[chrisboylan]

hey sorry to keep annoying yall! this is kinda bugging me. i watch a lot of tv and most shows are american anyway my question. why do u guys say happy holidays instead of like merry christmas? uve been watching a host of christmasy tv shows and every time its happy holidays i have yet to here merry christmas. its all happy holidays its really frustrating because i dunno why this is! so if there is a reason please do tell! and if not and its just an american thing dont bother replying.

[Chris]

It is more that it is an Irish thing to say Merry Christmas than it is an American thing to say Happy Holidays. Being either Catholic or Protestant in Ireland - for you the Holidays ARE Christmas. However, in America, there are many more religions than Christianity. Like Christianity, they all made up holidays when the days are the shortest.

As a result, the month of December is one of many holidays. To not offend any partcular religion (so that they will all buy whatever is advertised), we wish Happy Holidays - which people interpret as Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa et al. depending on their religion.

Thus, Happy Holidays and not Merry Christmas.