▼ Key Takeaways
- “Merry Christmas” has broad public support. YouGov’s December 2024 survey found 65% preferred it, compared with 26% who preferred “Happy Holidays.”
- Many evangelicals object to replacing “Merry Christmas.” Lifeway’s 2018 survey found 65% of respondents with evangelical beliefs considered the substitution offensive.
- Your greeting can influence shopping preferences. A 2017 Morning Consult survey found 22% of self-identified evangelicals said “Happy Holidays” would make them less likely to shop at a business.
- Saying “Merry Christmas” is a simple opportunity to express your faith. Say it with conviction, warmth, and the joy of celebrating Christ’s birth.
It’s Christmas.
Should you say, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”?
Christmas. The word itself makes the point.
It’s about Christ. It’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
As a Christian, saying “Merry Christmas” gives me an opportunity to proclaim my faith and share the joy of His birth.
When “Happy Holidays” is used to avoid acknowledging Christmas, I see a cultural cop-out. I oppose the effort to push Christ out of Christmas.
And the research reveals something you may find surprising: Americans overwhelmingly prefer “Merry Christmas” when asked to choose between the two greetings.
Here are five things you should know.
1. The cultural pressure to replace “Merry Christmas” must be challenged.
The debate goes back decades. Pew was polling Americans about the greetings used by stores and businesses in 2005.
Political correctness too often pressures Christians to keep their faith out of public view. Replacing “Merry Christmas” can become one more way to make the season secular.
You should be able to celebrate the birth of Christ openly, joyfully, and without apology.
2. “Merry Christmas” gives you a simple opportunity to express your faith… and gratitude… the love of Christ.
Why are we celebrating?
Because of the birth of Jesus Christ.
That’s what I want my greeting to reflect.
I have many Jewish friends. For years, they have known that, as a Christian, it’s Christmas for me.
I say “Happy Hanukkah” to them, and they love it.
They say “Merry Christmas” to me, and I love it.
They’re not offended when I say “Merry Christmas.”
They understand what I’m celebrating.
We acknowledge each other’s faith and traditions. That makes sense to me.
The political correctness that pressures us to avoid naming our own celebration makes no sense.
When you say “Merry Christmas,” you have an opportunity to share the joy, hope, and meaning of Christ’s birth.
Use it.
3. The polls show “Merry Christmas” has broad public support.
A YouGov survey found:
● 65% preferred “Merry Christmas.”
● 26% preferred “Happy Holidays.”
That’s a 39-point difference.
The same survey found that even among people who weren’t celebrating Christmas, 42% preferred being greeted with “Merry Christmas,” compared with 35% who preferred “Happy Holidays.”
Monmouth University found a similar pattern: 61% of Americans usually said “Merry Christmas,” while 30% usually said “Happy Holidays.”
These polls asked different questions—personal preference and usual practice. Both found “Merry Christmas” well ahead.
4. Many Christians are offended when “Happy Holidays” replaces “Merry Christmas.”
As a Christian, I’m offended when the name of our celebration is deliberately pushed aside.
Lifeway Research asked Americans directly about the substitution.
It found that 65% of those with evangelical beliefs considered it offensive when people said “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Among Christians overall, the figure was 40%. Among Americans overall, it was 32%.
Businesses concerned about offending customers should pay attention to those customers, too.
For many of us, Christmas has a sacred meaning. We object when that meaning is treated as something to hide.
5. Some Christians will take their business elsewhere.
There is a shopping consequence.
A Morning Consult survey found that 22% of self-identified evangelicals said they would be less likely to shop at a business using “Happy Holidays.”
Meanwhile, 65% said “Merry Christmas” would make them more likely to shop there.
Organized boycott campaigns have also continued the last few years.
In 2025, Liberty Counsel published its 23rd annual Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign and a “Naughty and Nice” retailer list. Its campaign encourages shoppers to support companies that acknowledge Christmas and patronize competitors when companies avoid it.
This year say “Merry Christmas”—and mean it.
It’s time this Christmas to take a stand.
If somebody says “Happy Holidays” to you, say “Merry Christmas” to them.
Say it with a smile. Let your voice reflect the joy of Christ’s birth.
Put it on your Christmas cards. Say it to your neighbors. Share it with your children and grandchildren.
You have an opportunity to proclaim your faith through two familiar words.
Use them with conviction
Merry Christmas.
FAQs:
Q: Do Americans prefer “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”?
A: YouGov’s December 2024 survey found that 65% preferred “Merry Christmas,” while 26% preferred “Happy Holidays.” Most respondents also considered “Happy Holidays” acceptable. Preference for one greeting does not necessarily mean opposition to the other.
Q: Are evangelical Christians offended by “Happy Holidays”?
A: Many are. Lifeway Research found in 2018 that 65% of Americans with evangelical beliefs considered it offensive when people said “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Among Christians overall, 40% agreed.
Q: Can a business’s Christmas greeting affect where Christians shop?
A: Yes. A 2017 Morning Consult survey, reported by Christianity Today, found that 65% of self-identified evangelicals said “Merry Christmas” would make them more likely to shop at a business. Meanwhile, 22% said “Happy Holidays” would make them less likely to shop there. These were stated intentions, rather than measured purchases.
Q: Are Christian organizations still publishing Christmas shopping guides?
A: Yes. Liberty Counsel published a “Naughty and Nice” retailer list in 2025. Its ratings reflected retailers’ seasonal website messaging and encouraged shoppers to support businesses that acknowledged Christmas.
Q: Why do I believe Christians should say “Merry Christmas”?
A: Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Saying “Merry Christmas” gives you a simple opportunity to acknowledge Him and share the joy and hope of His birth.
Q: How should you respond when someone says “Happy Holidays”?
A: My recommendation is simple: Say “Merry Christmas” with a smile. Let your greeting express your faith and the joy of Christ’s birth.
About Craig:
Craig Huey is a longtime commentator, author, and publisher of The Huey Alert.
For decades, he has written on faith, culture, politics, and the spiritual battles shaping America—always encouraging Christians to engage the culture with truth, courage, and conviction.