Can someone explain why everything is 'Happy Holidays' and not Merry Christmas?!

[FoodieFood]

'Happy Holidays' seems to be everywhere this year, from Christmas cards, banners in shops and windows etc, and I'm a bit baffled because last year is was all 'Merry Christmas' as it has been forever; why the change?!

Someone at work said it's because 'Merry Christmas' could be deemed as offensive but couldn't explain why, and I've racked my brains but I genuinely cannot think of how this could be deemed as offensive!

Am I missing something or have people just changed from Merry to Happy...?

I agree it’s an Americanism.

Covers Hanukkah as well as Christmas in a country with more Jewish people. That’s what I’ve always thought anyway.

I dont like americanisms but have had plenty of happy hannukah around here along with happy christmas, neither offends me.

Sadly its not completely a daily fail troll as my children's school did have a group of parents try and ban all mention of Christmas as they followed a super strict sect of Islam and celebrating another religions festival was a big no no, but also they did not want there children missing out on fun so instead of allowing them to take part wanted it banned for everyone.

Was the same with a small group of families who follow Haredi Judaism that also wanted to not mentioned for the same reason but at a previous school.

(its still very very rare and the 2 cases are the only time i have seen any one try to stop Christmas)

i remember being told off by a child for saying Happy Christmas and the correct greeting was 'Happy Holidays'. I think I must have made a face because her mother backed her up. I just nodded and said 'Oh. OK then'. Still thought they were bonkers and I have never run into such madness since.

Seasons greetings seems a nicely middle-of-the-road safe greeting if you want to include everyone's celebrations. Although I prefer Yule myself.

I've only ever heard of people claiming other faiths are offended by the use of 'Merry christmas' I've never actually heard anyone say they are offended by it.
Happy holidays is an Americanism, there are lots of other examples of americanisms we have adopted.

It's an American generic thing. They use it because of the many different faiths that live there and it covers just about everyone so that no one can get offended. Not something that I would like to see happen here. UK is a Christian country and I don't think Christmas should be minimised into becoming 'happy holidays'. Other religions have their own special celebrations and I doubt they would they would want to name change their religious days either. Happy Christmas

She's not saying that at all @Cantuccit! Don't know how you read that meaning from that post.

I didn't read it that way either Reborn

indeed

And I don’t think OP came across as begrudging towards people who celebrate xmas but have some annual leave over the festive period.

I'm offended by it. We are respectful enough of other celebrations. I feel it should be fair enough to keep it as Christmas. It is to do with Jesus birth after all.

I'm offended by it..... I feel it should be fair enough to keep it as Christmas

Who do you imagine is trying to change it from Christmas? To what? You must know if you are offended by it......?

This discussion gets recycled every year all over the media. Be original OP.

I've asked Mumsnet to delete this thread. I asked a question out of genuine curiosity with zero malice, division or ill-intent meant, and I've had sarcastic and accusatory responses which I have found quite upsetting

O come on now OP. You said you wanted to know why everything is "happy holidays" instead of merry christmas. Yet you are annoyed when we ask you for any examples of where you have observed this sudden change? Because you don't have any.
Therefore you started this thread in bad faith.

Agree it's an American thing. Covers the whole season from Thanksgiving through to Christmas. There are larger Jewish communities in the US as well and Hanukkah falls in the middle, so it's a way of covering all your bases without needing to be specific about which one! I used to laugh with an American colleague that "Happy Holidays" would be more likely to be said in the UK to someone off to Tenerife for a fortnight in August.....

My mum used to agonise about sending a Christmas card to her lovely Jewish neighbours and would scour the shops for a pack which said "Seasons Greetings" inside so as not to offend. Made me laugh every year, as said lovely neighbours always sent her one saying "Merry Christmas"!

I suspect the person who told you this OP, is either racist or believes the shit peddled by the DM and posted on Facebook.

Have you actually seen any examples of this?

It is because some PC twat thinks non- christians will be offended. Of course they have never asked them but have taken it upon themselves to be offended on their behalf. But if they asked peole of other faiths or none they would say that of course they are not offended.

It is because some PC twat thinks non- christians will be offended

Ummmm no.

Its because racist twats like to whip up outrage amongst other frothing racists, and spread shit all over the media which isn't true.

I'm offended by it. We are respectful enough of other celebrations. I feel it should be fair enough to keep it as Christmas. It is to do with Jesus birth after all

Please tell me you're joking?!

1. There's nothing to be offended by because it's not true.

2. Christmas was a pagan winter solstice celebration for millennia before the christians co opted it.
   Jesus as an historical figure wasn't born anywhere near Christmas time anyway.
   So can pagans demand that christians give up ownership of christmas because it was theirs first?

Christmas has, actually, very little to do with christianity when you stop and assess it.

This has been going on for decades....frothing idiots trying to wind up other frothing idiots.

Because people say and buy whatever they want. I dont see why its anymore valid to try and force anyone to only celebrate Christmas.

Its a seasonal thing, I look forward to the holiday from work, the kids their holidays from school, so its natural to look forward to and say 'Happy Holidays'. Christmas is only one day and its nice to have a whole season to enjoy.

Christmas also has religious/churchy connotations that I know a lot of people like to avoid.

I've not seen happy holidays anywhere.

“Happy Holidays” several festivals that happen at this time of year, from several cultures - Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Bohdi, St Nicholas, Winter Solstice, New Year.

i havent seen much happy holidays unfortunately. I quite like the idea as it encompasses all the major holidays around this time of year and doesnt assume everybody is christian

I have never seen happy holidays used in the UK yet every year someone pipes up about not being able to say Merry Christmas anymore.
Fwiw I don’t think the OP actually meant any harm but SM is always full of this banning Christmas nonsense which simply IS NOT HAPPENiNG.

I actively looked for Christmas cards that didn’t have the word Christmas on. I could only find a couple and I didn’t like them.