A new survey conducted in December 2025 has found that a growing majority of Canadians prefer the traditional greeting 'Merry Christmas' over the more generic 'Happy Holidays'. The poll, which gauged national opinions on various festive season questions, highlights a shift in public sentiment regarding holiday expressions.
Greetings and Festive Preferences
The survey, published on December 22, 2025, posed several questions about Christmas traditions, including the debate between seasonal greetings. While 'Happy Holidays' has been widely adopted in public discourse and retail settings to be inclusive of all winter celebrations, the results indicate a strong lean towards the specificity of 'Merry Christmas' among the Canadian populace. This preference forms part of a broader look at how Canadians celebrate the season.
Beyond greetings, the poll also explored other classic holiday debates, such as food preferences. Respondents were asked to choose between traditional but often divisive side dishes like Brussels sprouts and festive beverages like egg nog. These questions aimed to paint a fuller picture of Canadian holiday habits and tastes during this time of year.
Context of a Broader News Day
The release of this lighthearted poll data provided a moment of cultural reflection amid a busy news cycle. The survey was reported alongside significant national stories, including tentative labor agreements reached between Canada Post and its union, and political developments such as Dallas Brodie returning to lead the OneBC party.
Other major headlines on December 22 included serious health advisories, such as a recall of Pizza Pops snacks due to possible E. coli contamination, and tragic incidents like a fatal crash on an icy highway northeast of Edmonton. The festive survey offered a contrasting topic of national conversation.
Reflecting National Identity
The poll's findings on the preferred Christmas greeting contribute to an ongoing discussion about culture, tradition, and identity in a diverse country. The results suggest that for many Canadians, using the explicitly Christian 'Merry Christmas' does not conflict with a spirit of inclusivity but is instead seen as an authentic expression of a widely celebrated national holiday.
This snapshot of public opinion, captured just days before Christmas in 2025, serves as a reminder of the traditions that continue to hold significance for a majority of people across the country, even as societal norms evolve.
