Are you getting Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas from store clerks ?

**Spirit Deer** · 12-22-2011, 06:27 PM

I've been hearing Christmas music around town, and people here are saying 'merry Christmas' or 'have a good holiday' or similar things. I don't listen to radio so I can't comment about that.

TV stations seem to have less Christmas greetings on, or maybe I just tune them out. I love CBS's holiday greeting though. I love four-part harmony.
Holiday Central 2011 Video - Happy Holidays from CBS! - CBS.com

**Darlene** · 12-22-2011, 08:04 PM

Had to make a stop in a hardware store I haven't been into in ages (we were visiting inlaws) and every department I went to... if they worked there they were saying "Merry Christmas & can I help you". It was like customer service on steroids but I was digging it and wished them my best back,lol.

**heartofmine** · 12-22-2011, 08:45 PM

I love Christmas and the reason that is stands for for me in my own heart..Jesus... and I love hearing Merry Christmas when I'm out and about. It warms my heart. I have heard both and respond in kind. I'm just so happy this year and so looking forward to Christmas.

**Debbie-cat** · 12-22-2011, 09:12 PM

Actually now that I think of it, I have heard alot of Merry Christmas'! From all over town at all stores. Very nice!

**valerian** · 12-22-2011, 10:42 PM

I'm getting "Merry Christmas" here.

**Incognito** · 12-23-2011, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by peanut

I haven't heard Christmas music in the stores and I haven't heard a word of "happy" or "merry" anything. So I've been taking the initiative and saying "Merry Christmas" to the cashiers as I leave the store, and the people who help me in the stores. Well...except for the cashier in the hajib. I just smiled and made small talk with her.

It's really bothering me because I'm one of those people that likes to crank up the Christmas music starting Dec. 1st, and I can't find it on any of the radio stations we get locally. Today I moved a bunch of Christmas music from our upstairs computer to my laptop, just so I could have some Christmas cheer.

Can you get Radio Station CJRB: Radio 1220 AM?
They are playing Christmas Music non-stop, except for news, etc. for the entire month of December.

**Squidge** · 12-23-2011, 06:27 AM

I've heard LOADS of festive greetings and farewells in the shops this year. The cashiers are generally pretty friendly here and ask things like, 'So have you got everything in for Christmas?' or 'Is that you finished your Christmas shopping for the evening?' and they generally end the transaction with, 'Have a lovely Christmas' or something along those lines.

I know this isn't a debate about what kind of greeting or farewell is used, but it's interesting that no-one ever says 'Happy Holidays' here. It would sound unnatural for us even though it's a more neutral term. I think the idea behind it is simply well wishing and I think that's lovely

**greekislandgirl** · 12-23-2011, 07:11 AM

Here it's all over the daily TV shows and such, which are covered in Christmas glitter, but in real life, no one wishes anyone anything. Our city is half and half Christian and Muslim and I think a lot of people just don't want to say the wrong thing. I send holiday cards that don't mention the religious holidays, they just wish a Happy New Year and I send them to coincide with the 1st. The colors are sky blue and chocolate so very un-religious-holiday-associated.

I don't have any friends who don't recognize Jan 1 as the New Year but if I did I would probably think twice about sending them such a card!

**WV_mom_of2** · 12-24-2011, 06:58 AM

I live in a small town area. Even when I travel the 35-40 minutes to a bigger town it's still a small town compared to most LOL. Dh, dd and I were up there Thursday finishing up our shopping and I think every single cashier we used said Merry Christmas. There was even one in Kroger who was saying it to everyone that passed her register on the way out. And I replied with "you too!"

Christmas music was playing in the stores and the radio stations here are playing it along with their normal music.

I would never want to offend someone but I would hope if I said "Merry Christmas" to someone and they didn't celebrate Christmas they could see my smile and the joy meant in my greeting and accept it as a good thing. I wouldn't be offended if someone said "Happy Hanukkah" to me. I would smile and say thank you!