Do you wish strangers you meet a happy holiday or Merry Christmas?

[diala84]

I will wish them a happy holiday or Merry Christmas if they initiate it. Otherwise I don't want to offend anyone to make an assumption about their beliefs. 

[donnitab]

Merry Christmas

[SherylsShado]

People that rush about wishing "merry Christmas" to EVERYBODY annoy me.  It's not their words that annoy me but it's their assumption that everyone else celebrates "Christmas"...many do not.  Different cultures have their own celebrations & traditions not just  "Christmas". Also, not everyone believes that Christmas is ALL about how many gifts and how much money one can spend to have a "happy holiday" or "Merry Christmas". 
     People that I personally know who celebrate Christmas...I will say "Merry Christmas" to them.  To strangers, if I have to say anything...I will say "happy holidays" if they look like happy people---otherwise I'm cautious of what I say. There are too many people with hurts that come to surface during the season, it's better to try and brighten their day rather than remind them of their pain.

[cathy37]

I usually say Merry Christmas.  That is what I have done all my life and I like it better than Happy Holidays.

[marciaenglish]

I say Merry Christmas to everyone!  Stranger or not.... 'Tis the Season!   

[jwallbank]

Yes I do! I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

[ejholt]

I work at Walmart as a People Greeter and I always greet them with "  Merry Christmas ".  Jesus Christ was born to be our Savior and He is the reason for the Season.  If it offends anyone by saying Merry Christmas, that is OK.  I am sure if they wish me what ever they believe, I would not be offends.  I would love them just like the Lord wants too.  Hope everyone has a wonder day may may God bless everyone and keep you safe.   M E R R Y  C H R IS T M A S

[devilroljin]

I use the Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas interchangeable, not only with strangers but with everybody I meet. However, I don't go out of my way to say it to everyone I see on the streets or yell it from the car, unless I truly know them, or have not see them in a while. But if I encounter some stranger while taking a walk or in a store, I will very likely say it.

[springsgardner]

When ever I see any key located and at a store a place I say Merry Christmas and to their people other people I say Mary Christian or happy holidays and hope it makes people feel better and brightens their day!! We've had so much bad news around always laugh is weak with the shootings at Clackamas Oregon and that town back and Connecticut I did can think of the name of it. Which was very bad for the whole town. To think that somebody would go and just shoot innocent children that way! Is very bad to think about the only thing good thing I think about it is that all all those young children will go see their heavenly father!

I wish them Merry Christmas. If they say they don't celebrate Christmas, but mention a holiday they celebrate that occurs around now, I'll wish them the best during their holiday. If all else fails, "Happy New Year!"

[jannie7]

Yes, I would wish strangers Merry Christmas  and happy holiday hoping for the positive and saying kind words.

Because what you say can come back to you when you say a kindness thought. 

[2getherwewin]

I WISH EVERYONE THAT I MEET OR COME IN CONTACT WITH A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SUCCESSFUL HAPPY NEW YEAR. KINDNESS AND COURTESY IS ALL ABOUT LOVE AND CARING FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.

[nhendrickson]

If I say anything, I say "Happy Holidays" because I have no idea what their belief system, if any, might be and I'm not egotistical enough to assume that it's same as mine.  Even though Christmas/Xmas has become largely a secular holiday for people to get together with friends and family and exchange gifts, I think it's pretty narrow minded to think everyone celebrates it.  Millions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, pagans, agnostic and atheists do not celebrate it.  Why not say "Happy Winter Solstice", the pagan holiday that the Church appropriated in an effort to convert pagans to Christians?  At least that's based on an actual astronomical event  

[pstovall]

I love to wish people a Merry Christmas.  It's cheerful, heartfelt, and I hope brightens their day.  I grew up wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and it's just sad that it has changed to Happy Holidays.

[coreyw87]

Yes sometimes I wish strangers a happy holiday or merry christmas when it gets closer to christmas.  It depends upon the vibes I get off people whether I say anything to them but usually its clerks or whatever anyway that say it to me first.

[brum7814]

nah,  xmas is more for kids.  so, i don't really see a reason to bring it up unless someone else does first.