Various Greetings
With the Word Sholom
38. One may not enter a non-Jew’s house on his holiday and say Sholom. If he finds him outside, he may, but he should say it in a low voice and speak solemnly (שו''ע סי' קמ''ח ס''ט ). It is only assur with the word Shalom because it is a name of Hashem. However, there is no issur of well-wishes without Hashem’s name (בדק הבית שם ארחות חיים, ש''ך סק''ז ).
C-mas; Their Holiday for the Birth of “Oso Ish”
39. Most nations in the world celebrate their “C-mas” holiday on December 25th. Thus, that day is called their holiday. However, some celebrate it on the 6th or 7th of January based on variations in the Gregorian calendar that arose over time due to errors [this is the reason for the different dates of the “nittel” minhagim adopted by Chassidim]. Thus, the standard date of their holiday is December 25th unless it is known about a particular non-Jew that he belongs to a group which celebrates it on a different day.
40. One should not use the full name they use for their holiday [ch-mas], as it contains the name of the false, worthless “messiah” who their religion is based on. Thus, the minhag of Klal Yisroel is to use a Jewish nickname, e.g., “Kratzmach” or the like, to refer to the holiday when necessary (שו''ת ר' עזריאל הילדסהיימער סי' ק''פ, שו''ת משנה הלכות ח''ט סי' קס''ט ). One should not even refer to it with a nickname they use. “X-mas” is also a name they use.
41. Thus, when wishing them well verbally or writing a greeting card, one should not use the original name of their holiday. Rather, one should find a generic way of wishing them well, e.g., Happy holidays.
42. “Seasonal greetings.” The best way to wish non-Jews well in this time is to say or write “Seasonal greetings,” as that does not contain the word “holiday,” and is just a greeting for the season (מו''ר מרן גאב''ד ירושלים בעל שערי טוביה ).
New Year
43. In early times, the non-Jews celebrated the new year as a holiday having to do with their religion, so the first day of the new year had avoda zara concerns. However, nowadays that most nations of the world celebrate the new year as the beginning of the year without any connection to Ch-tianity, one may wish a non-Jew “Happy New Year,” as it is just the beginning of their year, not a proper holiday.
44. Nevertheless, if a non-Jew is known to believe in and celebrate a religious-themed new year, one should refrain from wishing him “Good year” then unless there is concern for creating animosity, in which case one may wish it in a low voice.
45. Wishes to a Jew. However, one Jew should not wish another Jew “Happy new year,” as it is not a Jewish new year. We should not identify with any new year other than our Rosh HaShana on the 1st of Tishrei or any of the four Rosh HaShanos taught in the Mishna.
