New Year, New Year's or New Years?

For some reason this year more than in previous years (64 of them), I have noticed people's greetings through "the holidays."  The various greetings fall into "pre-Thanksgiving", "post-Thanksgiving", "pre-Christmas", "post-Christmas", "pre-New Year's", and "post-New Year's". Just before Thanksgiving people say, "Have a happy Thanksgiving" or just "Happy Thanksgiving."  For a few days after Thanksgiving they ask, "Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?" Then after a few days that becomes, depending on religious or political orientation, "Have a Happy Holidays"  or "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas."  And about a week or so before Christmas the question is "Are you ready for Christmas?"  Or "Are you ready for Santa Claus?"  Others ask instead, "Have you got all your Christmas shopping done?"  (that one is seldom if ever,  "Have you got all your holiday shopping done?" ) Then for  a few days after Christmas I heard, "Did you have a nice/good Christmas?" or "Was Santa Claus good to you?" Now for a few days before January 1st, I got the most variety in greetings. Among other greetings I heard, "I hope you have a happy new year(s)" or just "Happy New Year(s)" or "Do you have plans for New Year(s)?" After the 1st, people tend to not say anything, but those who do say something usually say "Did you have a happy new year(s)?"  And then a few days later when it's all over, people resume their normal greeting.

In case you are not sure about New Year or New Year's or New Years, here are the basic grammatical rules.  New Year means exactly that. "Happy New Year" is always appropriate as it means "I hope you have a happy new year."  "New Year's" assumes possession as is the case with any apostrophe. New Year's assumes "New Year's Eve" or "New Year's Day."  The New Year is attached to something else either named or assumed.  New Years on the other hand is only appropriate when you're referring to more than one year. Example, "We eat at the Waffle House on New Years." It's actually highly unlikely that New Years is what you intended.  So after January 1st if someone asks you "Did you have a good New Year's?" it may sound a little strange, but it is an appropriate reference to "Did you have a good  New Year's celebration." For me, just New Year works better. . On the other hand if you say "New Year's", I seriously doubt the listener ever wonders about the apostrophe or if possession is assumed.

Going back to the days leading up to Thanksgiving, which I consider to be the beginning of "the holidays" and then through the days after January 1st, people will greet you in all these ways I've mentioned before and after the event.  I would guess that each person's greeting is an attempt to be friendly and to wish you well.  Some people  attempt to be thoughtful and politically correct. Others just say what matters to them regardless of who they may exclude or offend. But for the most part I think the greetings are intended to show politeness and courtesy.

Here's one suggestion you may consider next year as  you enter "the holidays", including Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year and other celebrations, When you encounter a person and don't want to risk offense because of nationality, religion or personal preferences, just ask them "How're you doing?"