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I moved from the Northeast, where I heard Merry Christmas all the time. I would think in the "Bible Belt" I would hear Merry Christmas more. Is it political correctness?
People can say Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Years, Merry Christmas, Merry Xmas, Happy Boxing Day, or whatever "Merry" or "Happy" tidings of joy float their boat to me.
I never look gift horses or good wishes sincerely offered in the mouth.
I think store employees are probably instructed these days to not say anything unless greeted one way or the other by a customer. Probably to avoid the accusations that "Happy Holidays" takes the Christ out of Christmas. So businesses just choose to avoid the argument altogether.
This has become SUCH a "charged" issue. Saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas can be insensitive, so "Happy Holidays" came along to take its place (and I think is more comprehensive, and includes Christmas among all the other "holidays"). However, now there is a movement that find this offensive as if saying "Happy Holidays" is meant to "erase" Christmas. I can understand how people are afraid to say either one anymore.
If I KNOW someone celebrates Christmas, I am likely to say Merry Christmas to them. If I don't, I will say a different goodwill greeting.
Thought: many native Southerners think that a lot of people with strong "New York" accents must be Jewish (I don't know why--but a lot of Jews come from New York to this area, I guess?) so if you do have such an accent, maybe people think you are Jewish and are trying to be sensitive by not saying "Merry Christmas"??? Just a thought.
If you say "Merry Christmas" first and then still get no reply, that is odd. Most of all, I just think the whole issue has made people afraid to say either "Merry Christmas" OR "Happy Holidays" to someone they don't know?
People can say Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Years, Merry Christmas, Merry Xmas, Happy Boxing Day, or whatever "Merry" or "Happy" tidings of joy float their boat to me.
I never look gift horses or good wishes sincerely offered in the mouth.
Since you left it out:
HAPPY FESTIVUS!!!
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