Words to Wish You a Merry Christmas

Are you tired of the same old Christmas cards and want some new words to wish you a Merry Christmas? Do you want to create your own Christmas cards this year? Read on because we are going to look at some different ways to wish someone a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Around the World

There are as many ways you can wish someone a Merry Christmas as there are languages. Here are some examples of words to wish you a Merry Christmas listed by country, state, or language:

• Africa - Een Plesierige Kerfees
• China - Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
• Ethiopia - Melkin Yelidet Beaal
• France -Joyeux Noel
• Greece - Kala Christouyenna
• Hawaii - Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou
• India - Baradin ki shubh kamnaaye
• Italy - Buone Feste Natalizie
• Korea - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
• Navajo - Merry Keshmish
• Philippines - Maligayang Pasko
• Poland - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
• Portugal - Boas Festas
• Russia - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
• Spanish - Feliz Navidad
• Sweden - God Jul
• Wales - Nadolig Llawen

Words to Wish You a Merry Christmas

So now you know how to say Merry Christmas in many different languages, but maybe that is not what you were looking for. If you just wanted some different words to wish you a Merry Christmas, here are some to choose from:

You could say:

• Happy Christmas
• Happy Holidays
• Ho Ho Ho

Using the word “greetings”, you might say:

• Season's Greetings
• Christmas Greetings
• Greetings of the Season
• Holiday Greetings
• Warm Greetings
• Warm Holiday Greetings
• Yuletide Greetings

Since holly is a part of Christmas, you could say:

• Holly
• Jolly Christmas
• Holly Jolly Holidays

Glad Tidings or Good Tidings could also work. To have fun, say: Have a Cool Yule, Jingle All the Way, or Let it Snow!    

Christmas Traditions

Saying “Merry Christmas” is second nature to us during the holiday season. Let’s discover some other traditions and how they started.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in 1843 in England. Before then, greetings were written by hand, and it became almost impossible to send one to everyone you knew. It started as a way to remind people about the need for taking care of the poor. The first card was illustrated by John Callcott Horsley, had the phrase, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You", and was sent by Sir Henry Cole. The idea of sending pre-made cards caught on quickly, with the first cards being decorated with signs of spring, including fairies, children, and animals. 

Evergreen trees symbolized strength because they lasted through cold, harsh winters. Many people believed they kept away evil spirits and illness. In the 16th century, Germans brought decorated trees into their homes. Trees can be decorated with apples, cookies, berries, nuts, popcorn, candles, lights, and ornaments.

The history of Santa Claus comes from the Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas. Saint Nicholas became Americanized in the poem, “The Night Before Christmas” written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823. Santa Claus is also known as: St. Nick, Father Christmas, or Kris Kringle.

The tradition of hanging stockings by the fire started from a story told about a nobleman and his three daughters. They were poor and the father could not give dowries for his daughters to get married. St. Nicholas felt sorry for them and wanted to help out but remain anonymous. He rode by their house on a white horse and tossed three bags of coins down the chimney, where they happened to be caught in the stockings that were hung there to dry.

Poinsettias are plants from Mexico used in Christmas decorations. The story associated with them tells of a miracle. A young boy was on his way to visit a nativity scene in his village and realized that he did not have a gift for the baby Jesus. He gathered some pretty green branches along the way and took them with him. Other children made fun of him, but he laid them in the manger. A star-shaped flower appeared on each branch that he had picked.