Where In America To Say 'Merry Christmas' vs. 'Happy Holidays': Mapping the 'War on Christmas'

Five Thirty Eight ^ | 12/24/2015 | http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/where-to-say-merry-christmas-vs-happy-holidays/

[SeekAndFind]

[SkyDancer]

Probably at home. Not too sure anywhere else.

[Blue Turtle]

I do what Donald J Trump does....I say: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! This way, I get the traditional MAIN holiday in and satisfy the easily offended with happy holidays.

[GregoTX]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[be-baw]

All I’m hearing is Merry Christmas in Michigan.

[mountn man]

The local McDonalds had Dec. 31 as New Years Eve and Jan. 1 as New Years Day

Dec.25 was Holiday
Dec. 24 Holiday Eve

[chajin]

One reason for the difference is African-Americans (20 percent of the South in this sample), who strongly prefer "happy holidays" despite their high levels of religiosity.

Why? Because of Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa (Dr. Karenga's made-up Ma'at version of Hanukkah), or because "Merry Christmas" is too white? That's one I honestly don't get...

Merry Christmas!

[SeekAndFind]

RE: All I’m hearing is Merry Christmas in Michigan.

Been to Dearborn lately?

[BwanaNdege]

“May you have a Joyous Christmas”

and

“Happy Holy Days” (that’ll mess with some PC minds!)

[Eddie01]

Beef jerky time.

[Sacajaweau]

Same here is Upstate NY.....Merry Christmas!!

[elcid1970]

That can’t be right about the South.

[max americana]

I never say happy Holidays, not even once. It’s just Merry Christmas before the 24th and Happy New year after the 24th..

[MayflowerMadam]

I’d go as far as, “Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah”, but nothing else. Everyone else can be offended; I hope they are.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: That can’t be right about the South.

Are you living in the South?

[karatemom]

We have a tradition with our two little neighbor girls. On the warmest night,we take the convertible out, get hot chocolate and cookies and look at Christmas lights in our small Ohio town. This year they called out “Merry Christmas.” With one exception (and he said thank you) they all said merry Christmas back.Every. Single. One. It was a joy to see big burly men, townspeople shopping,walking or imbibing...all stop at the sound of these sweet little voices...smile..and heartily reply back! I daresay there was a bit of defiance in those replies...but so much more joy!!!
Merry Christmas!!!

[scooby321]

Its not no one on the South has said Happy Holidays

[Malsua]

I work in the NYC Metro area and there are a LOT of people who aren’t Christians, so it’s happy holidays. That said, I’ve never found a single person who is offended by Merry Christmas.

I also work with a lot of SE Asian Indians, and while most are Hindus, Sihks or other non Christian religions, they LOVE Christmas. Fortunately I don’t deal with many Mooslimes.

[mykroar]

Merry day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”