We wish our friends and family Happy
New Year’s, Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday. So why do we say Merry Christmas?
Though the "Merry
Christmas" greeting dates back to the early 1800s, "Happy Christmas" was the greeting of choice during the early nineteenth century. Clement Clarke Moore even used it in his poem A Visit from St. Nicholas: “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Merry Christmas became more widely
used following the release of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843.
"A merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!” That same year the first commercial Christmas
card was sent with the words “A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to You.”
The fact that the British author made
the term popular poses another question; Why does Queen Elizabeth II of Great
Britain wish her subjects Happy
Christmas during her yearly broadcasts?
According to Phrase Finder, the word merry
originally meant peaceful, pleasant and agreeable. Dating back to the 1300s the word was used to
describe such things as the peaceful month of May and gentlemen of an amenable
nature. Through the years the meaning of the word changed to mean jovial,
cheerful and sociable. Eat, drink and be merry was even printed
on tavern walls.
This brings us back to the current queen who, according to Patheos, is said to prefer “Happy
Christmas” over “Merry Christmas” for one very good reason. “Merry” is
interpreted to have a “connotation of boisterousness, even slight
intoxication;” things that the queen does not wish to convey during a religious
holiday.
So whether you choose to say Merry
Christmas, Happy Christmas, or the all-encompassing Happy Holidays, your friends at
Heroes, Heroines and History wish you the same!
Calico Spy (Undercover Ladies)
Someone is killing off the Harvey Girls and
undercover Pinkerton detective Katie Madison hopes to find the killer
before the killer finds her—or before she burns down the restaurant trying.
Order now for January release!
That's really interesting, Margaret. I tend to wish people a "wonderful Christmas," although I say "merry" too. Either way you say, I hope you have a good one.
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie, I like wonderful. Blessed works, too. Wishing you and your family an all round great Christmas! How's that for a change of pace?
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about the Harvey Girls and especially about the National Park lodges they worked at. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about the Harvey Girls and especially about the National Park lodges they worked at. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI didn't know those facts Margaret, but I do believe that's the reason I've always preferred to say Happy Christmas!
ReplyDelete