Do you say Christmas...

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

…or "XMas"? Or perhaps "Happy Holidays"?

 

[Meriweather]

To my family, Merry to Christmas.
In general, I say Happy Holidays.

 

[amcnj]

Merry Christmas for some, but a more generic Happy Holidays or Enjoy the Holidays to others.

 

[_19disnA]

To people we know who celebrate Christmas, we say Merry Christmas. To friends who we know are Jewish we say Happy Holidays to respect their form of celebration. Out in public, when you don't know the denomination of a particular individual, Happy Holidays seems to cover most everyone while being respectful of the particular holidays they happen to celebrate when you don't know them well enough to be able to tell the difference.

 

[CynBeth]

I say Happy Holidays to be respectful of all of the different ones around this time.

 

[ronandannette]

Does anybody anywhere actually say "Xmas" out loud?

 

[dizneegirl]

Does anybody anywhere actually say "Xmas" out loud?

When I read it, I say it that way in my head. But I don't think I've ever said, or heard it said, out loud. I think it's just a written abbreviation, isn't it?

 

[China Expat]

If one is referring to Christmas, say Merry Christmas! If you are being more inclusive of all holidays, say Happy Holidays

 

[fla4fun]

It depends on who I am speaking to. If it is someone who celebrates Christmas then I wish them a Merry Christmas. If I don’t know what holiday(s) they may be celebrating I wish them Happy Holidays since most people at least acknowledge New Year’s as a holiday. If I know they are celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanza I will give them greetings for those specific holidays.

If someone greets me with a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays I will return the same greeting.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays together.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I always say Merry Christmas. If I am concerned that it might offend, I say nothing.

 

[hardcorestitch]

It’s a variation of the two common phrases but I err more on the “Merry Christmas”.

 

[disykat]

When I read it, I say it that way in my head. But I don't think I've ever said, or heard it said, out loud. I think it's just a written abbreviation, isn't it?

Yes, a written abbreviation using the Greek X, which I remember as (not an expert) being a symbol for "CHI" and used as a Christ symbol. I had always seen it written like an X with a big P in it when I was a kid, which is called the "Chi Rho" and was used in the early church as an abbreviation for Christ. However, that symbol isn't generally well known now and certainly isn't part of our usual typeface.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Yes, a written abbreviation using the Greek X, which I remember as (not an expert) being a symbol for "CHI" and used as a Christ symbol. I had always seen it written like an X with a big P in it when I was a kid, which is called the "Chi Rho" and was used in the early church as an abbreviation for Christ. However, that symbol isn't generally well known now and certainly isn't part of our usual typeface.

Really? Interesting! I'd always assumed the "X" in "Xmas" was a symbol for the Cross.

 

[Magical2017]

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

 

[LilyWDW]

Happy Holidays since I myself only celebrate "Christmas" as a family situation and a general holiday. I am not Christian. I am Pagan. So I want to include all people in what I say. Has nothing to do with offending others but everything to do with being a welcoming person to all.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Merry Christmas

 

[MamaMermaid]

Merry Christmas if I know the person celebrates Christmas; Happy Holidays if I'm not sure. To me, a festive greeting is appreciated even if it's not "my" holiday greeting.

 

[Deb]

I always say Merry Christmas. If I am concerned that it might offend, I say nothing.

can I ask why you prefer to say nothing over a general holiday greeting?

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I say Happy Holidays unless it's specifically Christmas Day or it's a person-specific thing. It's nothing to PC or anything like that. I personally see it as a more accurate and streamlined greeting to say Happy Holidays.

At the very least, I am wishing a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, but Happy Holidays is a more concise way of expressing both. If it's just before Thanksgiving, you can also wrap that into the catch-all Happy Holidays greeting. I also celebrate Hanukkah as my mom's side of the family is Jewish and I was raised as such. So, being wished a Happy Holidays is also far more appropriate when you could have people in your mix that celebrate more than just Christmas or don't celebrate Christmas at all. So, from that angle, I look at it as a better way of covering a wide variety of friends and family without fumbling over a bunch of combined greetings.