I see that Ann Althouse has an entry on the use of the term "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays", and this is a topic of discussion many places on the web this year.
I prefer "Merry Christmas". I'm not religious, and I'm not Christian, so that's not it. No, I prefer "Merry Christmas" for the same reason I prefer to say that someone "died" rather than "passed away". "Happy Holidays" is a politically correct euphemism. It expresses nothing and is verbal pap, an empty phrase used when you don't know your audience and/or don't want to offend anyone. That is precisely why retailers would rather shoot themselves than use the C-word.
I prefer "Merry Christmas". I'm not religious, and I'm not Christian, so that's not it. No, I prefer "Merry Christmas" for the same reason I prefer to say that someone "died" rather than "passed away". "Happy Holidays" is a politically correct euphemism. It expresses nothing and is verbal pap, an empty phrase used when you don't know your audience and/or don't want to offend anyone. That is precisely why retailers would rather shoot themselves than use the C-word.
If a movement arises to return us to our Roman roots by using the greeting "Happy Saturnalia", I'd be happy to join. But in the meantime,
Merry Christmas!
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