While the idea that there’s a “war on Christmas” has been a wolf cry of religious zealots for some time now, Trump is attempting to reinvigorate it by adding fuel to the fire. Despite Trump’s promises to “bring back” Christmas by saying Merry Christmas again, Christmas has never left and people still say Merry Christmas all the time.
Obviously, no one is required to say it, but if you want to then go for it. The whole idea behind saying, “Happy Holidays” is that it encompasses all the holidays that span the timeframe of December to January. New Year’s is one of those holidays, by the way. I feel like people forget that.
Anyway, not everyone celebrates Christmas or even cares about Christmas. If there’s any holiday that gets forgotten, it’s Hanukkah, to be honest. Yet, you don’t hear Jewish people screaming about Starbucks not making seasonal Hanukkah cups every year.
Speaking of Starbucks and their many holiday cup controversies, they release their “Christmas Blend” coffee every winter without fail, so it’s hardly fair to say that they’re somehow trying to destroy Christmas. The main problem surrounding this issue, however, are not cups or greetings.
The main issue is people not correctly interpreting the right to freedom of religion. I really shouldn’t feel like I have to say this, but Christianity is only one religion. Yes, there are different sects and all that, but Christmas is a traditionally Christian holiday.
Obviously now it has become much more commercialized and is less about religion than spending time with family and exchanging gifts, but it is still Christian custom. And that's good, but other religions have their own traditions and beliefs that are often overlooked or seen as illegitimate or less important.
So, that’s why people say “Happy Holidays." It’s not a dismissal of Christmas. It’s a way to include Christmas and all the other religious and non-religious holidays that occur at the same time each year.