While “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year” dominate global holiday discourse, the phrase “Compliment of the Season” (often pluralized as “Compliments of the Season”) offers a more formal, inclusive, and grammatically interesting alternative. It serves not as a factual statement but as a social gesture aimed at establishing goodwill.
The Sociolinguistics of Phatic Communion: An Analysis of the Phrase “Compliment of the Season” compliment of the season
The word compliment (from Latin complimentum , meaning “an expression of courtesy”) is key. The phrase uses the singular possessive construction: “Compliment of the Season,” where “the Season” refers metonymically to the winter holiday period (late November through early January). Unlike “Merry Christmas,” which expresses a wish, “Compliment of the Season” performs the act of complimenting—i.e., sending regards or good wishes. It is a truncated form of “I offer you the compliment appropriate to this season.” ” which expresses a wish