I reflect on how a simple seasonal phrase became a small cultural battleground, why some people shift from neutral greetings to speaking their faith plainly, and how one woman’s blunt video captured that shift for many who now prefer “Merry Christmas” as their default. This piece tracks a personal journey from cautious phrasing to unapologetic expression, notes the reactions of friends and strangers, and shares a viral clip that sums up the argument succinctly.
For years I defaulted to neutral greetings like “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Back in the mid-1990s, when I was finding my conservative voice and still growing in my faith, I often chose softer language to avoid rubbing anyone the wrong way. That caution came from not wanting to provoke arguments over something as simple as a greeting and from being less confident in my beliefs.
Even my holiday cards reflected that caution; the printed messages often spoke of the “holiday season,” and I would only write “Merry Christmas” inside if I knew the recipient shared my faith. Over time, however, my relationship with Christ deepened and those careful habits felt like diminishing the point of the season. The argument that removing Christ’s name from public life corrodes shared values started to make more sense to me.
It also felt odd to hold back a greeting that others, including some Jewish friends and non-believers, offered without hesitation. If they could say “Merry Christmas” freely, why was I being overly cautious? As I grew more secure in my faith and my identity, saying “Merry Christmas” became a way to be honest about what I believe and why the holiday matters.
For the past couple of decades, “Merry Christmas” has been my default greeting in person, via email, text, phone, or mail. Most of the time people respond in kind, and sometimes they say it first. I’ve even added “happy holidays” alongside “Merry Christmas” on occasion, but the straightforward greeting has become the one I reach for naturally.
On social media this evening, after spending most of the day offline enjoying the holiday, I scrolled through a feed and found an undated video that felt like a perfect expression of this shift. In the clip, a woman made a direct point: she would always say “Merry Christmas” regardless of potential offense, and she would respond with “Merry Christmas” even when others offered “happy holidays.” Her tone was matter of fact and unbothered, the kind of plain spoken confidence that lands stronger than long explanations.
Her reasoning was simple and unapologetic: Jesus is the reason for the season, and saying His name is a reminder rather than an attack. She also made it clear she wasn’t angry when others said “happy holidays”; she just preferred to answer with the phrase that reflects her beliefs. That directness resonated because it didn’t require moralizing or theatrical outrage, only clarity and conviction.
That video is the sort of thing believers could use more often—a calm, firm reminder that traditions and phrases have meaning and that saying them aloud is an expression of identity. People who have grown more confident in their faith often reach a point where they stop over-polishing their words to avoid imagined slights. They decide to speak plainly and let polite people respond as they will.
Amen, ma’am. Amen.
Merry Christmas, RedState community!
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