Majority Prefers Merry Christmas

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Majority Prefers Merry Christmas

Special Report - December 23, 2011
While it may be politically correct to celebrate the holiday season using the phrases of “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings,” a new poll has found that two-thirds of Americans prefer to use the traditional greeting of “Merry Christmas.” The poll was conducted and released by Marist Poll in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus, a well-known Catholic charitable organization. It was conducted November 8th through November 10th, 2011 and surveyed 1,026 adults.

According to the survey, 64 percent of Americans preferred the use of “Merry Christmas,” while 31 percent favored the expression “Happy Holidays,” and four percent of those polled said they were unsure. Support for the use of “Merry Christmas” was strongest among older generations, while younger generations were more evenly split, as:

46 percent of those from ages 18-30 (Millennial generation) favored “Merry Christmas” while 50 percent preferred “Happy Holidays”
55 percent of those ages 31-46 (Generation X) preferred “Merry Christmas,” while 41 percent chose “Happy Holidays”
70 percent of Baby Boomers (those from ages 47-65) favored “Merry Christmas,” compared to 25 percent that prefer “Happy Holidays”
73 percent, or nearly three-fourths, of those over the age of 65 (the “Greatest Generation”) prefer “Merry Christmas,” while only 22 percent prefer “Happy Holidays)

“That we prefer ‘Merry Christmas’ by such a wide margin is indicative of the importance that Christmas has in the lives of the great majority of Americans,” said Carl Anderson, the Supreme Knight for the Knights of Columbus, in a press release. “For that vast majority of Americans who observe Christmas, this day and season are a time for us to celebrate the fact that God exists and is with us. Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ allows us to celebrate that fact with joy, and to share our joy with our loved ones and neighbors.”

The Knights of Columbus have been very active in the “Keep Christ in Christmas” campaign, producing Public Service Announcements and related resources since the 1980s. Several civil liberties organizations provide resources on the public celebration of Christmas during this time of year, including the Alliance Defense Fund and The Rutherford Institute, which both provide legal guides for recognizing Christmas in the public square. Additionally, the American Family Association and Liberty Counsel both publish “Naughty or Nice” lists, which gives ratings to major retailers based on their recognition of Christmas in their advertisements.

Related resources:
Students Fight for Free Speech - May 19, 2011
UNC-CH Libraries Censor Christmas Display - December 12, 2008
"Merry Christmas" is Preferred Greeting - December 12, 2006