By Troy Hudson

The holidays are about nothing if not tradition. The anticipation that builds as the season draws near is a direct function of the cyclical nature of our shared cultural experience. Every year, we look forward (whether with joy or dread) to the return of the red and green, the gingerbread houses, the twinkling lights and wreaths adorning nearly every home and storefront. If you’re like most Americans, you probably rewatch the same holiday movies you did when you were little, and possibly the same ones your parents watched when they were little. December is the only time of year you’re as likely to hear a 75-year-old Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole recording on the radio as any Top 40 hit.

It’s probably safe to say there’s no more universal tradition in Western culture than celebrating Christmas. In 1914, it even inspired a temporary ceasefire between German and British soldiers on the Western Front in the First World War.

In America today, however, uttering the word “Christmas” has come to be viewed as a microaggression and is avoided at all costs by most major businesses and people wary of causing offense. In theory, I can support this polite consideration of other cultures and not assuming one’s own traditions are shared by others. I myself am not religious, so many Christmas traditions, like singing carols that celebrate “Christ the newborn king,” do feel inappropriate to me and I typically do not participate in them.

But Christmas, as we all know, is much more than a religious holiday. For better or worse, it has become a staple of American secular culture that is now as much about spending time with family and sharing our bounty with others as it is about the celebration of the Christian deity. It’s also, of course, the apex of consumer capitalism. It is a tradition that I grew up with, and it helps stoke my sense of community and family. I want to share this feeling with others, especially those who may not have experienced it in the past. I think this is natural, and I expect and hope to see members of other cultures openly celebrating their own traditions as well. This is why I object to the widespread cultural rejection of Christmas tropes during the holiday season.

In particular, the greeting “Merry Christmas” has become a cultural hot potato. Many people now believe the phrase is offensive and stick to “Happy Holidays.” Never mind the fact that for people who don’t celebrate anything during this season, even “Happy Holidays” is a misstep. The arguments for this are that not everyone celebrates Christmas, or that the holidays are a sad time for many people. These are both very true, and if you know for a fact that either applies to the person you’re talking to, then by all means offer something more appropriate. But if you want to wish a friend or stranger a Merry Christmas, you should go ahead without fear of causing offense.

Despite not being a Christian, if someone wishes me a “Merry Christmas,” (or a “Happy Hanukkah,” or anything else) with good will and a smile, I say “Thanks, you too.” I find this honest response very easy to muster and I have never had heartburn from the exchange. I believe the warmth and joy of the greeting is what comes through, not the particular words used to express it. If “Happy Holidays” is your thing, then go for it. It’s a fine greeting. But if “Merry Christmas” happens to roll off the tongue a little easier for you, don’t worry that you may have committed a microaggression. Have a little trust in the understanding and graciousness of other people and enjoy the holiday season in whatever way seems right to you.