What is the cutoff date for wishing people a happy new year?

I think it is still early enough in the year to be wishing people a good year. I don’t think wishing people a happy new year is the same as wishing people a merry Christmas, for example. Christmas is one day, and as soon as it is over, people stop saying ‘merry christmas’. But the New Year can continue for a while. It is only the 5th of January, for crying out loud. We do have 360 more days of this year to endure. Don’t let it bother you so much. It will fizzle out soon. Until then, have a good new year.

The first time in the new year that I greet people I know, I am likely to wish them a happy new year, as long as it’s within the first week or so of January. After that, the year is feeling a bit used, and the greeting fades.

wow I do sound bitter and grumpy, but actually this was a legitimate discussion that I had with friends and wanted to get everyone’s opinion! By the way happy new year!!! :)

Not long, most people will finally stop when 2010 begins.

I think I’ve heard it said as late as February. Most people seem to use it the first time they see a person in the new year, if they are that kind of person. Others ignore it entirely.

Here’s what I think: if you meet up with a friend anytime in January and it’s the first meeting since December, it’s OK to say the wish. Anytime after January though I wouldn’t say it. But I also don’t say it to anyone period, so take that for what it’s worth.

I’m just wishing everyone a happy Chinese/Vietnamese New Year so I have until the 28th to finish :-)

I stop wishing people happy new year once the year enters the double digits [jan 10 and beyond].

I dislike the same old, cliche sentiments that people always use, like “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”.

I like to tell people “Happy Secularistmas” and “Happy Solstice”.

This “new year” is special because we’re losing Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz/Rice et al. Maybe we’re condensing that into the greeting people usually get done with sooner.

I say we IGNORE THE SOCIAL NORMS and wish people a Happy New Year every day! What do you say, folks? January 1 is just an arbitrarily chosen date, anyway. Let’s create a revolution! Happy New Year, comrades!

I agree with shadling. hah.
I was actually wondering this question earlier today (being my day back at work after the holiday break) as I greeted some co workers with hello, but thinking that maybe it was rude of me not to say Happy New Year.

I say all of January, but probably not after.

December 31

When you see the first Easter Egg in the shops so maybe Jan 2nd, Jan 3rd.

July 1 That’s the halfway mark

By the way, Happy New Year, everyone.

Back atcha Chuckie!!

.….the cutoff date.…
July 3rd or 4th

You were speaking of the fiscal year…..

I was going by the julian date.

Any friend who you see for the 1st time in the new year up until the 7th.

Defiantly not at a friends birthday rave in CJ’s!!!!!!!!!! Ross