Yes, I know, the war on Christmas is old news and getting weary. But people keep harping on it! So, allow me to do a little harping too.
If you genuinely want to spread good “Christmas cheer” – you know, be kind to others and generally make people happy – then say “Happy Holidays”. You won’t make anyone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas feel inadequate and you’ll show an effort to be inclusive.
To those that are offended by “Happy Holidays” who believe that the absence of “Merry Christmas” is an attack on their religion: stuff it. If you believe that “Jesus is the reason for the season” then clearly insisting on saying “Merry Christmas” to those that may not be Christian is a form of proselytizing, even if it is small and unintentional. Wouldn’t “Happy Holidays” actually be the Christian (inclusive, do unto others, etc.) choice?
And to those who are offended by “Happy Holidays” because it represents political correctness and a change to what you grew up with: get over it. If you aren’t religious and don’t care about the religious connotations of Christmas, then you have no right to care about the words or how they are used. If you are just hung up on the fact that it is what you grew up with, take a minute to think about all the other wrong terminology you grew up with – all of it worse than “Merry Christmas”, but still proof that the way you grew up isn’t always the way things have to remain.