In years past, there never was a difference in the meaning of either phrase. Now today, with the unsaved striving so hard for Satan to remove God from so much of our lives, activities, work and government, that has changed.
It was claimed in the last couple years, other stores were going to change that also, but never actually saw it, as Home Depot and others aren't around here, they still ssy- Merry Christmas.
Growing up, I always assumed that "Happy Holidays" meant Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I think people actually intended this meaning years ago, but now it seems to be more and more a way to avoid uttering the word "Christmas." "Happy Holidays" didn't used to bother me at all, because it was in the minority; you heard "Merry Christmas" a lot more. Nowadays, one rarely hears "Merry Christmas" and it's starting to bother me. Anyone remeber last year when Target disallowed the Salvation Army the opportunity to ring their bells outside of their stores? I haven't shopped at Target since.
We all know that fewer and fewer businesses are acknowledging Christ in Christmas, wishing us all, instead "happy holidays" or such like. Two questions for you: How do you or do you say anything to correct this (for instance do you reply, "and a MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, too."?) Second: Does your place of work require you to use one of these neutral greetings and how do you cope with it?
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
