---
title: "Holiday Greetings"
description: "That's the percentage of the U.S. public that prefers \"Merry Christmas\" to non-religious welcomes such as \"Season's Greetings.\" However, given the choice, a 45% plurality says it does not matter much either way."
date: "2006-12-07"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2006/12/07/holiday-greetings/"
---

# Holiday Greetings

Most among the U.S. public are largely unconcerned about how they are greeted as they enter stores and businesses during the holiday season. But, between the two, by a substantial 60%-23% margin the public does prefer “Merry Christmas” to non-religious welcomes such as “Season’s Greetings,” according to a Pew survey conducted in December of last year. However, given the choice, a 45% plurality says it does not matter much either way. The great majority of Americans (83%) say displays of Christmas symbols should be allowed in public places. But fewer than half (44%) approve of Christmas symbols being displayed alone, without Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holiday symbols. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/reports/display.php3?ReportID=265)