Check in if you are an atheist who DOES say "Merry Christmas" to people.

[Heddi]

5. I say Happy Holidays because I'm an RN, and many of my patients are non-Christian

I *generally* don't say anything because a large portion of my patients are Jehovah's Witness, and therefore they don't celebrate any holidays. If I'm told to have a good Christmas, I respond with "have a good Holidays yourself," as pre-end of November that will encompass T'giving, Christmas, and New Years. I still say "happy holidays" after t'giving because it covers Xmas and New Year.

I guess I am not the person who ever is the first one to tell someone (whom I don't know personally) to have a good ____ (holdiay, christmas, whatever). I wait for the person I'm with to open, and I respond with something generic (happy holidays), or even more generic (thanks! You too).