---
"title": "Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays"
"description": "While more Americans would rather hear Merry Christmas than a less religious greeting, a plurality (45%) say it doesn’t matter."
"date": "2008-12-15"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2008/12/15/merry-christmas-vs-happy-holidays/"
---

# Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

When given the option of hearing “Merry Christmas” or a less religious greeting — like “Happy Holidays” — in stores and businesses, Americans choose Merry Christmas by a 60%-to-23% margin. When specifically given “doesn’t matter” as an option, however, a 45%-plurality have no preference for how they are greeted during the holiday season — 42% want Merry Christmas and 12% prefer the less religious greeting. Seniors (those ages 65 and older) strongly prefer Merry Christmas (64%) but the youngest Americans (18-29) are much more likely to say it does not matter (59%). Politically, Republicans are the biggest advocates of Merry Christmas (62%), while nearly half (49%) of Democrats and a small majority (52%) of independents are unconcerned by stores’ choice of holiday greetings. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/report/265/wal-mart-a-good-place-to-shop-but-some-critics-too)