NEW HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Nearly two-thirds of Americans prefer the traditional religious greeting of "Merry Christmas" to the non-specific "Happy Holidays," a poll found.
Of adults surveyed nationally, 64 percent said people should say, "Merry Christmas," while 31 percent believe the appropriate greeting is "Happy Holidays," the Knights of Columbus-Marist poll released Friday said.
For more than five decades, the Knights have been at the forefront of the campaign to "Keep Christ in Christmas," producing public service announcements with the "Keep Christ in Christmas" message since the 1980s.
"That we prefer 'Merry Christmas' by such a wide margin is indicative of the importance that Christmas has in the lives of the great majority of Americans," Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said.
"For that vast majority of Americans who observe Christmas, this day and season are a time for us to celebrate the fact that God exists and is with us."
The Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll surveyed 1,026 adults Nov. 8-11, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
