Logan weighs in on the great debate: 'Happy Holidays' vs. 'Merry Christmas'

By Whitney Schulte

December 10, 2007 | When customers shop at T.J. Maxx this holiday season, they are greeted by employees wearing lanyards with "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," "Happy Kwanza," and "Feliz Navidad" written on them.

But employees at the downtown Logan store say that's as far as they can go giving personalized holiday greetings. They have been instructed to not say "Merry Christmas" to any of their customers.

In a 2006 poll taken by CNN.com, 69 percent of people surveyed said they prefer to use "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." Of the respondents, 61 percent also said that more stores going toward saying "Happy Holidays" is a change for the worse.

Some Cache Valley citizens seem to be torn between the two greetings.

"The cards I send this month always say 'Happy Holidays' or 'Season's Greetings.' Even though I personally celebrate Christmas, I have friends of all denominations," said Logan resident Joe Schulte.

Frieda Malensky, another Logan resident, said, "I celebrate Hanukkah and it is a pleasant surprise when someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah. However, I am not offended if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas. They have no way of knowing my religious preference, and I accept the salutation in the spirit in which it was intended. The well wisher wants me to enjoy the holiday season, nothing more, nothing less."

Anne Peters, who is visiting from Ireland, echoed the sentiments of most of the people contacted for this story. Peters said, "There is too much focus on being politically correct. Everyone wants to say the right thing, and not hurt anyone's feelings. Saying Merry Christmas has become a generic greeting of the holiday season. If it offends someone, so be it. They can tell me so, and it won't hurt my feelings. I'll simply try to remember that that particular person does not want to be wished a Merry Christmas. Big deal. I can live with that."

While many people -- especially those of younger generations -- are substituting "Happy Holidays" for more specific greetings, older people seem to be holding tight to their Merry Christmas traditions. For example, an gentleman who is a frequent customer at Borders was heard last week saying, "I've been celebrating Christmas for my whole life. That's over 80 years. Why do I need to suddenly censor what I say?"

Let's look at a little background of the phrase. Merry, as in Merry Christmas, is derived from the Old English word myrige, which means pleasant, rather than joyous or jolly.

Saying "Merry Christmas" to someone didn't really become popular until the 1700s. A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens in 1843, portrays Ebenezer Scrooge as very grumpy. Scrooge hates Christmas and any reference to the holiday. After Scrooge meets the Spirits of Christmas, he says Merry Christmas to everyone he encounters. Dickens, therefore, is often credited with popularizing the phrase.

On the other hand, "Happy Holidays" is a more generic phrase that is used as a holiday greeting for people of various denominations. More and more folks are turning to this phrase so as not to offend anyone. Many Cache Valley residents see this as diminishing the role of Christianity during the holiday season.

The question of what is the correct way to greet people this holiday season depends on personal preference. Say whatever feels right to you. Simply wish everyone the happiness and joy of the holiday season with whatever salutation you desire.

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