English

Phrase

Happy Holidays!

1. (US, Canada) A greeting used during the Christmas and winter holiday season to recognize the celebration of many holidays, including Christmas, New Year's Day, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and sometimes Thanksgiving.
   • 2009, Ruben Santos Claveria, Holiday Songs and Kisses: Christmas Songs And other Poems:

     In the United States people say Happy Holidays to include all people on the earth: the Jewish people Celebrating Hanukah, Africans celebrating Kwanza, Middle Eastern people celebrating Eid, Christians celebrating Christmas, […]

Usage notes

• This greeting is typically used only during the winter holiday season, not at other times of the year.
• The use of Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, etc. vs Happy Holidays is disputed. Some non-Christians find it offensive to be told "Merry Christmas"; conversely, some Christians take offence at being wished "Happy Holidays".^[1][2]

Translations

See also

• Merry Christmas
• season's greetings

References

1. ↑ Warren Cole Smith, A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church (2009, ISBN 1606570285)
2. ↑ Bill J Leonard, Jill Y. Crainshaw, Encyclopedia of Religious Controversies in the United States (2012, ISBN 1598848674)