Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Americans generally say “Merry Christmas” to greet people at this time of year, but 71% are not offended by others who say “Happy Holidays.”

The Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 19% typically use the “Happy Holidays” greeting and 23% are offended by it.

While few are offended by casual greeting, retailers must negotiate a trickier path during the holiday season. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of Americans would avoid stores where employees are told not to say “Merry Christmas” and the signs say “Happy Holidays.” Fifty-two percent (52%) would not avoid those stores while 12% are not sure. Americans over 50 are evenly divided as to whether they would avoid such a store while younger adults are less likely to do so.

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There are no substantive differences between men and women on the Christmas questions.

Overall, these figures suggest a nation where Christmas matters but so does an acceptance of others.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say Merry Christmas and less likely to shop at stores that don’t.

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