Is the Respect for Multiculturalism Misunderstood?

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS    

When I lived in the United States for over a decade, I learned that a new trend had emerged around holiday greetings. The traditional “Merry Christmas” had, at least in New York, been replaced by the more common “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.”

The goal seemed to be cultural neutrality, an attempt to acknowledge diversity. This phenomenon now appears to have reached Europe as well.

For example, Swedish steel company SSAB has instructed its staff across various countries, including Finland, to wish “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” to ensure the feelings of the company’s international workforce are respected.

At first glance, this seems inclusive, but in reality, it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of inclusion. Rather than celebrating multiculturalism and sharing different traditions together, this practice suggests that expressions from certain cultures are too controversial or even inappropriate. Is it really true that someone would feel offended or marginalized by a simple “Merry Christmas”?

It is possible that the English word “Christmas” is a more sensitive term compared to the Finnish joulu or the Scandinavian jul, but this does not change the essence of the matter. Everyone should have the right to express themselves through their own culture as long as it is not intentionally offensive to anyone.

The essence of multiculturalism is to accept and respect differences. It means we can wish each other what’s important to us while receiving others’ greetings with an open mind. It’s paradoxical that the drive for inclusivity ultimately leads to the erasure of cultural differences. When, in the early 2000s, I started receiving Christmas cards in the U.S. with only “Season’s Greetings,” I noticed that many colleagues longed for the opportunity to express their cultural specificity.

My Jewish colleague proudly spoke of Hanukkah, and my Muslim neighbor shared about Ramadan. But instead of learning about each other’s celebrations together, these holidays were shrouded in uncomfortable silence.

“Merry Christmas” is not a threat to multiculturalism. Instead of banning the expression of traditions, we should encourage people to share their greetings and joyfully accept those from other cultures. Could it really be impossible to live in a world where Christmas celebrants wish each other Merry Christmas, Hanukkah celebrants wish Hanukkah, and those observing Ramadan greet each other for Ramadan? The power of greetings lies in their diversity.

In today’s climate, multiculturalism is often interpreted as sensitivity and avoidance. It creates artificial boundaries rather than building genuine bridges. This misinterpretation of inclusion provokes intolerance and prejudice. Instead of seeing the richness of different cultural expressions, there is confrontation, where one viewpoint tries to erase another.

If we truly want to be tolerant and inclusive, we should not be offended by someone wishing a happy holiday in their own way—on the contrary, we could see it as an opportunity to share something important from their culture. The old German saying leben und leben lassen—“live and let live”—encapsulates this thinking. Despite good intentions, SSAB’s instruction and similar efforts may end up reinforcing division.

Instead, we could nurture the courage to greet, listen, and learn—not only from our own but also from others’ holiday traditions. Such diversity could truly be a strength, not a threat. Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa—or whatever holiday you’re celebrating!