happy Hanukkah. If people ask me what I celebrate, I say “The only December holiday I celebrate is my birthday.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/57 "2018-12-01T17:12:09Z")
“I fart in your general direction”. mmm ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/58 "2018-12-01T17:15:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I work in a store owned by Jewish people, and I get “Merry Christmas” a lot. I always say “Thank you.” Same with Happy Hanukkah. > > If people ask me what I celebrate, I say “The only December holiday I celebrate is my birthday.” I think the issue here isn’t about people wishing you a Merry Christmas or whatever, but people choosing to respond to “Happy Holidays” with a chastising “I say Merry Christmas”, implying some moral superiority and landing a blow in the “War On Christmas”. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/59 "2018-12-01T17:24:44Z")
I have tinsel burns on the inside of my left calf; War On Xmas, 2011. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/60 "2018-12-01T17:47:02Z")
[del]I have Frank Burns in my VCR; War on Korea, 1951.[/del] nm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=4)