Should ‘Holidays’ Be Capitalized in ‘Happy Holidays’? Grammar Rules Explained

Introduction: A Common Holiday Grammar Doubt
The Quick Answer
Understanding Sentence Case vs. Title Case
When to Capitalize “Holidays”
What About “Happy Holidays” in Greeting Cards?
Capitalization in Emails and Social Media
What Style Guides Say (APA, Chicago, MLA)
Other Similar Holiday Phrases
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Final Takeaway: Celebrate With Confidence

1. Introduction: A Common Holiday Grammar Doubt

You’re writing a festive greeting, maybe for a card, a company email, or a social media caption. You pause:
Should it be “Happy Holidays” or “Happy holidays”?
Is “Holidays” a proper noun? Or is it just a seasonal term? Let’s break down the grammar, clear up the confusion, and help you write with confidence this holiday season.

2. The Quick Answer

Yes — “Holidays” is capitalized in “Happy Holidays” when it’s used as part of a standalone greeting or at the beginning of a sentence.
But if you’re using it mid-sentence or casually, lowercase is often correct.

3. Understanding Sentence Case vs. Title Case

Sentence case: Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.
Example: I hope you have happy holidays.
Title case: Used in headings, cards, and greetings. Main words are capitalized.
Example: Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year.

So when “Happy Holidays” stands alone — like in a card or subject line — it’s treated like a title or heading, and both words are capitalized.

4. When to Capitalize “Holidays”

Capitalize “Holidays” when:

It’s part of a standalone greeting
Example: Wishing you Happy Holidays.
It’s in a title or headline
Example: Office Closure During the Holidays
It follows other capitalized greetings
Example: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Lowercase “holidays” when:

It’s used generically or in a sentence
Example: We are going on holidays soon.
Example: I wish you a happy holidays season. (Incorrect — should be “a happy holiday season”)

5. What About “Happy Holidays” in Greeting Cards?

In greeting cards and e-greetings, both “Happy” and “Holidays” are almost always capitalized, as the phrase stands alone and is meant to look formal, festive, and polished.

Correct for cards and headers:

Happy Holidays
Wishing You Happy Holidays

6. Capitalization in Emails and Social Media

In email subject lines or Instagram captions, capitalize both words for impact.
Example: Subject: Happy Holidays from the Smith Team
In email body text, if part of a sentence, follow sentence case:
Example: We wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year.

7. What Style Guides Say (APA, Chicago, MLA)

APA Style: Capitalize for standalone greetings; lowercase in body text unless it’s a proper noun.
Chicago Manual of Style: Title case in greetings and headings; lowercase otherwise.
MLA Style: Follows general grammar rules — capitalize only if at the start or in a title.

8. Other Similar Holiday Phrases

Here’s how similar phrases are typically written:

Greeting Phrase	Correct Capitalization
Merry Christmas	Both words capitalized
Happy New Year	All main words capitalized
Season’s Greetings	Capitalized as a standalone
Wishing you peace and joy	Only first word capitalized

9. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake: Writing “Happy holidays!” in a greeting card
Fix: Capitalize both words — “Happy Holidays!”

Mistake: Capitalizing in the middle of a sentence unnecessarily
Fix: Use sentence case unless it begins the sentence or stands alone

10. Final Takeaway: Celebrate With Confidence

So, “Happy Holidays” gets capitalized when it’s part of a formal greeting, title, or header — but not when casually written in the middle of a sentence.
Whether you’re crafting a card, sending warm wishes in an email, or writing a festive Instagram post — now you can do it with proper grammar and polished style.

Final Tip: When in doubt, match the tone of the message — professional, festive, or casual — and let that guide your capitalization.