Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Why do we say Happy Holidays at all during the Christmas holiday? The greeting has become more popular recently, but the saying has been around for over 100 years. Its origins are tied to marketing, but it eventually became a modern alternative to Merry Christmas.
Why do we say Happy Holidays? Continue reading to learn more.
Origins
The expression used to be commonly found in advertisements because of its broad appeal. Dictionary.com, a leading online dictionary, states, “Advertisers use phrases like happy holidays to market gifts to as many customers and occasions as possible.” Dictionary.com cites an advertisement example from as early as 1863, and the saying garnered wider attention as Christmas became “a more secular holiday.” By at least the 1950s, several United States Presidents were also using the phrase in their holiday mail. The Atlantic, a multi-platform publisher, reports “all took care not to alienate non-Christian recipients of holiday mail.” Likewise, the meaning behind Happy Holidays has remained the same.
The Meaning
Christmas is still the most popular winter holiday, but the Happy Holidays saying is for those who celebrate other winter holidays. Grammarly, a grammar AI plugin, suggests that “the point (of Happy Holidays) is to acknowledge that different people celebrate different holidays.” It is a respectful general greeting to all strangers since knowing which holiday a stranger celebrates can be difficult. In addition, the saying also says, “wishes others a positive time of year and what matters the most is the sentiment.” Any person of any religion or background can appreciate the sentiment, and it unites all different holidays and backgrounds in a small yet meaningful way.
The Holidays of Happy Holidays
Several holidays make up the winter holiday season, and learning about the other holidays surrounding Christmas can be insightful. Time magazine, an American news magazine, lists several major “major cultural and religious holidays” that make up the holiday season. Time lists St. Nicholas Day, Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, among many more. Although Christmas is the most popular winter holiday, it shares the season with several other religious and culturally important holidays.
Happy Holidays!
The expression used to be synonymous with advertisements for all holidays, but it morphed into a welcoming and sentimental greeting. It is used to acknowledge and wish others a positive holiday, whatever it may be. It can be a uniting and meaningful saying that anyone can appreciate.
Happy Holidays from Ferry Godmother Productions. For more about holidays, community, art, and gaming, visit the rest of FerryGodmother.com.