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Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

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Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#31

Post by king_jester »

bradleyland wrote: post #5

I think this is driven by the rejection of political correctness. In an ironic twist, I get the sense that more people are put off by politically correct language than are accomodated. If there's a flaw in this strategy, it is that minorities are marginalized. You might avoid offending a Jewish (just an example) minority by using the term "Christmas", but you'll engender an emotional reaction in a larger number of pe…

This may not necessarily be about rejecting political correctness. In the United States (article mentions the recipients of the email were from the US), Christmas is celebrated by many for other than religious reasons and is its own cultural celebration, much in the same way how many people will watch the Superbowl despite having only a passing interest in football.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#32

Post by [deleted] »

bradleyland wrote: post #26
reuven wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all minorities are offended by mentions of Christmas. I'm Jewish, and find the whole "Happy Holidays" thing to be bizarre and unnecessary. Christmas is a major Christian holiday. Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday. The only thing that they have in common is that they both take place at roughly the same time of year. If you're Christian, and want to celebrate Christmas, then that's great; go for it! Don't go water…

I lay no claim that all minorities will be offended, only that a minority population exists that will be offended. My personal preference is to just use the language you want. I'm of the generation that rejected the PC cultural influences developed by our aging parents. My words are merely a caution against blindly following the numbers. The impact of "Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays" may be innocuous, but you wi…

[deleted]

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#33

Post by billpatrianakos »

I'm willing to bet this is because "Merry Christmas" sounds more personal. Your friend would say that to you, and it just feels more sincere. "Happy Holidays" sounds like PC jargon and robotic, customer ass kissing. If we just leave out for a moment the fact that not all people celebrate Christmas this makes sense.

I honestly think that Christmas is more of a cultural thing here in the US than a purely religious celebration. We have a majority of people who celebrate Christmas as part of their religion but even of those people a majority of them are focused more on the cultural sensation that is Christmas rather than the religious aspects even though they're Christian. The lights, the colors, Santa, presents, and the general mood of the holiday is what really makes Christmas in America, not the actual birth of Christ. That's why even people who aren't Christian or religious at all can get into it. They're surrounded by it and it's just a part of life here.

In countries where the "Christmas Spirit" isn't as prevalent in the culture with populations that are split between Christian and non-Christians more evenly I think Happy Holidays would sound more sincere and not exclusionary. Over here if you say "Happy Holidays" its like saying "I would say Merry Christmas but I'm going to be extra PC and say Happy Holidays just in case you're a Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or other unspecified form of pagan, heathen, or otherwise non-Christian, non Christ believing individual". A little exaggerated, yes, but Happy Holidays really does sound like this to many and that's part of the reason that the conservative party over here makes a big deal over "the war on Christmas" every year with the "Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays" debate being very close to the center of it each time.

I know I said a lot, and my theory is based on personal experience and anecdotal evidence but I really think it makes a lot of sense. Try it on and see if you like it. Maybe I'm wrong.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#34

Post by jonpaul »

hackNightly wrote: post #7

To me it seems that "Merry Christmas" denotes the act of gift giving as opposed to just some holiday special. Therefore, I think that the "Merry Christmas" subject line makes the consumer feel like they're getting something.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm surprised that this hasn't been brought up by a previous commenter. In America, culturally, Christmas is a celebration to receive gifts. I don't see it this way, but on the surface, I think that many do. This is neither good nor bad, but I do believe that's why the phrase "Merry Christmas $NAME" had a higher conversion rate.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#35

Post by billpatrianakos »

reuven wrote: post #25
bradleyland wrote: post #5

I think this is driven by the rejection of political correctness. In an ironic twist, I get the sense that more people are put off by politically correct language than are accomodated. If there's a flaw in this strategy, it is that minorities are marginalized. You might avoid offending a Jewish (just an example) minority by using the term "Christmas", but you'll engender an emotional reaction in a larger number of pe…

Not all minorities are offended by mentions of Christmas. I'm Jewish, and find the whole "Happy Holidays" thing to be bizarre and unnecessary. Christmas is a major Christian holiday. Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday. The only thing that they have in common is that they both take place at roughly the same time of year. If you're Christian, and want to celebrate Christmas, then that's great; go for it! Don't go water…

I think the whole PC thing came about as a result of White Guilt and White Priviledge. We shouldn't be watering down our holiday. We just happen to have a country dominated by white Christians and it becomes a big deal. If the majority here were Jewish I bet that Jewish celebrations would get more attention. All in all though, Christmas in the US is more of a cultural sensation nowadays rather than a religious celebration even among many Christians. It's more about trees, lights, Santa, presents, good will, etc. than Christ being born. That's another good reason to do away with Happy Holidays because if Christmas is cultural like Columbus Day or Thanksgiving then everyone is invited to participate and in fact they are. Really, the only thing linking Christmas to religion these days, at least in the US, is the "Christ" part of the name. It's become just another holiday that can be given religious significance but that's optional. Like Thanksgiving. That's a cultural celebration but many religions have tried to make it part of their religion (specifically Umitarian and some Catholic Christians) but that doesn't mean it really is a religious deal.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#37

Post by billpatrianakos »

AmazingBytecode wrote: post #21
maeon3 wrote: post #11

Might get better results by making reference to scripture and glorifying Christ the savior as the reason for the season. The sheep are trained to gather around and financially support anything with gods name in it. This effect is not an accident. It is the result of organized brainwashing that happens all over America between the hours of 9:30 and noon on Sunday.

Might get better results by making reference to science and glorifying Dawkins the savior as the reason for the season. The free thinkers are trained to gather around and financially support anything with Dawkins' name in it. This effect is not an accident. It is the result of organized back-patting that happens all the time on the Internet

Amen to that. Am I Christian? Am I atheist or agnostic? It doesn't matter. We're talking about conversions here and the likely reasons behind them. Let people believe whatever they want. This isn't the place for self-important masturbation in the comments. To be clear, I am agreeing with AmazingBytecode's sentiments here. I totally got your sarcasm and loved it.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#38

Post by Sympta »

StuffMaster wrote: post #14
GFKjunior wrote: post #10

I like to hear "Merry Christmas" and I am not religious in the least. Happy Holidays makes me think that a corporate suit somewhere told the employee's that they have to be politically correct and not "offend" anyone.

I agree, a lot of people take offense to being sidelined for the purpose of "not offending anyone". So ironic.

I would say most people are easily offended. By anything.

It's not ironic, it's unfortunate.

Re: Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays, winner = nearly double conversion rate

#39

Post by billpatrianakos »

inuhj wrote: post #22
bradleyland wrote: post #5

I think this is driven by the rejection of political correctness. In an ironic twist, I get the sense that more people are put off by politically correct language than are accomodated. If there's a flaw in this strategy, it is that minorities are marginalized. You might avoid offending a Jewish (just an example) minority by using the term "Christmas", but you'll engender an emotional reaction in a larger number of pe…

You could use last name as a predictor and send out Happy Hanukkah emails.

You could but shouldn't. Because Christmas is a huge cultural deal in addition to a religious celebration, saying Merry Christmas to a non Christian would be far better than saying Happy Hanukkah to someone with a Jewish sounding last name and getting it wrong.
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