Nobody has ever threatened to fine me or throw me in jail for saying Merry Christmas. It has been suggested that I use Happy Hollidays to include more people in the festive season, and I think that's a fabulous idea!

@mike No problem with "Happy Holidays" in the right situation. I only get bothered by it when people think it is the only appropriate greeting.

For example, at Target I brought my cart full of Christmas decoration including some overtly Christian ones to the register where a member of my church was the checker. I wished them a Merry Christmas and they told me "We're not allow to say that here. I could get fired."

When people get so offended at "Merry Christmas" that they cannot even stand that greeting being exchanged between two people who are known to celebrate Christmas, then I get offended.