Back to the Middle Ages, when Christmas was truly a holiday that could be described as “merry.” Back then, Christmas included 12 days of feasting, entertainment, singing and celebrating—it was a merry Christmas back then indeed. Merry Christmas to all! © 2000 - 2020 James Cooper | About the site | Cookies & Privacy | Site Map | Other Links | Support | Website logistics by LetterBlock | Proud Affiliate of the Merry Network, whychristmas?com answers your Christmas questions! This is believed to be because "happy" took on a higher class connotation than "merry," which was associated with the rowdiness of the lower classes. Main keyword: Merry Christmas The comma in the phrase should be AFTER the 'merry' not BEFORE it! The term 'Merry Christmas' might well have been made very popular in 1843 from two different sources. After all, we say, “Happy Birthday” and “Happy New Year” but why do we say “Merry Christmas”? They felt it was a term better associated with activities in the pub not celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Yes, I want the Patheos Evangelical Newsletter as well. Is Doctrine about Truth, Experience, or Language? Saying 'Merry Christmas' rather than 'Happy Christmas' seems to go back several hundred years. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, It’s Merry Christmas, Not Happy Christmas » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog. Your email address will not be published. Before this, the term “Happy Christmas” was more common. Once you look deeper at their origins and definitions you will see a few key differences. Merry Christmas and Happy Christmas are both greetings used during the last part of December, around Christmastime.The first word of each is only capitalized when used as a greeting. In fact, Christmas was illegal and the puritans in England and America panned the holiday. 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). Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! “Merry Christmas” is used in the U.S. while “Happy Christmas” is used in the U.K. The first Christmas Card, sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole, had this wording on it: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You". If you found this article interesting, you’ll found “Why Christmas is on December 25th” interesting too, the reason surprised us. It comes from the West Country in England and it was first published in the form we know it today in 1760. They are both wonderful greetings to those you see around the Christmas holiday. Both happy and merryare terms used to describe a joyous and pleasureful situation. (Another example would be “Fall” instead of “Autumn.”) Americans went through Prohibition but still used “Merry,” whereas Australians–who make merry quite a bit in the 16th century sense–still use “Happy Christmas.”. However, it is more complex than that. and other seasonal greetings.” The dictionary says “happy” is used similarly “in expressions of good wishes for a person or persons on a celebratory occasion, event, day, etc., as happy birthday, happy Christmas, happy New Year, etc.” All visitors must be smiling and spreading that cheer also. Reading time: 2 minutes, 0 seconds. In the U.K. you will find Queen Elizabeth’s II’s annual Christmas address concluding with a “Happy Christmas” to all. This is also the same year that the first ever commercial Christmas card was printed and sold. However, things began to change, and the holiday began to become more popular in everyday culture. His popular story helped usher in new Victorian Christmas stories, myths and traditions. Here is a look at where these two terms come from and what they mean. You can look at literary references to see how far back the term “Merry Christmas” is used. In fact, around this time, in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the term “Merry Christmas” really started to catch on. Once you look deeper at their origins and definitions you will see a few key differences.
“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.
(Similarly, in Holland some of the more strictly reformed Dutch prefer Zalig Kerstfeest—“Blessed Christmas”—to Vrolijk Kerstmis—“Merry Christmas.”). Queen Elizabeth, a woman of serious low-church piety, is said to prefer “happy” to “merry” because she dislikes “merry’s” connotation of boisterousness, even slight intoxication. Find out the truth here! Many people started greetings with “Merry” instead of “Happy”—some members of the British upper class thought that the word merry had vulgar connotations. Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality!
Charles Dickens was also thought to be a major influencer behind the popularity of this term. IMPORTANT: We are dedicated to spreading the spirit and joy of Christmas everyday of the year. Christmas was a regular day of work and an opportunity to remember God. The Shocking Necessity of Not Reading Christianity Today. Language: en. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was also published in 1843 and the phrase 'Merry Christmas' appears 21 times in the book! moving the comma to before the merry! We don’t say Merry Easter, Merry Birthday, Merry Halloween or Merry New Year. It contained the now household phrase “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”. They have the same meaning, are similar phrases. However, today, rules on “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Christmas” aren’t so strict. Church and ministry leadership resources to better equip, train and provide ideas for today's church and ministry leaders, like you. You may be surprised to find that while many people think of “Merry Christmas” as the more modern of the two phrases. While each of these phrases have a unique history—they both share the same sentiment. Also, send me the Evangelical Newsletter. Your email address will not be published. Many attribute this to the fact that while Americans started to change from “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Christmas” (a term that was brought over from British settlers). The Carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas [and a Happy New Year]" is another old carol from the 'West Country' (South West England) but was only first published in 1935 and this probably confirmed the use of 'Merry Christmas' over 'Happy Christmas'. Then of course did this new phrase “Merry Christmas.”, It was in 1843 when the term was used in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. So, influencers of the time looked back to the history of the Christmas holiday. European Santa Tracker – Pictures and Videos. Yet “Merry Christmas” did not gain universal support.
However, merry tends to be more of a celebration. But it's often put after the merry which changes the meaning to make 'merry Gentleman' and so a 'Merry Christmas'! Simply put, those in England didn’t feel the need to adapt to this new American “slang.”. Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas? However, you can also see just as many literary references to the phrase “Happy Christmas.” Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas, ends with “A Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.”. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
The word “Merry” stems from the old English myrge, which means “pleasing, agreeable, pleasant or sweet”, and Christmas stems from the late Old English Cristes mæsse, that means “Mass of Christ.”
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