# Person who doesn't respond at all to "Happy holidays" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906 "2019-12-15T20:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/42 "2019-12-18T22:57:44Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > But Happy Holidays is a pretty secular greeting (yes, holiday comes from holy day, but very people think that way any more). The festival of Festivus could fall under Holidays after all! I honestly think down here in Aus, coverage of Christmas by the mainstream media is completely secular. The most mystical part of Christmas is Santa. ‘Merry Christmas’ has no religous undertones at all. Christmas is the end of year holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/43 "2019-12-19T00:30:08Z")
In the same vein I was taught to speak to anyone as I encounter them. I often say good morning to patrons in my office building with nary an acknowledgement. Very rude IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/44 "2019-12-19T02:27:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > This weekend I said “Happy Holidays” to a friend who then replied in a sanctimonious tone, “Merry Christmas”. I then suggested he climb down off his cross, he then pointed out that I was thinking of Easter. > > We were both just kidding around, but people around us were very quiet for a bit. and this, my fellow Dopers, is why someday I would like to have a few beers with **kayaker** in his neighbourhood pub! 😃 ---
**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 19, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/45 "2019-12-19T03:07:13Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I have an acquaintance to whom, twice, I wished “Happy holidays”, and both were met with absolute silence. He didn’t say “you too” or “thanks” or “no thanks” or anything whatsoever. Not even “Bah! Humbug!” He is otherwise a friendly, polite person. > > Can anyone explain this? I have occasionally ignored similar wishes, too. \ It isn’t my holiday. Which is my least-bad choice: a reciprocated return of similar sentiment is kind of a lie (it isn’t my holiday, after all) and stopping to explain that it isn’t my holiday seems tiresome and rude. Simply ignoring it and moving on to other conversational topics sometimes seems prudent. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/46 "2019-12-19T16:14:07Z")
As a Christian, I love it when people say “Happy Holidays”. It’s inclusive, and they’re wishing me, what, like _ten_ happy days? _(when’s Festivus again? Gotta make my list…)_ Swear to Og, when my Fox News-swilling mother responds to my “Happy Holidays” with a “Merry _Christ_mas!” I’m going to say “So you only want me to have ONE good day?” Since we hit the single digits (ºF) I’ve been replying to any greeting with “Stay warm!” ([Then we all chuckle…](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EverybodyLaughsEnding)) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/47 "2019-12-19T16:39:02Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I have occasionally ignored similar wishes, too. \ It isn’t my holiday. Which is my least-bad choice: a reciprocated return of similar sentiment is kind of a lie (it isn’t my holiday, after all) and stopping to explain that it isn’t my holiday seems tiresome and rude. Simply ignoring it and moving on to other conversational topics sometimes seems prudent. New Years isn’t your holiday? ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/48 "2019-12-19T20:35:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The only December holiday I celebrate is my birthday Christ is back… and he posts on the Dope! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/49 "2019-12-19T21:23:31Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I assume that there’s some reason he doesn’t like being wished “happy holidays”, but he doesn’t want to bring it up. I’d just stop saying that to him. Exactly right. ---
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/50 "2019-12-19T21:26:23Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > In the same vein I was taught to speak to anyone as I encounter them. I often say good morning to patrons in my office building with nary an acknowledgement. Very rude IMO. not rude. A lot of us aren’t morning persons and just don’t respond the way YOU think we should. By keeping quiet, they might be refraining from actually BEING rude. ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/51 "2019-12-20T05:20:19Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I have an acquaintance to whom, twice, I wished “Happy holidays”, and both were met with absolute silence. He didn’t say “you too” or “thanks” or “no thanks” or anything whatsoever. Not even “Bah! Humbug!” He is otherwise a friendly, polite person. > > Can anyone explain this? Is this acquaintance, perchance, someone that works in a service sector that does _not_ get any time off over the christmas season? Or someone whose religion (or absence thereof) does not commemorate this time off year? Or a devout Christian who thinks you are a heathen Heretic for refusing to Honor the Holy Season with the Correct Appellation?(note the capitalizations) Or possibly just someone who believes you defiled his teenage daughter, but cannot prove it, thus hates your guts but has to be quiet about it? Or possibly someone who is remembering the 73 times when he greeted you with a chirpy ‘good morning!’, but you had not yet had your morning coffee and thus only grunted back at him? ---
**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 20, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/52 "2019-12-20T06:03:56Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > New Years isn’t your holiday? Why does that matter? No other holiday is. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/53 "2019-12-20T11:18:37Z")
As an ex-Witness, my go to move was to smile and say thank you. I reasoned that the phrase was meant to wish me joy, so a thank you was just being polite. Other Witnesses may be too morally conflicted to respond. So they revert to Pledge of Allegiance Mode, where you just stare into space until the moral conflict passes. They aren’t trying to be rude, but it seems that way to a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/54 "2019-12-20T12:30:49Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Why does that matter? No other holiday is. That’s the point of Happy “Holidays”, there are a bunch of holidays during the period, including a major secular holiday. One would have to go out of one’s way to take offense to the phrase. ---
**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 20, 2019, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/55 "2019-12-20T12:38:51Z")
Yes, it’s “Merry Christmas, but in case you don’t celebrate that, I wish you joy anyway.” I would have thought “thanks” is an okay response if you just don’t celebrate mid-winter. If you are in mourning, or dreading forced time with toxic family, an icey stare might suggest, “I’d rather you not bring that up.” ---
**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/56 "2019-12-20T13:34:58Z")
> [@Dana\_Scully](#): > > not rude. A lot of us aren’t morning persons and just don’t respond the way YOU think we should. By keeping quiet, they might be refraining from actually BEING rude. Agreed. If you can’t say anything nice… (The only time I enjoy seeing a sunrise is right before going to bed. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/57 "2019-12-20T14:05:14Z")
Honestly, I think people overthink things. (Or under-think them?) “Merry Christmas” “Happy Holidays” “Good morning” “Good day” “Happy Hanukkah” etc. are all abbreviated and leave off the “May you have a…” part of the greeting. It isn’t some sort of secret code word to show you are members of the same organization. They are all forms of well-wishes from someone that wants to say more than “Hello” “Hi” “Greetings” or “I acknowledge your presence”. Accepting good will should not be offensive to any reasonable person, and if you feel you must reciprocate then do so with a greeting in whatever form you are comfortable. If you get stuck, just respond to religious greetings with “Live long and Prosper.” That shouldn’t offend anyone but militant nerf-herders. ---
**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 20, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/58 "2019-12-20T18:32:40Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > That’s the point of Happy “Holidays”, there are a bunch of holidays during the period, including a major secular holiday. One would have to go out of one’s way to take offense to the phrase. Who said they took offense to the phrase? ---
**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 20, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/59 "2019-12-20T18:35:01Z")
> [@Sirreal72](#): > > Honestly, I think people overthink things. (Or under-think them?) “Merry Christmas” “Happy Holidays” “Good morning” “Good day” “Happy Hanukkah” etc. are all abbreviated and leave off the “May you have a…” part of the greeting. **It isn’t some sort of secret code word to show you are members of the same organization.** They are all forms of well-wishes from someone that wants to say more than “Hello” “Hi” “Greetings” or “I acknowledge your presence”. Accepting good will should not be offensive to any reasonable person, and if you feel you must reciprocate then do so with a greeting in whatever form you are comfortable. If you get stuck, just respond to religious greetings with “Live long and Prosper.” That shouldn’t offend anyone but militant nerf-herders. The bolded part is absolutely wrong as far as societal customs and secondary effects go. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/60 "2019-12-20T20:37:51Z")
If someone can’t respond to happy holidays with “thanks” or “you too,” they probably have some agenda playing in their head that’s only important to them. ---
**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 23, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906/61 "2019-12-23T14:53:57Z")
I had one customer yesterday who, when I gave her the obligatory “Happy Holidays” responded with a snarled “Merry Christmas.” As I tell people, the only December holiday I celebrate is my Birthday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/person-who-doesnt-respond-at-all-to-happy-holidays/844906.md?page=4)