Either; same for Australia, and Canada.
In any case, "haarpy hole-i-days" is now probably risen into my Top Ten Most Vomit-Inducing American Phrases Ever.
saying happy holidays is a rather old practice that originates in the corporate world. Didn't originally having anything to do with being PC. It started far before politically correct was much of a concern for anyone.
Some interesting stuff here. Now- the United States hasn’t already done the best job of upholding the principals it stands for. The US has had slavery, segregation, has caused or allowed war or suffering to its benefit, suppressed or destroyed cultures, displaced people. The United States and it’s citizens are aware of this history for the most part. Most are not proud of those parts of it. So going forward we try- key word: “try,” to respect differences and not repeat the mistakes we made in the past. Part of that means divorcing the thinking that we and people exactly like us are the only ones in the world, and trying to respect others. Aw heck. I’ve talked too much. Happy Holidays everyone!
That's how it's translated into English because English don't have a word for it but Jul is not Christmas. It's an ancient midwinter solstice celebration that predates Christmas and while churches do their best to cover it up it's really about partying like crazy because it's been dark for three months and we're halfway to getting sunlight back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Sweden
I do want to say when I was growing up when someone said "Happy Holidays" they didn't mean like now how they say it to be politically correct they did it to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Because people used to say "Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you." When they sent out Christmas cards so they just shorten it to Happy Holidays.
I feel like by now it's kind of accepted you don't have to be Christian to celebrate Christmas, or at least not celebrate it for its traditional purpose. To me, Christmas isn't about Jesus or religion at all but about family and celebrating coming together. I think the saying "Merry Christmas" shouldn't be taken as a negative as even to non-religious people, it's someone wishing you to have a good time and that's pretty sweet.
Happy Yule?
Since that's the pagan holiday Christmas is based on and which the Church decided to hijack and make into their own thing to get more converts. Historians believe that Jesus was born in late May/early June.
In any case, "haarpy hole-i-days" is now probably risen into my Top Ten Most Vomit-Inducing American Phrases Ever.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Sweden
Since that's the pagan holiday Christmas is based on and which the Church decided to hijack and make into their own thing to get more converts. Historians believe that Jesus was born in late May/early June.