0 . A 9-year-old viewer asked us to find out why we say Merry Christmas and not Happy Christmas. You may hear the phrase “Merry Christmas” around the world, including in England. But, have you ever wondered why we in the U.S. tend to say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Christmas”? Merry Christmas is frequently used by the American people while Happy Christmas is commonly used by the British. It contained the now household phrase “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, pushed it forward, as did industrialization: The first commercially sold Christmas card (also printed in 1843) contained the salutation “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You,” which depicted a prosperous family framed by images of people feeding and clothing poor people. WHY?? All visitors must be smiling and spreading that cheer also. According to Why Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I want to stand up for this Christmas season I love. Still, Mr. Schmitz makes a good overall point in his post and I like his explanation better than mine. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Have a great solstice whatever. European Santa Tracker – Pictures and Videos. Happy Christmas December 20, 2013 Gene Veith. False Right-wing Political Appeal to Ancient Christian Heretic... False Right-wing Political Appeal to the Ancient Christian Heretic Pelagius All too... There’s a message that kills and a message that gives life. Saying 'Merry Christmas' rather than 'Happy Christmas' seems to go back several hundred years. Trump, Obama and the War on Christmas A look at how the phrases "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" were used under President Donald Trump and President Barack Obama. In the U.K. you will find Queen Elizabeth’s II’s annual Christmas address concluding with a “Happy Christmas” to all. Should we greet each other with vague holiday cheer or specific Christmas-related well wishes? Both happy and merryare terms used to describe a joyous and pleasureful situation. While each of these phrases have a unique history—they both share the same sentiment. 12/25/2020 01:35 Subject: Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays! Yet “Merry Christmas” did not gain universal support. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown challenges at all of us — including The Michigan Daily — but that hasn’t stopped our staff. Happy Holidays" debate has been a hot topic for a while now. This moral suspicion of “Merry Christmas” dates back to the Methodist churchmen of the Victorian era who sought to promote sobriety among the English working class. The phrase "Merry Christmas" refers to a specific Christian holiday, while "Happy holidays" covers the winter holidays from a variety of traditions. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Patheos’s Partners, Swiss will vote on a guaranteed national income. Merry Christmas is a greeting that is used when specifying Christmas, so if one wishes someone Merry Christmas, they are only wishing them to have a happy Christmas. They have the same meaning, are similar phrases. Not one to celebrate with feasts and celebrations. In general, “Happy Holidays” is accepted as the broadest and most inclusive greeting at this time of year. For starters, it's important to note that "Happy Christmas" hasn't faded completely—it's still widely used in England. Merry Christmas Vs Happy Christmas. By looking at historic literary works, you will see how far back this greeting can be traced. Why do we say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Christmas? The debate between the 2 phrases goes back several decades. What started as a dispute forged by religious preference became an argument of political malice. The same goes for when you turn on your favorite Christmas tunes: We Wish You a Merry Christmas or John Lennon‘s Happy Christmas (War is Over). This is because “Happy Christmas” is still a widely used phrase in many places—particularly in England. (Similarly, in Holland some of the more strictly reformed Dutch prefer Zalig Kerstfeest—“Blessed Christmas”—to Vrolijk Kerstmis—“Merry Christmas.”). After all, we say, “Happy Birthday” and “Happy New Year” but why do we say “Merry Christmas”? © I Spot Santa™ 2009-2019, Murena Entertainment LLC™, NP Newsroom, Denali Park: The Puffy Jacket, Official Letter To Santa Claus (Printable), Mrs. Claus’ Favorite Christmas Recipes: Cookies and Breads, Santa Facts – Magical Powers and Revelations, 5 Santa Sightings That Will Make You Believe, The BEST Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe. In the 18th century, when merry was first developed, it was actually a euphemism for being intoxicated. I want to defend the Christ whose birth I celebrate. They are generally used interchangeably but let’s take a closer look. Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters. The term appears in 1534 in a Christmas letter between the Catholic Bishop John Fisher and Thomas Cromwell. However, Happy Holidays include all festivals, whether they are religious or not. “Merry Christmas” stirs in us an impulse more primitive and unrestrained: The childlike giddiness of Christmas morning, the rush down the stairs and tearing at paper, the intemperate delight in gifts long hoped-for and wholly undeserved. So, influencers of the time looked back to the history of the Christmas holiday. His popular story helped usher in new Victorian Christmas stories, myths and traditions. Whether it’s “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays,” they say the same thing: I hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season. Anonymous: If you know the other person celebrates Christmas, "Merry Christmas". I think the issue is when major retailers say Merry Christmas, it kind of assumes that everyone celebrates Christmas. Before this, the term “Happy Christmas” was more common. This is a great post, but let me pose another possibility. Yes! Does anyone say "Happy Christmas"?. I Spot Santa April 24, 2019 Christmas Facts Leave a Comment. However, it is more complex than that. Christmas was a regular day of work and an opportunity to remember God. Many people started greetings with “Merry” instead of “Happy”—some members of the British upper class thought that the word merry had vulgar connotations. Especially as the term “merry” continued to become a more common phrase in common English American language. Which phrase conveys a more fitting response to the overwhelming, unearned, gift of Christ’s birth? Posted November 24, 2016. Matthew Schmitz,  It’s Merry Christmas, Not Happy Christmas » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog: Christmas is conspicuously the only time of year when the word “merry” receives heavy use. They have the same meaning, are similar phrases. It includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and even New Years. Required fields are marked *. The phrase “Merry Christmas” would hang on, but the image of a family sharing a bottle of port or wine in the first commercial Christmas card was to give way to more temperate holiday depictions. Traditionally, the term happy means to be pleased, content and satisfied. Walk down a festive, holly-trimmed street in December, and chances are you will be greeted with a hearty “Merry Christmas.” Here in the United States, this is the average greeting during the holiday season. If you are anything like me, your social media feed has been full of debate relating to the use of “Merry Christmas” this holiday season. You can look at literary references to see how far back the term “Merry Christmas” is used. You need to look this up on Wikipedia. However, in the 17th century, it didn’t mean this was a phrase that was being used as regularly as it is today. Never do this - it's one of the quickest and easiest ways to irritate a Brit. Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! “Merry” appeared in both the Wyclife and King James bibles in reference to intoxication, where it describes an evening in the life of the rich man Nabal: “He held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken.” (To wish someone a holiday feast like Nabal’s was to wish him a very good Christmas indeed.). Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas, why do we say Merry instead of Happy? Once you look deeper at their origins and definitions you will see a few key differences. Traditionally, the term happy means to be pleased, co… While merry depicts an active behavior of boisterous gaiety, mostly raucous. Well of course, it’s all down to “political correctness”. The "Merry Christmas vs. Wait. People associated being happy with being polite and quietly content and merry with dancing, drinking, feasting and celebrating. 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