There are yearly debates over whether it is correct to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Though some people take it as an insult if you say Merry Christmas, President Trump has taken a definite stance saying that Merry Christmas is the way to go.

In 2015 while Trump was campaigning, he said he doesn’t go to stores who have taken the Happy Holidays stance. Since then the president has said Merry Christmas twice and happy holidays, none. 

In America the holiday season stretches from Thanksgiving to the new year. The season consists of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and the winter solstice. Most retailers try to get the most bang for their buck and stick with the Happy Holidays. Stores like Lowe’s, Best Buy, and Kmart don’t mention Christmas in store or online and have holiday sections online, but Target, Walmart, and Kohl’s mention Christmas multiple times. Both may be found in abundance this holiday season. a

Personally, I think that happy holidays are the correct thing to say if you don’t know what religion the person you are addressing follows. I say this because a Jewish person could get offended if you said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Hanukkah. The Happy Holidays route is the right way to avoid a conflict.