After all, for most other holidays, we use the word "happy." Bet you never knew the full history of this oft-used phrase.December 25 is just around the corner, and you've no doubt been wishing "Merry Christmas" to everyone from your grocery store cashier to your friends and family members. In general, “Happy Holidays” is accepted as the broadest and most inclusive greeting at this time of year. There is no denying that these two terms are quite similar, and almost identical in nature. Plus, find out exactly why we celebrate Christmas on December 25. For starters, it's important to note that "Happy Christmas" hasn't faded completely—it's still widely used in England. In a world where "Happy Easter" and "Happy Birthday" are the norm, that "merry" part of "Merry Christmas" is unique—to say the least.No one is entirely certain of the answer, but there are several interesting theories.

So, yes, the British high-class is responsible for this difference between British and Americans as well (remember when we talked about The Surprising Reason Why Americans And British Have Different Accents ? Some Christians even think it’s offensive to say, “Happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” But for the most part, Americans tend to be more easygoing. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. 2.

The English carol, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which was introduced in the 1500s, also uses the popular phrase. Christmas has strong religious importance for many Christians here, because they consider it the birthday of Jesus Christ. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Even the word "merry" on its own now makes us think of December 25th.

After all, for most other holidays, we use the word "happy." Never do this - it's one of the quickest and easiest ways to irritate a Brit.

But have you ever stopped to wonder where the phrase "Merry Christmas" actually comes from? Both are about enjoying Christmas…the only difference lies in the beginning adjectives. See what he says after the jump, along with what I say.
Country Living editors select each product featured. We wish individuals a ‘Happy Birthday’, and on the off chance that you’re within the USA in November and December you might say ‘Happy Holidays’, so why do we say ‘Merry Christmas’ more regularly than ‘Happy Christmas’? (In fact, each year, Queen Elizabeth continues to wish her citizens a "Happy Christmas," rather than a merry one.

Consider, for example, the free-spirited act of "merry-making" versus the state of simply "being happy." But it’s regularly put after the joyful which changes the meaning to form ‘merry Gentleman’ and so a ‘Merry Christmas’!The term ‘Merry Christmas’ might well have been made exceptionally prevalent in 1843 from two distinctive sources.The to begin with Christmas Card, sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole, had this wording on it: “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”.A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was also published in 1843 and the state ‘Merry Christmas’ shows up 21 times within the book! )But "Merry Christmas" has been used since at least 1534—a dated letter from bishop John Fisher to Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell reveals as much. Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Christmas’ appears to go back a few hundred a long time. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.Why we wish Merry Christmas Instead of Happy ChristmasWhy we wish Merry Christmas Instead of Happy Christmashttps://religionworld.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/05/logo1-e1495778465224.pnghttps://religionworld.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/11/images-1-4.jpg As both words evolved and changed meaning over time, people slowly stopped using "merry" as its own individual word during the 18th and 19th centuries. They are generally used interchangeably but let’s take a closer look. Matthew Schmitz explains the difference between “merry Christmas” and “happy Christmas” and why the former is a more fitting greeting. ). Traditionally, the term happy means to be pleased, co…
Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. You've probably also been signing the phrase in all your But have you ever stopped to wonder where the phrase "Merry Christmas" actually comes from? It’s, to begin with, recorded in 1534 when (an English Catholic Religious Bishop in the 1500s) composed it in a Christmas letter to Thomas Cromwell: “And this our Lord God send you a merry Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire.”In the English dialect of the time, the phrase ‘Rest You Merry’ didn’t basically mean to be cheerful; ‘rest’ implied The comma within the phrase ought to be AFTER the ‘merry’ not Sometime recently it! If you know someone celebrates Christmas you can go with “Merry Christmas,” but ‘tis the season for interacting with strangers (selling to them, buying from them, bumping into them on your way out of Target). Charles Dickens too cited “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” in A Christmas Carol, but changed it to: “God bless you, merry gentleman! "Happy" is a word that describes an inner emotional condition, while "merry" is more of a behavior descriptor—something active and maybe even raucous.