Season's greetings

USAGE SUMMARY

"Season's greetings" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English
It is usually used during the holiday season, such as Christmas, New Year's, or other winter holidays, to express good wishes and greetings to someone. Example: "Season's greetings to all of our clients and customers. We hope this holiday season brings you joy, happiness, and prosperity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Season's greetings:  1.

Independent

Season's greetings, stardust-hounds.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Season's greetings to all of our readers!

The New Yorker

"Season's Greetings," by Barry Blitt, December 14 , 2009

The New Yorker

Season's Greetings runs at the National theatre until 13 March.

The Guardian

Season's greetings and pass 'em on, Beth and the Spencer Gang Photograph by Camera Press/Redux.

The New Yorker

Season's Greetings Santa Claus is coming to town, and so are the Rockettes.

The New York Times - Arts

Season's Greetings Some people are just going to let the winter solstice roll right over them.

The New York Times

Season's Greetings From musical theater come "Fiddler on the Roof" with Theodore Bikel and "Guys and Dolls" with Maurice Hines.

The New York Times - Arts

Season's Greetings For those who are counting down, summer officially arrives in New York at 9 48 p.m. on Tuesday.

The New York Times

6. Season's greetings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase as a safe, inclusive option for corporate cards and email signatures when you are unsure of the recipient's religious background.

Common error

A frequent mistake is writing 'Seasons greetings' (no apostrophe) or 'Seasons' greetings' (apostrophe after the s). Since the term refers to the single winter holiday season, the apostrophe must come before the 's'. Ensure you treat 'Season' as a singular possessive noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Season's greetings" functions primarily as a noun phrase that serves as a formulaic expression of goodwill. According to Ludwig AI, it is often used as a stand-alone interjection or a closing in written communication. It typically consists of the singular possessive noun 'Season's' modifying the plural noun 'greetings'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Season's greetings" remains one of the most reliable and sophisticated tools for holiday communication. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a correct and widely respected expression that avoids religious specificity while maintaining a high level of politeness. Whether appearing in a banner headline in The New York Times or as a sign-off in a professional card from UNICEF, its primary value lies in its inclusivity and professional tone. When writing this phrase, the most critical detail is the punctuation: always include the apostrophe before the 's' to denote the singular possessive. While alternatives like "happy holidays" are equally valid, "Season's greetings" carries a touch more traditional weight that makes it ideal for business and formal journalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Happy holidays

The most direct and equally inclusive alternative widely used in North America

Merry Christmas

Specifically refers to the Christian holiday and is less inclusive for diverse audiences

Festive greetings

A slightly more modern and playful variation of the traditional phrase

Warmest holiday wishes

Adds a more personal and heartfelt tone to the standard greeting

Best wishes for the holidays

A full sentence structure that is highly appropriate for professional correspondence

Joyous holidays

Swaps the standard adjective for a more expressive and celebratory synonym

Compliments of the season

A more traditional or British English formal expression

Happy New Year

Restricts the greeting specifically to the transition of the calendar year

Yuletide greetings

Uses archaic or literary language for a nostalgic and traditional feel

Holiday cheers

Informal and concise, often used in casual settings or social media

FAQs

Is it Season's greetings or Seasons greetings?

The grammatically correct version is "Season's greetings" with an apostrophe before the 's'. This indicates that the greetings belong to the current season. Omitting the apostrophe is a common error.

What is a more formal alternative to Season's greetings?

For very formal or traditional contexts, you can use "compliments of the season" or "best wishes for the holidays".

Can I use Season's greetings in a professional email?

Yes, it is highly appropriate. It serves as a polite and professional way to acknowledge the holiday period. If you want a slightly more conversational tone, try "warmest holiday wishes".

What is the difference between Season's greetings and Happy holidays?

There is very little semantic difference. "Season's greetings" is slightly more formal and traditional, while "happy holidays" is more common in modern American speech. Both are used to be inclusive of all winter celebrations.