Okay, this has been irking me no end...

[conuly]

Why do some people say "Happy New Years!" instead of "Happy New Year!"? The first implies that you only are well-wishing for the holiday itself, the second is a general wish that the entire new year be happy. I know which one I would prefer come true!

So, why say the former? Is it just that people base their holiday greeting conventions on the same pattern as "Merry Christmas!" and "Happy Groundhog Day" and don't really think about what they're saying? Hm. Wait, that could be it. Hm. Answers, please!

Comments

[nightsea.livejournal.com]

Strange you mentioned that, because earlier today someone sent me a message stating exactly that - "Happy New Years!" Immediately I thought, why the plural? I can only assume that most people don't really think about what they say, in the same manner that some people say they need to 'Itch a scratch.' It makes no sense.

[conuly]

Well, in that case, as in mine above, it's not a plural but a misspelled possessive... Happy New Year's day/eve. At least, I hope so...

[goddess588.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would be the abbreviation for Happy New Year's day, though I'm picking that a lot of the clowns who say it have no idea. And most of the English speaking world has problems with apostrophes. It drives me mad. Is it like that in other languages?

[conuly]

I really can't say... I know some languages, like Spanish, have far more regular spelling/punctuation rules, and others, like French, are only regular if you know the etymology of what you're saying (but you can read anything you see written, which is a plus)... but I don't know how literate their populace is. Very vexing.

[erurenui.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I've always taken it to mean 'Have lots and lots of MORE happy new years' but that's just me.

-Cheshire(for clarity's sake)

[nightsea.livejournal.com]

Strange you mentioned that, because earlier today someone sent me a message stating exactly that - "Happy New Years!" Immediately I thought, why the plural? I can only assume that most people don't really think about what they say, in the same manner that some people say they need to 'Itch a scratch.' It makes no sense.

[conuly]

Well, in that case, as in mine above, it's not a plural but a misspelled possessive... Happy New Year's day/eve. At least, I hope so...

[goddess588.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that would be the abbreviation for Happy New Year's day, though I'm picking that a lot of the clowns who say it have no idea. And most of the English speaking world has problems with apostrophes. It drives me mad. Is it like that in other languages?

[conuly]

I really can't say... I know some languages, like Spanish, have far more regular spelling/punctuation rules, and others, like French, are only regular if you know the etymology of what you're saying (but you can read anything you see written, which is a plus)... but I don't know how literate their populace is. Very vexing.

[erurenui.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I've always taken it to mean 'Have lots and lots of MORE happy new years' but that's just me.

-Cheshire(for clarity's sake)