What's wrong with "Happy Holidays"?

Two things, maybe three.

First of all, the majority of people you might say "Happy Holidays" to are not on holiday! Folks who work retail are probably putting in extra hours, with stores open 24/7, and even on traditional holidays like Christmas Day and Boxing Day. (Americans can ask a Brit or a Canuck what that's all about.) Such is the quest for the almighty dollar that the three weeks from mid-December until Little Christmas are the busiest of the year for retailers. You should have seen the crowd at the Fort Mudge liquor store today.

Secondly, in spite of your good wishes, this is not a happy time of the year. It's a very stressful season. Suicides spike. Thefts increase. So does begging. What's there to be happy about?! No wonder Scrooge says "Bah, humbug!"

Finally, when you wish someone "Happy Holidays" (or anything else), your wish implies that there's something wrong with the status quo, that their present situation -- whatever it is -- could be better. Thus the wisher imposes a value judgment on the wishee! Maybe the person you're greeting is quite "happy" being a Grinch. Leave them alone!

Footnote: Speaking of "holidays", whatever happened to "Kwanzaa"? Seems to Walt that is (or was) a "black thing" dreamed up by white people, probably greeting card manufacturers. Only in the USA... Even the Canadian government, notorious for pandering to vizmins, didn't bite on that one!