The discussion, rhetoric, and finger pointing around business who go with “happy holidays”, or “seasons greetings”, as opposed to “merry Christmas” has started again - it’s early this year isn’t it?

Personally I can see where “merry Christmas” might not necessarily be the best route for all businesses to go, not everyone is a Christian are they? A business has to consider that we have a Jewish community, they don’t have Christmas, but they’ve got money. Business has the Islamic community to consider, they don’t have Christmas, but they’ve also got money. Business has to consider those who may follow one the eastern philosophies, any one of the many and varied Pagan belief structures, and even the atheist community, none of who have “Christmas”, but who do have money.

Why should a business do anything that might alienate growing segments of society that have money to spend on gifts during this time of the year but do not celebrate Christmas.

– and before anybody says ‘but that is Christmas’ stop and think about what you are saying. Christmas is not a sale on pre-decorated artifical trees, it is not a 2-for-1 sale on the latest electronic gizmo or gadget, it is not 24hr shopping, and it is certainly not the Christmas SUV we’re seeing more and more of on TV; Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Christian Messiah, it is a Christian celebration that has commercial elements that retailers have exploited very successfully in recent years.

If you are a Christian talking to another Christian “Merry Christmas” is completely appropriate, if you’re a business looking to make a profit through sales that you will either keep yourself, reinvest in your business, or redistribute to your shareholders and investors then the market will dictate what you say in order to help maximize profits, or mitigate losses.

Conservative folks (the largest proponents of “Merry Christmas”) cannot have it both ways, if the market makes decisions appropriately why is it not being allowed to make this decision?