# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/141 "2018-12-05T17:18:41Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Maybe ten years ago, when I was a bit upset at a snarky “Merry Christmas” reply to my Happy Holidays" greeting, I replied “What just Christmas? You want my New Year’s Day to be rotten?” > > I’ve since taken to “Happy Solstice” greeting and any comment is met with, I’m sorry, but the Christmas date was stolen from Solstice celebrations. Yahey! That’s two for the Solstice - it’s a movement, brother! j ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/142 "2018-12-05T17:27:13Z")
> [@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!”. Somewhere between “Indeed.” and “Well good for you, wrathful sinner.” Depending on how much time I want to spend with the bitter fuckwit. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/143 "2018-12-05T19:11:47Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Invalidating a tradition (or a traditional saying) is done for a reason. You mean a reason such as to imply that our increasingly diverse society is placing more importance on being inclusive and is now recognizing that Christmas is a Christian holiday that not everybody celebrates? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/144 "2018-12-05T19:46:43Z")
“Io Saturnalia! And I hope your gladiator wins this season’s games!” ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/145 "2018-12-06T18:38:14Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > ^This. > > I usually respond with a smile and “Outstanding!”, regardless of what holiday they claim to celebrate. It’s no skin off my nose. Nicely snarky. Bless your heart really doesn’t work well for men or Yankees - but is the vein of passive aggressive politeness that everyone should have in their arsenal. But Outstanding works well. “How nice” or “Good for you!” is also snarky. Some people can pull off a good “I beg your pardon” in a way that makes it obvious you are begging for nothing at all. None really leave much of an opening for argument and contain enough plausible deniability regarding being actually rude to customers. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/146 "2018-12-07T20:40:04Z")
“…and God bless us every one.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/147 "2018-12-07T23:02:07Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Happy Mondegren! > > It’s [_May your wife be plagued with runners in her hose_](http://www.lyrster.com/lyrics/may-the-bird-of-paradise-fly-up-your-nose-lyrics-little-jimmy-dickens.html) D’oh! I haven’t heard the song in 40 years, and it was on a scratchy mono LP, so I was never really confident about that line at the best of times. Main thrust still the same, at least. ---
**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 8, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/148 "2018-12-08T14:59:36Z")
I once told someone who asked me what holiday I celebrated that I’m a pagan. She replied “Happy Equinox.” The winter is “Happy Solstice” but she did make the effort. Now I just tell people there’s only one December holiday I celebrate. “MY BIRFDAY.” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/149 "2018-12-09T16:24:35Z")
Anyone who even mentions December let alone that hateful and offensive day “C” needs to be shunned by society and sent to live in the arctic. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/150 "2018-12-09T16:44:07Z")
Whisper “long live the resistance,” and then do a secret pinky handshake. ---
**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 9, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/151 "2018-12-09T23:27:39Z")
First one today! It wasn’t said to me, though. A group of volunteers were outside the store on a very rainy and windy day, collecting for the food pantry. I was standing near them (but not with them) and an older couple walked by. “Happy Holidays!” they said to the couple. The couple stopped, turned to face them, and the man, without the slightest smile, curtly replied “Merry Christmas”. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds and then the couple turned and walked away. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/152 "2018-12-10T03:50:07Z")
This was in BC? ---
**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 10, 2018, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/153 "2018-12-10T04:05:44Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > This was in BC? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/154 "2018-12-10T19:01:51Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > The first time I was told to say Happy Holidays and not Merry Christmas was when I worked at the front desk of a high end retirement home, because some of the residents were Jewish (Hawaii doesn’t have a large Jewish community). If someone wished me Merry Christmas, I’d reply Merry Christmas quietly (so others don’t overhear) or just thank them. > > The significance of respecting those of other faiths really struck me one day when the sleeve of one of the residents lifted up and I saw her tattoo. And there was one man in particular who no matter the weather would always wear long sleeves. I was told it was to hide his tattoo. _SIGH_ Thankfully I wasn’t on duty that day, but I heard that this man who was the quietest, gentlest, always friendly person suddenly snapped when a fellow resident (whom he saw almost every day) raised her hand to say Hi and he claimed she was giving the Heil Hitler salute! > > On the other hand, there were a few residents who would yell “Merry Christmas” to me across the room, knowing which fellow residents present were Jewish. _Double Sigh_ > > Now, I usually don’t say anything, letting the other person take the lead and repeat the greeting they said to me. I’m even careful about Happy New Year around native Chinese people since it’s not their New Year. Less so around Koreans as the Lunar New Year (at least those I’ve met) isn’t as big an event for them. Well, you’ve got it relatively easy. You can get away with _“hau’oli makahiki hou”_ and nobody’s the wiser… ---
**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 11, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/155 "2018-12-11T15:22:15Z")
We’ve been told to say “Happy Holidays” to customers. I feel weird saying it to Jewish people because Hanukah is over, but I figure they can interpret it as “Happy New Year.” ---
**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 11, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/156 "2018-12-11T16:35:45Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > We’ve been told to say “Happy Holidays” to customers. I feel weird saying it to Jewish people because Hanukah is over, but I figure they can interpret it as “Happy New Year.” It has always included New Years, so why not. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs\_Ducky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrs_ducky/32/6227_2.png) [@Mrs\_Ducky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs_Ducky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/157 "2018-12-11T20:54:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > 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. As one of those “white seniors”, I really take offense to this post, but that’s all I’m gonna say about the subject. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/158 "2018-12-11T21:50:29Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > We’ve been told to say “Happy Holidays” to customers. I feel weird saying it to Jewish people because Hanukah is over, but I figure they can interpret it as “Happy New Year.” Speaking as a Jew, I feel “Happy Holidays” works from Thanksgiving through New Years, whenever the other holidays may fall. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/159 "2018-12-11T22:50:30Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Speaking as a Jew, I feel “Happy Holidays” works from Thanksgiving through New Years, whenever the other holidays may fall. I submit my concurring Jewish opinion. Two Jews, one opinion?! ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359/160 "2018-12-11T23:05:56Z")
Always best to go with the classics. So go with one of the iconic lines from the greatest Christmas Movie, “Yippee ki-yay, MotherF\*\*\*\*\*”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reply-to-i-say-merry-christmas-1/825359.md?page=9)