It looks like the much-discussed “war on Christmas” has not taken effect among our readers. In our weekly poll, OhMyGov! asked what greeting readers preferred to use and receive at work and a clear majority chose “Merry Christmas.”

While 56 percent prefer the traditional Christmas greeting, another 26 percent like the more inclusive “Happy Holidays.”

A journalist first coined the term “war on Christmas” in 1999, but conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly is credited with bringing the concept into the mainstream. O’Reilly and others claim that any specific mention of the term “Christmas” or its religious aspects has been increasingly censored, avoided, or discouraged by advertisers, retailers, government, and other organizations. In response, those on the pro-Christmas side of the perceived war express outrage at “holiday trees” and engage in boycotts of retailers that aren’t sufficiently steeped in Christmas-ness.

While it may seem that controversy over Christmas is truly a modern day phenomenon, the first battle over the holiday happened in the 16th and 17th centuries when England was ruled by a Puritan Parliament.  The Puritans were disturbed by the many Pagan and Catholic elements of the celebration of Christmas and banned the celebration of Christmas entirely.

Some of our readers, perhaps trying not to choose sides, didn’t like either greeting. Twelve percent called themselves a modern day Scrooge and preferred a different sort of greeting and four percent were afraid to say anything these days.

Full results: Which holiday greeting do you prefer at work?

56 percent: Merry Christmas!

26 percent: Happy Holidays!                    

12 percent: F-off! I'm a modern day Scrooge         

4 percent: I'm afraid to say anything these days        

1 percent: Happy Hanukkah!                   

1 percent: Other answer...               

Thanks to all who responded to the survey.  If you have ideas about future poll topics, contact our editors and keep the comments, stories, and poll submissions coming!    

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