Should We Wish You a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”?

According to a recent survey of 1,000 adults by Rasmussen Reports, 69% of Americans prefer when stores use the phrase “Merry Christmas” in their holiday advertising while only 23% prefer the politically correct “Happy Holidays” greeting. This issue of the wording of commercial holiday greetings became controversial last year when retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco used the term “Happy Holidays” in an effort to replace specific references to Christmas. In an announcement earlier this month, Wal-Mart confirmed that it will reverse policies and allow commercials and employees to say “Merry Christmas” again.

According to the same survey, this debate over commercial holiday language is one issue on which Democrats and Republicans are not sharply divided. Eighty-five percent of Republicans prefer “Merry Christmas,” and 61% of Democrats and 60% of unaffiliated voters hold the same view. Thus, it seems a love for the commercial extravaganza that is Christmas is one issue on which a majority of Americans – Democrat and Republican alike – can agree.