Forum: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a growing trend in how people exchange festive greetings. Increasingly, messages sound like this: “Happy <festival> to those who are celebrating, and happy holidays to everyone.” Every time I see this phrasing, I find it a little odd. It feels as if we’re tiptoeing around something that shouldn’t be complicated at all. Why do we feel the need to specify who is celebrating and who isn’t?

In an inclusive society like Singapore, it seems natural to simply wish everyone a “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Deepavali”, “Gong Xi Fa Cai”, or “Selamat Hari Raya”.

The intention behind a festive greeting is goodwill, warmth and connection – not exclusion. Those who are celebrating already know it, so there’s no need to point it out. Highlighting “to those who are celebrating” can unintentionally do the opposite of inclusivity. It draws attention to who belongs and who doesn’t, as if the greeting needs to tiptoe around the possibility of offending someone.

But shouldn’t goodwill be universal? Most people can simply smile and move on if a greeting doesn’t apply to them. Over-qualification can create lines between groups – when the festive wishes are meant to bridge them. The intention may be sensitivity, but ironically, it can sound less inclusive.

Festive periods – whether Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali or Christmas – are genuinely uplifting. I don’t celebrate Christmas the way Christians do, being a Hindu. But some years, I put up a Christmas tree at home because it brings joy, or hang lanterns for Chinese New Year, just as we decorate for Deepavali or enjoy visiting Hari Raya bazaars. Why wait only for “our own” festival to feel festive? Why not embrace anything that brings cheer?

December remains my favourite time of the year. There’s a joyful atmosphere everywhere – schools are on break, workplaces feel a little more relaxed, travel plans are in full swing and people are generally in better spirits. So, in the true spirit of warmth, joy and togetherness: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to those celebrating, and those who aren’t. After all, good wishes belong to everyone.

Divya Bhardwaj