Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas

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As the holiday season rolls around, the ongoing debate of which term is more socially encompassing, Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, continues.

Companies and organizations started to change their policies on the term Merry Christmas, when criticisms arose concerning the term, saying that it was limiting to the individuals who do not celebrate Christmas.

The holiday of Christmas started off as a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Over the years, Christmas has become associated with presents, trees, reindeer and Santa Clause. People use the term Merry Christmas, when talking about both parts of the Christmas holiday. Other holidays that are celebrated around the same time are Kwanzaa and Hanukkah.

Overall, I feel the debate is over played. Yes it is important to make sure everyone feels included during the holidays but the fact that some get overly offended if Merry Christmas is used instead of Happy Holidays is outrageous.

I do feel that it is smart for companies and organizations to use the policy of saying Happy Holidays to please a wide range of customers, but employees should not be criticized if they do not say that. In America, we have the freedom of speech, part of that is being able to say whatever term you prefer during the holiday season.

The holidays are a time to focus on family and friends. There are more important problems in life for people to worry about rather than getting offended if someone says Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays.