New Year Greeting

We always say "All the best for the New year", since I was small.
I think your friends were over-sensitive. A relation and two friends have terminal illnesses and their cards said all the best and I put it in theirs.

My greeting for many years has been Best wishes for a Peaceful and Healthy year. Must say, I have now added the work KIND to this greeting.

Thanks for your replies and comments, I found them very comforting.

Unless someone wishes me a HNY or similar, I never greet them with anything apart from ‘hello’.

nanna8

I have never heard that one ( peaceful). It could be interpreted as meaning you are a belligerent type or you had been involved with something causing strife and personally I wouldn’t use it.

Well, on that basis - although it's the norm - I could interpret people wishing me a "happy" new year as meaning they think I'm rather miserable.

In fact, as well as saying "peaceful new year" to others - I've had it said to me. And I saw a pack of Christmas cards wishing a "joyous" and "peaceful" Christmas.

I think, in the wider sense, it means 'mellow' or 'restful'. And it's gaining currency I believe because a large part of the world - and particularly here in the UK - there's unprecedented (apart from two world wars) turmoil. As another delivery driver said to me - "well, next year's gonna be much the same as this one, innit?"

Gosh over thinking that one nanna8 How on earth could anyone wishing someone a peaceful new year be interpreted that they believe they are belligerent

Perhaps peaceful interprets differently in Australia

After going through Covid and lockdown we wished everyone a peaceful New Year and have done since. We have had illness in our family and our dear friends recently peace seems more appropriate than happy. Your relatives are being too touchy give them time to get over it.

I have never heard that one ( peaceful). It could be interpreted as meaning you are a belligerent type or you had been involved with something causing strife and personally I wouldn’t use it.

Edge26

I have been mulling this over so thought I would ask other Grans what you think.
I wished a relative " A Peaceful New Year " and they replied back and said are you being sarcastic as I didn't wish them "A Happy New Year". I thought they were joking but they were very serious.

I wished nearly everyone I know a "Peaceful New Year" because most of them are aware that the state of the nation at the moment is so torn that it almost seems hollow and superficial to breezily wish the formulaic "happy New Year".

The only person I wished a HNY was my youngish Tesco delivery man who was but a boy and quite excited about the prospect of a party, so it seemed appropriate.

I have friends who have been bereaved recently and a friend who has terminal cancer. I cannot wish them a Happy New Year. It would be insensitive so I wish them a peaceful New Year. Your relative doesn't have enough to worry about!

They were being too sensitive; they could practice chilling out!

Seems strange to me, I would welcome a peaceful New Year!