Happy Holidays or happy holidays? Capitalization Rules for Festive Greetings

Introduction: ‘Tis the Season… for Grammar?
The Great Capitalization Question
When to Capitalize “Happy Holidays”
When to Keep It Lowercase
What About Other Holiday Greetings?
Formal vs. Casual Greetings: Does It Matter?
Writing Holiday Cards, Emails, and Posts: What’s Right?
Final Takeaway: Stay Festive, Stay Correct

1. Introduction: ‘Tis the Season… for Grammar?

Whether you’re scribbling a warm wish in a holiday card, typing out a festive email, or crafting a social media post for your brand, the question always sneaks in:
Should “Happy Holidays” be capitalized?
Let’s sleigh this confusion with some grammar magic and a pinch of cheer.

2. The Great Capitalization Question

You’ve seen it both ways:

Happy Holidays
happy holidays

So which one is right? The answer, like most things in grammar, depends on context.

3. When to Capitalize “Happy Holidays”

Use capital letters when “Happy Holidays” is used as a standalone greeting, especially in formal or professional settings. For example:

At the start of a sentence: Happy Holidays! We wish you a joyful new year.
On greeting cards, banners, or subject lines: Wishing You Happy Holidays!
When it’s treated like a title or heading.

Capitalizing both words here emphasizes the start of a thought and gives it the importance it deserves—like tying a ribbon on your sentence.

4. When to Keep It Lowercase

Now, if you’re simply using the phrase within a sentence, and not as a greeting or headline, you can keep it lowercase (except for the word “Happy” if it’s the start of a sentence):

I hope you enjoy happy holidays with your loved ones.
She always travels during the happy holidays.

The difference is subtle, but lowercase fits when the phrase blends into a longer sentence.

5. What About Other Holiday Greetings?

The same rules apply to greetings like:

Merry Christmas
Season’s Greetings
Happy New Year

Capitalize them when used on their own as greetings. Keep them lowercase when they’re part of a larger sentence unless grammar requires capitalization.

Example:

Merry Christmas!
I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Pro tip: Many writers also choose to capitalize for visual emphasis or tradition, especially in printed greetings.

6. Formal vs. Casual Greetings: Does It Matter?

Yes, it does—just a little.
In formal or professional writing (like company newsletters or client emails), it’s safer to capitalize both words:

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes from Our Team

In personal texts or casual chats, lowercase might fly just fine. But remember: consistency is key.

7. Writing Holiday Cards, Emails, and Posts: What’s Right?

Here’s a cheat sheet:

Holiday Card Headline: Happy Holidays!
Email Subject Line: Sending You Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes
Social Post Caption: Wishing you happy holidays, wherever you are!
Within Body Text: We hope you enjoy happy holidays full of joy and peace.

Match the tone of your message with your capitalization style. Going festive and formal? Go capitalized. Keeping it light? Lowercase can work too.

8. Final Takeaway: Stay Festive, Stay Correct

Whether you’re a grammar purist or a festive free-spirit, here’s the rule of thumb:

Use “Happy Holidays” (capitalized) when it’s a standalone greeting or at the beginning of a sentence.
Use “happy holidays” (lowercase) when it flows as part of a sentence.

So, go ahead—spread the cheer confidently, knowing your commas (and capital letters) are in the right place. Happy writing—and of course, Happy Holidays!