Would you prefer people to wish you a “happy <holiday you celebrate>” or a “happy <holiday they celebrate>”?

32 comments

  1. Whatever they celebrate. This phase is most often said by strangers in a non religious context, so I cannot expect them to know what I celebrate.

  2. Feels like Happy Holidays covers it.

    I don’t know how someone would know what I celebrate.

  3. I don’t care. What will enrage me is any doofus who makes the asinine claims of “You can’t say Merry Christmas anymore!”

  4. I wish people happy <the holiday they celebrate>.

    I hang out with a group of Jewish people and I’m not Jewish. If they said “Happy Hanukkah!” to me at the annual Hanukkah party, I’d just assume they were feeling the holiday spirit and say thanks and same to you. It’s not a value judgment, people just get excited.

  7. If you know the person wish them their holiday. When I lived in a community with many Muslims, I would wish them Eid Mubarak at Eid. They would wish me merry Christmas. It felt respectful and nice while we recognizing our differences. But if I was wished a happy Eid I simply took it as a kind greeting.

  8. Frankly, I couldn’t care less either way. The sentiment is the same either way so why does it really matter?

  10. How are they supposed to know what holiday I celebrate? Honestly, I don’t care what they wish me. Whether they say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Festivus, I’ll just respond, you too!

  11. I just don’t care. Someone wishing you a Happy whatever is good intentioned and I can’t imagine being offended if they said a different holiday than whatever I might care about

  14. I don’t mind either way, but I think there is a feeling of welcomeness by wishing someone what you celebrate, but also a feeling of respect by acknowledging the holiday they celebrate.

    And there are so many holidays throughout the year, I feel like both have a time and a place.

  16. Either.

    >happy <holiday you celebrate>

    They’re acknowledging my culture, perhaps our shared culture. That’s nice.

    >happy <holiday they celebrate>

    It’s their culture, and while I may not celebrate whatever holiday it is, they’re choosing to share their goodwill with me nonetheless.

  18. I worked for a lot of wealthy Jewish people over the years, quite a few gave me “Merry Christmas” cards at this time of the year. Happy people build things, not tear things down.

  19. I do Christmas, so I’d prefer being wished a merry Christmas, but it’s not like an absolute requirement, if someone wants to wish me a happy whatever holiday they celebrate that’s perfectly acceptable to me. Though I’ll likely say merry Christmas, unless the person specifically requests a separate holiday.

    I know someone who’s Jewish so I’ll say happy Hanukkah, for example

  20. I honestly don’t care as long as the intent is real or genuine. Even if they told me happy Fourth of July now, I’d be cool with it

  22. So my feeling is that winter holidays are a cultural thing as much as a religious thing at this point. In fact, my atheist friends tend to be the ones to go most over-the-top. I’ve left the Church but I still feel that winter holidays are for all of us. So, just wish me a happy whatever day it is today! If it’s Kwanza, tell me happy Kwanza. It’s not “for” me but I think it’s a beautiful holiday and I’m quite happy to enjoy it with you. If it’s Hanukkah, let’s say Happy Hanukkah! Etc. They’re all essentially holidays celebrating liberation from oppression and/or shepherding in a new era. And the foods is bomb, there’s fun music and sparkly decorations. Whats not to love? There’s room for all of it! So, why not just enjoy all of it?

  23. Doesn’t matter to me. The point is they wish well for me either way. I see it as a po-tay-toe po-tah-toe kinda thing.

  24. I would prefer they wish me a happy holiday that I celebrate, of course. If I don’t celebrate their holiday, why would they wish me a happy one? I don’t celebrate Diwali, for example – I wouldn’t be upset if someone said “Happy Diwali!” to me, but it wouldn’t make sense. It would need like saying “Happy Tuesday!” On the other hand, my friend is from Iran, so I tell him “Happy Nowruz!” when I remember to. I think it shows cultural sensitivity.

  25. Since this is in the AskanAmerican sub…. Long story short, unless you know the person and their preferences, just do what you feel to be right at the time.

    In the cities: “Happy Holidays” usually covers it.

    Small towns or someone covered in Jesus jewelery: “Merry Christmas” is a safe bet.

    Standard line from my Dad: Merry Christmas, and if I don’t see you any sooner, Happy New Year!

    Why we as a people just can’t say “Merry Christmas!” …response of “Happy Hanukkah!” Etc and everyone just get along with it I’ll never know.

  26. I don’t care. And after working at a toy store for a few years, I stopped saying either.

  31. I’d like to know what holiday they celebrate. We can’t practice a pluralistic society if we hide pluralism under catch-all greetings like “happy holidays.” It would be great to wish someone “merry Christmas!” and receive a reply of “happy Hanukkah!”

  32. I wish people Merry Christmas unless I know their religion and they aren’t Christian. My Jewish friends wish me a Hanukkah sameach, and my Indian friends do similar for Diwali. I’ve been honored to be invited to celebrations for each.

    I don’t see wishing someone a joyful greeting of their religion as anything but good. It certainly doesn’t force their religion on me or threaten me. They’re trying to share their joy with me. That’s pretty wonderful.

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