“This is just an exercise in semantics.” Most of us have heard this sentence uttered disparagingly in the effort to discount an argument over the meaning of a given word or term. This sentence could certainly be applied to a scenario in which one was attempting to decide whether it is preferable to proclaim Season’s Greetings or wish Happy Holidays on their Christmas cards. An easy initial reaction would be to surmise that these two phrases are essentially one in the same, and picking one or the other simply would not have any noticeable or tangible impact on the meaning of a business Christmas card. While it is tempting to adhere to this narrow line of thinking, these two phrases do actually differ in a meaningful way as they are more than synonymous methods of offering a festive greeting that avoids preferential treatment for the Christian religion. A closer look at both of these phrases is evidently warranted. The future sentiment of this year’s Christmas cards could potentially hang precipitously in the balance.
Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays are two distinct phrases that imply two distinct, different meanings. Season’s Greetings is used to convey a festive, jovial mood that is hopefully universally felt in the time period from the end of November through the end of December. This phrase is best utilized when simply wishing individuals a state of joy and fulfillment. Happy Holidays is used to wish multiple individuals of disparate faiths and traditions an enjoyable holiday. This phrase is best utilized to ensure that whether your recipients celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas, they will feel included and appreciated. If you were a doubter as to the semantic distinctions of these two seasonal phrases before, hopefully you are now open to the possibility that word choices matter. If not, let me wish you Season’s Greetings….or Happy Holidays.
