When does it become socially unacceptable to wish someone a happy new year? Etiquette experts weigh in

Canadian etiquette experts explain best practices for the best time to stop wishing people a happy new year and share other social tips for 2023

It may take a few weeks to mentally adjust to the new calendar year, but at what point does the saying “Happy New Year!” lose its shine?

To help navigate the social uncertainty of wishing people a happy new year, etiquette experts weigh in on the best time to move on from the phrase and give their thoughts on the way forward in 2023.

“There is no set expiry date for the well wish,” said Ann Elizabeth Burnett, Etiquette Consultant, and founder of Elizabeth Etiquette, who goes by her business’ name. “But by the end of the first week, after New Year's, the greeting has sort of waned.”

Whether you’re greeting a colleague, a loved one, or a stranger, context is important, according to Etiquette.

“I think you have to look at it in the context of your meeting and your conversation,” she said. “Certainly you wouldn't keep saying ‘Happy New Year,’ throughout the whole January and February - definitely too late. But if you meet someone, and they’ve just been offered a new job, for example, then it is certainly great to bring up “what a great start to the new year, wishing you all the best.””

As the three-year mark following the pandemic approaches in March, and with a potential recession on the horizon for 2023, Etiquette says that patience and empathy are the way forward in a world of uncertainty and stress.

“The shops, healthcare organizations… they're all stretched to the limit.” she said. “I think that if we can just take a step back and exercise a little more of that patience and empathy for those around us, I think it will be one of the best things that any of us can do as we move into this year of uncertainty.”