Thu. Nov 7th, 2024

America Divided: Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

It’s no great
revelation that Americans are divided over what greetings businesses should use
during the December holiday season. But in case you had any doubts, a PRRI/RNS Religion News Survey has made it official.

Forty-nine
percent of Americans say stores should use “merry Christmas” this holiday
season, compared to 44 percent who say that they should use more generic “happy
holidays” or “season’s greetings” out of respect for people of different
faiths. The survey reveals large religious, partisan and regional differences
over the appropriateness of different holiday greetings.

“Celebrations of
the birth of Jesus in Christianity have always blended the explicitly religious
with elements of the contemporary culture,” says Robert P.
Jones, CEO of PRRI. “That roughly equal numbers of
Americans both read the story of the birth of Jesus from the Bible and the
story of Santa Claus in ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
is a continuation of that tradition.”

Here’s how it
breaks down demographics-wise:

  • A majority
    of white evangelical Protestants (69 percent) and white mainline Protestants
    (57 percent) support stores using “merry Christmas.” A majority of Catholics
    (55 percent), however, support stores using more generic greetings like “happy
    holidays.”
  • Nearly
    two-thirds (64 percent) of Republicans also support saying “merry Christmas” as
    opposed to more generic greetings. In contrast, nearly 6-in-10 (58 percent)
    Democrats say stores and businesses should be using “happy holidays” or
    “season’s greetings” out of respect for people of different faiths.
  • A majority
    of Americans living in the Midwest (56 percent) and the South (54 percent), and
    a plurality (49 percent) of those living in the West say stores and businesses
    should greet customers with “merry Christmas,” while nearly 6-in-10 (58
    percent) Americans living in the Northeast say businesses should use more
    generic greetings.

What about you? Do you say “merry
Christmas,” “happy holidays” or something else?

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Related Podcasts

More News
When Was Hell Prepared?
When Was Hell Prepared?
What Is Spiritual Warfare?
What Is Spiritual Warfare?
The Greatest Spiritual War for the Future Is the Past, Present and Future
The Greatest Spiritual War for the Future Is the Past, Present and Future
Tucker Carlson Shares His Testimony: ‘I Was Mauled by a Demon’
Tucker Carlson Shares His Testimony: ‘I Was Mauled by a Demon’
Mike Signorelli Talks Demonic Possession, Oppression and Generational Curses
Mike Signorelli Talks Demonic Possession, Oppression and Generational Curses
A Night of Unity at Christ Church: Arabs and Jews Worship Jesus Together in Jerusalem
A Night of Unity at Christ Church: Arabs and Jews Worship Jesus Together in Jerusalem
Amanda Grace, Faith Leaders Host Prayer Night for the Trump Family
Amanda Grace, Faith Leaders Host Prayer Night for the Trump Family
Is Fear Stopping You from Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life?
Is Fear Stopping You from Fulfilling God’s Purpose in Your Life?
Isaiah Saldivar’s Remarkable Message: ‘I Hear Chains Breaking’
Isaiah Saldivar’s Remarkable Message: ‘I Hear Chains Breaking’
Greg Locke: How Biblical Generosity Transforms Lives
Greg Locke: How Biblical Generosity Transforms Lives
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Latest Videos
74.6K Subscribers
971 Videos
7.3M Views

Copy link