Hanukkah Debate Highlights Push to Retire Happy Holidays in Favor of Specific Greetings

As Hanukkah began on December 14, a heated debate over how to greet people during the December holidays resurfaced. A Fox News opinion column argues that greetings should acknowledge specific traditions rather than rely on a blanket phrase. The author, Eli Federman, says that wishing Merry Christmas is not about endorsing a belief but about recognizing others’ joy and humanity.

Federman contends that Happy Holidays dilutes cultural identity and erases meaningful distinctions. He cites Hanukkah as a case for using distinct greetings that honor the season’s traditions, noting that the Maccabees fought to preserve Jewish identity under Hellenistic pressure. The column recalls that some Jewish leaders of the era, including Jason (originally Joshua), abandoned Hebrew names and promoted Greek customs to assimilate. The message, Federman writes, is that reclaiming language and ritual is part of resisting erasure, and the public lighting of a menorah stands as a visible symbol of faith and pride.

Supporters of precise greetings say these words invite conversation about faith, culture, and shared humanity. Saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, they argue, signals that a person recognizes and values another’s tradition, opening space for dialogue rather than silent nods. The argument extends beyond Christmas and Hanukkah to other December celebrations, including Kwanzaa and Diwali, each deserving its own acknowledgement rather than a generic nod.

Opponents of the approach argue that insisting on specific greetings can create social friction or exclusion. They propose that Happy Holidays preserves pluralism and avoids awkwardness. But some critics say a lack of explicit recognition can leave people feeling unseen or misunderstood, and that genuine inclusivity comes from honoring distinct identities rather than reducing them to a single phrase.

The discussion also touches on broader trends around how holidays are marketed. The rise of Happy Holidays messaging is linked to retailers aiming at the broadest possible audience, which some say diminishes the holidays to consumer-driven events. In contrast, advocates for explicit greetings argue that saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah emphasizes values, history and community, not just shopping lists.

Amid the debate, antisemitic incidents during the holiday season have drawn public attention. Gal Gadot and Ashton Kutcher condemned an antisemitic terror attack at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of Jewish communities and the importance of recognizing and supporting diverse traditions.

Ultimately, Federman argues that true inclusion is not achieved by erasing differences but by honoring them. The piece closes with a call to retire the generic phrase and instead explicitly recognize Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and other seasonal observances. The holidays, he writes, deserve recognition for their depth and meaning, and greetings that acknowledge specific traditions can foster genuine connection rather than superficial courtesy.