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I didn't know you couldn't say Merry Christmas New Texas Law Protects 'Merry Christmas'
Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed a law that he says protects Christmas.
The new law legally protects anyone who says "Merry Christmas" in Texas public schools from what lawmakers there call "ridiculous" lawsuits in the name of political correctness.
Mr Perry signed the bill - already approved on a bipartisan basis by the state legislature - on Thursday.
"It's a shame that a bill like this one I'm signing today is even required, but I'm glad that we're standing up for religious freedom in this state," the governor said.
He added: "Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion."
About 10 Santa Claus impersonators rang sleigh bells as he signed it.
Traditional religious holiday symbols such as a menorah or nativity scene also are protected under the law, as long as more than one religion and a secular symbol are also reflected.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Dwayne Bohac, said he wrote it after his son's school put up a "holiday tree" in December.
Conservative politicians have bemoaned the so-called "war on Christmas" in recent years, as many Americans have replaced the "merry Christmas" greeting with "happy holidays".
Mr Perry was scheduled on Friday to travel to Washington for the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference.