Table of Contents
- Introduction: The Frosting of Festive Language
- What’s the Buzz About ‘Happy Holidays’?
- Grammar Rules 101: Capitalizing Holiday Greetings
- When Capitalization is Correct
- When Lowercase Makes More Sense
- Style Guides vs. Real-World Usage
- Greeting Cards, Emails, and Store Signs: A Case Study
- What About Other Holiday Greetings?
- The Cultural Weight of Capital Letters
- Final Glaze: The Right Way to Say ‘Happy Holidays’
1. Introduction: The Frosting of Festive Language
There’s something undeniably joyful about a perfectly glazed donut—sweet, celebratory, and hard to ignore. Much like holiday greetings. But just like choosing the right topping, the way you write “Happy Holidays” can either sweeten the message or fall flat. So, does “Holidays” deserve a capital ‘H’? Let’s dig into the grammar treat of the season.
2. What’s the Buzz About ‘Happy Holidays’?
“Happy Holidays” isn’t just a feel-good phrase—it’s a greeting that aims to include all celebrations at the end of the year. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s—this friendly catch-all is popular in cards, ads, store windows, and digital messages. But confusion bubbles up when it comes to its formatting. Should both words be capitalized? Or just one?
3. Grammar Rules 101: Capitalizing Holiday Greetings
According to most style guides:
- Capitalize the first word of a sentence or standalone phrase.
- Capitalize proper nouns, including names of holidays (e.g., Christmas, Hanukkah).
This leads us to the standard form: “Happy Holidays”—both words capitalized because:
- It’s often used as a standalone sentence.
- “Holidays” refers to specific, proper events.
4. When Capitalization is Correct
Capitalize “Happy Holidays” when:
- It’s used in a formal greeting card or title.
- It starts a sentence.
- You’re treating it as a specific phrase with emphasis.
Examples:
- Happy Holidays and a joyful New Year!
- We wish you Happy Holidays from all of us at Sprinkled & Co.
5. When Lowercase Makes More Sense
Use lowercase “holidays” when:
- It’s part of a longer sentence.
- The word is used in a general, non-specific way.
Examples:
- I hope you enjoy the holidays this year.
- We’re closed for the holidays.
Here, “holidays” doesn’t refer to a specific holiday and functions more like a regular noun.
6. Style Guides vs. Real-World Usage
- APA, MLA, and Chicago recommend capitalizing holidays when they are proper nouns or part of titles.
- AP Style agrees, especially in headlines or display copy.
- Real-world usage in marketing and design leans toward full capitalization for festive flair and impact.
7. Greeting Cards, Emails, and Store Signs: A Case Study
Greeting cards and public signage often use:
- Bold, stylized “Happy Holidays” to catch the eye.
- This is more design-driven than grammar-based, but it follows capitalization rules for proper holiday greetings.
Email Example:
Subject Line: Wishing You Happy Holidays and a Bright New Year
Within Text: We hope you enjoy the holidays with loved ones.
8. What About Other Holiday Greetings?
Let’s compare:
- Merry Christmas – Both capitalized: “Christmas” is a holiday.
- Season’s Greetings – Both capitalized as it acts like a standalone title.
- Happy New Year – “New Year” is treated as a holiday or event, so both words are capitalized.
“Happy Holidays” follows the same principle.
9. The Cultural Weight of Capital Letters
Capitalization isn’t just about grammar—it signals respect, emphasis, and intent. By capitalizing “Holidays,” you acknowledge the importance of the season for everyone, making your greeting feel more polished and inclusive.
10. Final Glaze: The Right Way to Say ‘Happy Holidays’
If your greeting is meant to sparkle—capitalize both words:
Happy Holidays.
If you’re just talking about time off work or plans in passing, lowercase is fine:
We’re heading home for the holidays.
But when in doubt—especially on cards, banners, or social media posts—go for the capital treatment. It’s grammatically correct, stylistically strong, and warmly universal.