With the advance of winter weather, many things are changing. Students hurrying to classes are now bundled up in warm clothes, familiar trees stand naked and even the phrases we use to communicate with one another are being altered.

One of the most obvious ways in which our words are modified is the use of phrases such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays,” particularly by strangers such as cashiers or waitstaff. Many of us might pay no mind to the exact words used by these workers, but for some people the importance of what the words signify means they deserve more than a passing thought.

Anytime religion is mixed with something else, people probably are going to become upset. Both those who think Christmas is the only winter holiday worth acknowledging and those who think it should not be given a special place in our greetings have a point.

A November survey done by the American Bible Society found that 94 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. This would lead most to conclude that wishing Christmas greetings and farewells is a safe bet. However, those that do not celebrate Christmas and those that do not wish to have anything assumed about their religious views would be understandably perturbed.

When dealing with someone you don’t know, it is probably best to completely forego any allusion to specific religious practices, such as celebrating Christmas (even though many celebrate the holiday in question without a religious focus.) This presents a problem to many devout Christians, though.

To those who find a deep religious meaning in the celebration of Christmas, it can be insulting to ask them to keep their beliefs and joyous demeanor to themselves. When someone tells a complete stranger “Merry Christmas,” in all likelihood they are just trying to be pleasant and share some of their festive spirit.

The same goes for those wishing others “Happy Holidays.” Far from being soldiers in a “war on Christmas” as some like TV personality Bill O’Reilly claim, these well-wishers are simply trying to spread holiday cheer without offending.

O’Reilly, in a segment this past Tuesday called “The war on Christmas centralizes,” said that our “’Happy Holidays’ syndrome” is a product of secularization movements over the last few years, despite allusions to the phrase that date back decades, including a still-popular song titled “Happy Holiday” performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 Christmas movie “Holiday Inn.”

The entire line of thinking behind fighting a war over Christmas completely misses the best qualities of the holiday season. Instead of finding acceptance for those whose views are different from our own and giving forgiveness to those who unintentionally offend, a contentious dispute over who gets to say what has ensued.

Even politics have become embroiled in the “Merry Christmas” debate. The front piece of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s online store is currently a shirt featuring the words “I’m not afraid to say Merry Christmas.” There is also a coffee mug for sale that claims “‘Happy Holidays’ is what liberals say.” The Washington Post pointed out these types of merchandise earlier in the week, along with a 2012 Pew Research Center poll that would seem to disagree.

The poll itself found that most respondents who considered themselves liberal did not care what greeting was used, and more preferred “Merry Christmas” over “Happy Holidays/Seasons Greetings.” Conservatives also favored hearing the words “Merry Christmas” but in higher numbers, as the NRCC’s merch would suggest.

So despite the attempts to make the wording of your favorite holiday greeting grounds for war, go ahead and just enjoy the season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, any other holiday, or nothing at all, take a step back and just appreciate what people mean when they wish you a “merry” or “happy” anything.