While many holidays, both religious and secular, occur around this time, “Happy Holidays” is in all actuality coded language for “Merry Christmas” and “Happy (Christian) New Year.” ...

Only days of observance widely celebrated across the religion or by most of its adherents are shown. All dates correspond to the solar calendar. Buddhist dates apply to holidays in most of East ...

In the logic of this grievance, “Merry Christmas” is pitted against “Happy holidays ... of other religions, or people who might not celebrate anything specific at all.

It’s an expression that acknowledges a specific religious tradition, whereas “Happy Holidays,” on the other ... remains a place where all beliefs are respected. This reality is a testament ...

the message of “Happy Holidays” wasn’t front and center. Instead, the phrase “Merry Christmas” was the headline. Not long ago, in the spirit of being more inclusive of all religious ...