Ever wondered why we say ‘Merry’ before ‘Christmas?’
Every year, with the approach of winter, people around the world, especially youngsters await eagerly to say two phrases out loud, ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy New Year.’ While wishing a happy new year seems pretty straightforward, generations of people have raised a pertinent query as to why we don’t use the same prefix for Christmas. While ‘happy’ is the most popular and the go-to prefix for any kind of festive occasion, Christmas stands as an exception. Today, let us discover why we say ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of a ‘Happy Christmas’.
Origin of the saying ‘Merry Christmas’
Over centuries, historians and linguists have tried to figure out the origin of the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ and it seems like finally we have a convincing reason.
It all dates back to 1534 London, when the phrase was written in a letter from bishop John Fisher to his friend Thomas Cromwell who happened to be the Chief Minister of the then British monarch Henry VIII. Later on, towards the end of the same century, this letter stood as an inspiration during the composition of an English carol “We wish you a Merry Christmas”. It went on to become one of the most popular and widely sung Christmas carols around the world.
Few centuries later, in 1843, the phrase once again picked up steam when the famous Victorian fiction writer Charles Dickens used it in his popular novel “A Christmas Carol.” In fact, that very year, ‘Merry Christmas’ started appearing on the printed and first ever commercially sold Christmas greeting card.
‘Merry Christmas’ may be an American influence
Nobody knows how the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ really entered the USA. However, it is now widely used there. As a matter of fact, Americans believe that the overuse of happy doesn’t suit their precious Christmas traditions. Christmas, according to them is far more sanctified and deserves a more fitting and unconventional greeting, considering it is the celebration of the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ. Many even believe that it is the influence of rich and popular American culture that has made ‘Merry Christmas’ a widely used global greeting.
Why is ‘Merry Christmas’ not accepted by the British monarchy?
‘Merry Christmas’ continues to be the most popular phrase used during the holiday season all around the world. However, the British monarchy seems to be opposed to the phrase. They prefer the more obvious ‘Happy Christmas.’ In fact, every year, the present British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, wishes a ‘Happy Christmas’ to the British citizens during her pre-Christmas broadcast. According to rumours, the queen prefers happy to merry, because, according to her, the latter reveals a sense of ‘boisterousness and intoxication.’ In fact, half of England preserves this conservative idea and believes that they should focus on being happy rather than merry-making.