"Holiday calories don't count"

“Holiday calories don’t count” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images.

“She (Sophia Slotnick—ed.) noted that her way of serving sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries could dissolve a dieter’s good intentions, but for the holidays, calories don’t count” was printed in The Courier-News (Plainfield, NJ) on April 13, 1965. “Calories don’t count if it’s your birthday, New Year’s Day, Christmas or Thanksgiving” was printed in the Chicago (IL) Tribune on January 1, 1982. “Holiday calories don’t count” was printed in the Journal Star (Peoria, IL) on April 15, 1992.“Pecan Pie Trifle sounds wonderful! Shouldn’t feel bad… holiday calories don’t count” was posted on Twitter by Marie Booz on December 16, 2008. “Holiday Calories Don’t Count” was posted on Twitter by phabutaanh on November 24, 2009.

Related sayings include “Vacation calories don’t count,” “Birthday calories don’t count,” “Halloween calories don’t count,” “Thanksgiving calories don’t count” and “Christmas calories don’t count.” A saying for after these events is, “So sad that in just a few days bread and dessert will have calories again.”

Newspapers.com
13 April 1965, The Courier-News (Plainfield, NJ), “Area Grandmother Takes Pride in Passover Cooking” by Barbara Swetz, pg. 16, col. 6:
She (Sophia Slotnick—ed.) noted that her way of serving sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries could dissolve a dieter’s good intentions, but for the holidays, calories don’t count.

Newspapers.com
1 January 1982, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Calories don’t count on payday” by Joan Beck, sec. 1, pg. 18, col. 4:
Calories don’t count if it’s your birthday, New Year’s Day, Christmas or Thanksgiving.

19 April 1992, Journal Star (Peoria, IL), “Elijah’s the first angel food cake” by Sharon Oberholtzer, pg. B7:
Holiday calories don’t count.

Newspapers.com
25 August 1996, The Advocate (Newark, OH), “Bite by bite, plate by plate we remember relatives on holidays” by Mickey Guisewite, pg. 3A, col. 1:
It it’s served on any holiday, the calories don’t count.

Twitter
Bobbie42
@Bobbie42
@TooManyHats In fact, Holiday calories don’t count at all, because it only happens once a year. 😊
9:26 PM · Dec 12, 2008

Twitter
Marie Booz
@VBEdTech
Replying to @wjohnsen
@wjohnsen Pecan Pie Trifle sounds wonderful! Shouldn’t feel bad… holiday calories don’t count.
7:09 PM · Dec 16, 2008

Twitter
Mim Monk
@mim_monk
In pub waiting for takeaway fish and chips. Holiday calories don’t count, right?
2:24 PM · May 25, 2009

Twitter
phabutaanh
@phabutaanh
Holiday Calories Don’t Count « Unexpected Smiles http://bit.ly/79gBpB
5:14 AM · Nov 24, 2009

Twitter
Rita Sitto
@RockinRita
Thanksgiving Eve is technically a holiday. Calories dont count on holidays so I can eat the cookies in the
@FrancoPRGroup kitchen… right?
10:32 AM · Nov 25, 2009

Twitter
Audrey
@ohdrey89
im looking at my turkey gut thinking “HOLIDAY CALORIES DONT COUNT!!”
10:11 PM · Nov 26, 2009

Twitter
Robyn Foulks ☮
@robynfoulks
“Holiday calories don’t count.” <-- Works for me! hahahah. Sadly they do. :(

10:11 PM · Nov 30, 2009

Twitter
Korina Iledan
@koryniledan
Replying to @arnie_boogs
@A_Boogs Holiday calories don’t count! 😉
8:41 PM · Nov 30, 2011

Twitter
Bossy Brunette
@Burnsmyjets
Holiday calories don’t count.
5:36 PM · Jul 4, 2012

Twitter
cassidy mailand
@Cassidy_Shounn
Holiday calories don’t count
7:28 PM · Nov 28, 2013 from Siler City, NC

Twitter
SunriseGuidedVisual
@SunriseGuidedVi
They say “Holiday calories don’t count.”
But they do!
Eat slowly, mindfully, enjoyably.
#food
10:02 PM · Dec 9, 2014

Twitter
BeYunik
@AlwaysBeYunik
Happy Thanksgiving! And remember, holiday calories don’t count… right? #TurkeyDay
(This is also shown on an image.—ed.)
12:46 PM · Nov 26, 2015

Twitter
women.com
@womendotcom
RT if you agree—“Holiday calories don’t count”
(This is also shown on an image.—ed.)
3:01 PM · Dec 28, 2015 from Manhattan Beach, CA

Twitter
Eli’s Cheesecake
@ElisCheesecake
Because holiday calories don’t count…especially not for cheesecake. RT if you agree! Get your holiday cheesecakes: http://ow.ly/FmYK306UiIq
(“Holiday calories don’t count” is also shown on an image.—ed.)
1:00 PM · Dec 7, 2016

Twitter
liz
@LizzieXXL
HOLIDAY CALORIES DON’T COUNT #jk
6:28 PM · Nov 22, 2018

Twitter
🥀
@theartofsu
“Holiday calories don’t count”🎄🍪🥛
(This is also shown on a sweater.—ed.)
1:29 PM · Dec 25, 2019

Twitter
Erin Phillips
@EAP_Sports
Replying to @AlaskaAir
#AlaskaYouSweaterBelieveIt
Holiday calories don’t count, but holiday miles (and non holiday miles) do!
(This is also shown on a sweater.—ed.)
7:42 PM · Dec 18, 2020

Twitter
Regine ✿
@reginegerbread
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
holiday calories don’t count
🙂
3:36 AM · Dec 26, 2020

Twitter
pricklypear
@prickly12516328
Replying to @noaccountlurker
Holiday calories don’t count, everyone knows that.
10:51 AM · Dec 15, 2021

Twitter
Elle |
@brnrdoelle
holiday calories don’t count and that’s a fact
4:45 AM · Dec 28, 2022

Twitter
🍁Canadian Fletchy☘️ 🌻🇺🇦
@Darth_Pingu
#HolidayDietStrategies are easy: holiday calories don’t count.
4:00 PM · Dec 31, 2022