Of course, I say Happy Holidays, not Merry Christmas

The other day, a meme in my Facebook feed caught my attention. It was posted by a fairly new connection of mine. From his feed, it’s clear he’s a hardcore Trump supporter. I mention this simply to provide context, not to spark a political debate. This is the reality: I have passionate leftists in my circle and also Trump/MAGA/Conservative folks who are just as vocal. I don’t ban or judge people based on their political views.

While I don’t overthink people’s political posts (to each their own!), this meme caught my attention because I have a very clear stance on this topic — I always say ‘Happy Holidays,’ not ‘Merry Christmas,’ and it’s a deliberate choice for several reasons.

First, over the years, I’ve grown agnostic, if not atheist, in my spirituality and beliefs. I don’t subscribe to myths or rituals. This doesn’t mean I lack respect for the beliefs of others. On the contrary, it’s precisely because I respect others’ beliefs that I find it more appropriate to say “Happy Holidays” rather than narrowing seasonal greetings to a specific religious interpretation.

There are non-believers, Christians, and people of many other faiths. The New Year is a celebration for many, regardless of religious affiliation, and the days surrounding it have become a festive season — Christmas or not. It’s a time to bid…