There have been numerous versions of this famous Christmas poem. In this context 'to rest' doesn't mean 'to repose' but 'to keep, or remain as you are' - like the 'rest' in 'rest assured'. Then again in 1565 in a document called the Hereford Municipal Manuscript. Christmas cards are now easier to do with the use of online services. He was one of several nineteenth-century writers—among them William Sandys and other antiquaries—who recorded the traditional observances in an attempt to save them from the oblivion that seemed imminent. In fact, some retailers have gone out of their way to keep from offending any of their non-Christian customers by banning the phrase from advertising and their employees for using the phrase with customers. In Dutch it is Kerstmis, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceeding sacred vigil. The term appears in 1534 in a Christmas letter between the Catholic Bishop John Fisher and Thomas Cromwell. Maesse", an early English phrase that means "Mass of Christ." Search in content. Origin of the word. A prominent phrase from the tale, "Merry Christmas", was popularized following the appearance of the story. merry phrase. The term “merry” means to make happy. To understand the meaning behind Happy Holiday(s) and Merry Christmas, one must look at the origin of the words. September 15, 2020 . The first Christmas card on record was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole and used the phrase “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” The same year the famous Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol” which remains one of the more popular Christmas stories of all time. Used to express good wishes on or before Christmas Day. Merry Christmas is a phrase meant to impart good wishes for a happy Christmas holiday. In 1843, 1,000 cards were commissioned and sold commercially for a shilling a piece. In the first commercial Christmas card that came out in 1843, the verse, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You” was shown. The idea of a modern-day merry England is presumably unwelcome at the palace. To me, the answer is obvious: yes, it's appropriate, and so are other more specific greetings like "Merry Christmas". Around this time in history, the word “merry” was much more commonly-used than it is in modern times. The evolution of the modern senses is probably via the meaning "pleased by a certain event or situation or state of things" (c. 1200). Old Christmas brought his sports again. It comes from a Greek word that means “Anointed One” (the Hebrew word is “Messiah” — a term that Old Testament prophets used to describe the coming Savior). 'Rest ye merry' means 'remain peacefully content' and the carol contains the wish that God should grant that favour to gentlemen (gentlewomen were presumably busy in the kitchen). 1548: "Aye, bee thou gladde: or joyfull, as the vulgare people saie Reste you mery.". God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen was the carol that Dickens was referring to in A Christmas Carol: "The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, stooped down at Scrooge's keyhole to regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of. Origin of the phrase. The punctuation of the song suggests otherwise though - it's 'God rest ye merry, gentlemen', not 'God rest ye, merry gentlemen'. But it cannot, surely, have been protestants, let alone puritans, who promoted the idea of a 'Merry Christmas', since the word … Knowing how to say the phrase in other languages can make your international friends and family feel special during this time of year. How they came to mean so much, and to play such a prominent role in America's central holiday, is the tale told in this delightful and edifying book. The word Christmas comes from Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes from Old English Cristes-messe, literally meaning Christ’s Mass. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays used to be easily interchangeable. This coincided with the appearance of the Oxford Movement and the growth of Anglo-Catholicism, which led a revival in traditional rituals and religious observances. What does merry expression mean? England was merry England when. The word holiday is a compound stemming from the words holy and day. Anyone misreading that comma is in good company though. Around this time in history, the word “merry” was much more commonly-used than it is in modern times. Search in content . Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. It should be noted that the abbreviated term Xmas does not necessarily take the “Christ” out of Christmas. Exact matches only. (1) The best-known allusion to merriment at Christmas is the English carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. Well, there’s an answer, sort of. The term was coined by various authors throughout the period, such as Charles Dickens and Washington Irving. The exact first usage of “Merry Christmas” is not entirely known, but we can assume it is somewhere around the 16th century. 1843 was the date of the publication of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol and it was around that time, in the early part of the reign of Queen Victoria, that Christmas as we now know it was largely invented. Merry Christmas: The History Behind the Beloved Phrase, 11 Clever Ideas to Make Christmas Eve Service Memorable, 15 Charming Christmas Table Decoration Ideas, 8 Religious Christmas Gifts Perfect for All Ages, 23 Fun Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas and Themes, Sugar Water for Christmas Trees: Giving It a Try, Christmas Plays for Church (Free Printables), Santa Claus Mailing Address: Letters From the North Pole, Religious Christmas Stories: Sharing the Spirit, Deep Cleaning Checklist: Easy Guide to Clean Like a Pro, Capricorn-Aquarius Cusp and Its Complexities Explained, Martin Luther King Jr. Facts and Resources for Kids, Choosing a Tent and Sleeping Bag for Winter Camping, 22 Beautiful Decorated Christmas Tree Ideas, 17 Charming Ways to Decorate a Christmas Tree With Ribbon, Italian Christmas Decorations: Ideas for Your Home. Merry Christmas is felt to leave out too many people. People who celebrate Hanukah, Kwanza, and other non-Christian religions, or who have no chosen religion, often find the term offensive or exclusive. ‘Merry Christmas’ – the meaning and origin of this phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ – the meaning and origin of this phrase. Merry Christmas Images, Wishes, Messages, Quotes, Eve, History Hasim Hub December 27, 2020. Christmas is the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25. Definition of merry in the Idioms Dictionary. However, the more general term of “Happy Holidays” may be used on both sides of the world. September 15, 2020 . The word 'Merry', which owes its root to the Old English 'myrige', originally meant 'pleasant, and agreeable' rather than joyous or jolly. Will saying "Merry Christmas" become an offensive taboo soon? What is the significance of Christmas, and when was it first celebrated? CHRISTMAS GIFT! The term “merry” means to make happy. For instance, in other 'merry' phrases such as 'make merry' (circa 1300), 'Merry England' (circa 1400) and 'the merry month of May (1560s'), the word 'merry' was commonly used to … Search in content. Merry Christmas in languages around the world include: In 2013, Texas passed the Merry Christmas Bill that provides school districts the freedom "to educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including:". The card was inscribed: "Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to You" From "Origin of Traditions" at www.picklejar.com Accessed Dec. 4, 2001. / Same to you.And a happy New Year. Many people consider the phrase "Merry Christmas" and the Christmas celebration to be secular instead of religious, perhaps in part to the commercialization of the holiday. Old Christmas brought his sports again. In parts of Europe, such as Great Britain and Ireland, it is “Happy Christmas”. ", It's impossible to point a finger at the one individual, group, business, or political faction that started the move to phase out the common use of the greeting, "Merry Christmas". The Night Before Christmas or Twas the Night Before Christmas was first published in 1823 anonymously as A Visit from St. Nicholas. In 1843 Charles Dickens’ published a Christmas Carol and it was around that time, in the early part of the reign of Queen Victoria, that Christmas as … The – mas in Xmas comes from the Old English word for mass, as in a church service, especially one in the Roman Catholic Church including a celebration of the Eucharist. Exact matches only . Both phrases are accepted on either side of the pond, but it’s thought that Brits favor Happy Christmas in part because it’s frequently used by Queen Elizabeth II in her annual Christmas broadcasts. However, the phrase is most commonly used by retail store greeters, who say the phrase hundreds of times a day in December. In fact, many non-Christians use the greeting and refer simply to the secular meaning of the phrase rather than the Christian origin. Meanwhile, popular songs and stories—such as the carol “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol—helped elevate Merry Christmas in popularity. Should "merry Christmas" be replaced by "happy holidays" or "season's greetings" as a sign of regard towards religious minorities in Western Europe and North America? The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. Merry Christmas, origin of. Search in title . The word merry was then beginning to take on its current meaning of 'jovial, and outgoing' (and, let's face it, probably mildly intoxicated). Christmas Day in Liberia “My Christmas On You oooh” ... Children put on their new Christmas outfits and visit various houses asking for ‘Christmas’(money), using the phrase “my Christmas on you”, or “my Christmas in your blood.” This is done to ensure that people give during the festival season, after all, this is the season of given. The History of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is an English folk song from the 1500s and is the remnant of a time when poor carolers would hit up wealthy listeners for handouts. Christmases has been merry long before that though. This word merry by it’s self is innocent and innocuous enough, but as we will now see, it becomes heinously blasphemous when used with the word “Christmas.” Here let it be noted that most people think that the word, “Christmas” means “the birth of … In the same era, the phrase was used in non-relgious Christmas song ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’, which is still popular up until today. 3. Both of these authors included the phrase Merry Christmas in their writing. Merry Christams Meaning, why merry christmas not happy christmas - The meaning of the word 'Merry' has changed since historic times, but today it means to be happy, light in the heart and joyful. It's no wonder that now, when we hear "Merry Christmas," we hear something sentimental. The phrase gained popularity when it was used in Christmas stories, especially Charles Dickens' s A Christmas Carol published in 1843. The words Merry Christmas appeared for the second time in 1843 in Charles Dickens', "A Christmas Carol". A History of the ‘War on Christmas’ How wishing people "Happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" came to be regarded as an act of war. Search in pages. He was one of several nineteenth-century writers—among them William Sandys and other antiquaries—who recorded the traditional observances in an attempt to save them from the oblivion that seemed imminent. So the word Merry shifted from a verb to an adjective which over time allowed it to be used in the phrase “Merry Christmas”. Of persons, "cheerful by disposition or nature; playfully cheerful, enlivened with gladness or good spirits," by mid-14c. The English carol, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which was introduced in the 1500s, also uses the popular phrase. It's clear by the November 27, 2012 Rasmussen Reports publication of the results of a national telephone survey that perhaps it wasn't the general public demanding the change. So Merry Christmas to everyone for whom Christmas is special. Dickens used the phrase Merry Christmas several times in his book. 110 Best Merry Christmas Greetings, Sayings, and Phrases 1. 2. Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror. Merry Christmas 2020: Significance and History of 25 December. Shop Christmas cards with the phrase "Merry Christmas". That word, mæsse, is believed to have been derived from Church Latin missa, … See also: our list of 'Christmas Card Sayings and Expressions'.What's the meaning of the phrase 'Merry Christmas'?The traditional greeting at Christmas - very commonly used on Christmas cards. The Victorian Christmas went on to define many of today's Christmas traditions. Prior to that, in the times when other 'merry' phrases were coined, for example, make merry (circa 1300), Merry England (circa 1400) and the merry month of May (1560s), merry had a different meaning, that is, 'pleasant, peaceful and agreeable'. Though the actual origin of the phrase “Merry Christmas” is obscure, the first recorded use goes back to 1534 in a letter dated December 22 by imprisoned English Catholic Bishop John Fisher to lawyer and activist Thomas Cromwell. Why wasn't this page useful? In 2005, this decision by retailers to no longer use the phrase "Merry Christmas" became national news. Though the actual origin of the phrase “Merry Christmas” is obscure, the first recorded use goes back to 1534 in a letter dated December 22 by imprisoned English Catholic Bishop John Fisher to lawyer and activist Thomas Cromwell. Generic selectors. History of the phrase "Merry Christmas" appears on the world's first commercially-produced Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley for Henry Cole in 1843 "Merry," derived from the Old English myrige, originally meant merely "pleasant, agreeable" rather than joyous or jolly (as in … This ultimate list of Christmas sayings and Christmas words will help you brainstorm what to write on cards, signs or other crafty projects. Here is its meaning and history. Of course, we are not talking about the physical mass of Christ’s body. Sir Thomas Elyot, lists the phrase 'rest you merry' in his Dictionary in ‘Merry Christmas’ – the meaning and origin of this phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ – the meaning and origin of this phrase. Save 50% off retail prices every day on exclusive Brookhollow Cards® designs. All Rights Reserved. David Emery Much like “Merry Christmas,” it turns out that “Happy Holidays” also has religious roots. Of course, there are many other ways to wish someone a wonderful Christmas or festive season all around the world. Please help us improve. Inspire Your Friends And Loved Ones With All The Right Words To Distribute Some Christmas Cheer. This coincided with the appearance of the Oxford Movement and the growth of Anglo-Catholicism, which led a revival in traditional rituals and religious observances. Search in posts . Exact matches only. The first reference I can find in the OED to "Merry Christmas" is from 1534. Now, however, these phrases have become casualties in the battle of political correctness. It stuck around in common phrases like "the more, the merrier," as well as in things like Christmas songs and stories, largely due to the influence of Charles Dickens. 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. Different Phrases For Merry Christmas. This is one reason why even today in the U.K. the phrase “Happy Christmas” is more preferred over “Merry Christmas”. The original version used the English favored phrase of "Happy Christmas to all" but this was changed to "Merry Christmas to all" after the phrase became predominant in the United States. The use of 'Merry Christmas' as a seasonal salutation dates back to at least 1534, when, on 22nd December, John Fisher wished the season's greetings in a letter to Thomas Cromwell, recorded in Strype Ecclesiastical memorials, 1816): And this our Lord God send you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heartâs desire. Merry Christmas! Search in title . Posted by Some guy on November 28, 2000. Search in title. God bless you, merry gentleman!May nothing you dismay! The expression Mele Kalikimaka is a loan phrase from English. Individuals joyfully exchange the holiday greeting from the day after Thanksgiving to the day of Christmas. In the term Merry Christmas, ‘Merry' stands for happiness while ‘Christmas' meant Christ's Mass in old … The word merry fits into the ambience of laughter and frivolity. The phrase “Merry Christmas” was first used commercially in the first Christmas Card. Whether you are making a sign, a card, a goody bag or a gift tag, here is a huge mega master list of Christmas sayings, words and phrases (in order of length) to help you brainstorm your next Christmas craft. In Reply to: Merry Christmas, origin of posted by Paul on January 17, 19100: I'm just curious as to whey we say merry christmas and not happy christmas. These are the first recorded mass-produced Christmas cards. In some context, it is not a compliment to be described as merry or having made merry. Phrase []. The phrase “Merry Christmas” was first used commercially in the first Christmas Card. Merry Christmas Origin. The word merry did not Attached with the word christmass.the meaning of merry is enjoy.many writers write many thing like novel about the day.we can say that from their writting the word attached with christmas.randomly it becae merry chhristmas.many writer write the word meryy christmas as a phrase.people also start to tell merry christmas slowly after many years of first celebration. Merry Christmas, Jack. Search in excerpt. Alternatively, the word ‘merry’ also means to drink with great fervor. ". From that time the idea of a "Merry Christmas" seems to take off with several entries in the 17th century. Merry definition, full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit: a merry little man. / Merry Christmas to you and your family. In fact, the survey indicated that "68% of American Adults prefer Merry Christmas. Earliest Uses of the Phrase Merry Christmas According to the British website The Phrase Finder, the use of the seasonal salutation "Merry Christmas" dates as far back as 1565. By looking at historic literary works, you will see how far back this greeting can be traced. To everyone else, Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings, or whatever other saccharine phrase Fox News considers seditious. Merry Christmas Is A Period That Is Magical Brings Joy, Love, And Comforting Thoughts. Some Christian faiths celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas and use the phrase until that twelfth day -January 6 (Epiphany). A prominent phrase from the tale, "Merry Christmas", was popularized following the appearance of the story. Exact matches only . 1722, The Hiſtorical Regiſter, volume VII, № XXVIII, “An Anſwer from the Marqueſs of ———— to the Letter of a Prelate, concerning Cardinal Alberoni”, pages 291–292 However, Christmas is a different word all together. Search in pages . See more. Origin of the phrase. - "A greeting used on Christmas morning, with the first person saying it traditionally receiving a gift. Merry Christmas 2020-21 Expressions, Images, And Congratulations Emails. A decade before he was knighted for organizing the 1851 Great Exhibition and being one of founders of the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, 1852), Henry Cole worked in the Public Record Office. It is often assumed that the carol's lyric portrays the wish that jovial gentlemen might enjoy repose and tranquillity. Definitions by … Search in posts. England was merry England when. “Merry Christmas” was the phrase of choice in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a work that would have a major influence on the modern English-speaking world’s perception of Christmas. Whether you celebrate the religious or secular side of the holiday, "Merry Christmas" is a greeting that has been used for many years and is likely to continue being a popular seasonal greeting. The site states that the phrase is found in The Hereford Municipal Manuscript that states, "And thus I comytt you to god, who send you a mery Christmas & many." It wasn’t until 19 th century England, that the term merry was ever associated with Christmas. © 2006-2021 LoveToKnow, Corp., except where otherwise noted. The site states that the phrase is found in The Hereford Municipal Manuscript that states, "And thus I comytt you to god, who send you a mery Christmas & many.". It isn't the 'rest' that is being given but the 'merry'. Most people will recognize the phrase “Merry Christmas” Most people have come to associate that phrase as a good tidings and wishing that everyone has a good Christmas season. Companies sending out Christmas cards have also chosen to forego the Merry Christmas greeting for a more inclusive one, such as "Season's Greetings," "Happy Holidays," "Holiday Greetings," "Best Wishes" or simply "Happy New Year. This Christmas time greeting has been subjected to many disputes and conflicts. Jose Luis Pelaez Inc It wouldn't be Christmas without the "things." It is a phrase that means joyful and light hearted, and generally shows that the person is wishing another well. Take a look at some of the other more common phrases used: Seasons Greetings; Yuletide Greetings; Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; Happy New Year; Happy Hanukkah; Joyous Kwanzaa; Joyeux Noël; Feliz Navidad; Warmest Wishes; … Most people will recognize the phrase “Merry Christmas” Most people have come to associate that phrase as a good tidings and wishing that everyone has a good Christmas season. The traditional greeting at Christmas - very commonly used on Christmas cards. Just 23% like Happy Holidays instead.". Have a merry Christmas, Jack. While it is common to say “Merry Christmas,” did you ever wonder how this phrase came about? "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" was the verse that was shown on the first commercially available Christmas card in 1843. It is a phrase that means joyful and light hearted, and generally shows that the person is wishing another well. merry Christmas!. As something of a history nerd, I decided to investigate the use of the term "Happy Holidays" in US history, especially given some recent controversy over whether it is an appropriate term or not. In the modern world, Merry Christmas is sometimes considered an inappropriate holiday greeting since it has a Christian origin. Receiving Christmas cards can boost happiness. Where did the phrase “Merry Christmas” come from? I hope this Christmas is so merry you talk about it for years to come. Twenty years later the poem was attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, American Professor of Oriental and Greek Literature and Divinity and Biblical Learning at the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City. Other provisions allow displaying symbols of these celebrations on school property. The phrase Merry Christmas is used throughout the world to impart holiday wishes. One of the earliest recordings of this song was by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950 on Decca. What does merry expression mean? Everyone seemed to understand that the spirit of the wish was more important than the exact words said. Sears, Kmart, and Kohl's announced that they were no longer using the phrase "Merry Christmas" in their advertising and several discount stores followed suit, such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Target, and other retail chains, opting for the neutral phrase of "Happy Holidays". "Mele Kalikimaka" (pronounced [ˈmɛlɛ kəˌlikiˈmɐkə]) is a Hawaiian-themed Christmas song written in 1949 by R. Alex Anderson.The song takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning "Merry Christmas". In a style characteristically engaging and erudite, Karal Ann Marling, one of our most trenchant observers of American culture, describes the outsize spectacle that Christmas has become. Both are derived from Old English: Christmas comes from … Christmas is the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25. The origin of mass, in the Christian sense of the word, is not entirely clear The term Merry Christmas is not only used by the Christians to greet each other during the festival of Christmas but by all, irrespective of class as well as religion at the time of the Christmas Festival. The use of 'Merry Christmas' as a seasonal salutation dates back to at least 1534, when, on 22nd December, John Fisher wished the season's greetings in a letter to Thomas Cromwell, recorded in Strype Ecclesiastical memorials, 1816): And this our Lord God send you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire. I’ll have a new edition of the newsletter—which will hopefully be more substantive and less defensive—in the new year. In 1840, being too busy to send out the traditional Christmas letters, he hired acclaimed artist John Calcott Horsley to design a card with the printed words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You". For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This practice originates from 1947, when The greeting “Merry Christmas” has a pretty long history. Generic selectors. “Merry Christmas” is the go-to greeting in America during Christmastime. The phrase was originally reserved for use by priests because of of of its sacred nature, but the Bill of Rights gave humanity free speech, so now everybody can (and should) use the phrase "Merry Christmas" as often as possible. The two greetings competed with each other until 1843 when two key media were published: Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol and the first commercially produced Christmas card.Both prominently featured the phrase "Merry Christmas," and in fact, the Christmas card depicted a family enjoying exactly the sort of merry activities those stuffy Victorians feared (that is, a bottle of wine). That change in meaning is apparently viewed with disfavour by Queen Elizabeth II, who wishes her subjects a 'happy' rather than 'merry' Christmas in her annual Christmas broadcasts. It was first published in William Sandys' Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern in 1833, although versions of it probably existed as a folk-song and tune well before that but weren't written down. The source of this piece isn't known. The BBC reports that while the first Christmas card was most likely German, the one that gets the credit for starting the tradition was the brainchild of Sir Henry Cole. According to the British website The Phrase Finder, the use of the seasonal salutation "Merry Christmas" dates as far back as 1565. Search in title. This date very roughly corresponds with the English Reformation and Henry VIII's breach with Rome. The appearance of the story Mass of Christ ’ s an answer, of... Crafty projects ” May be used on Christmas cards are now easier to with... Christmas traditions international friends and family feel special during this time in history, more. Far back this greeting can be traced does not necessarily take the “ Christ ” of! '' became national news greeting “ Merry Christmas ’ – the meaning behind Happy holiday s! 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Word “ Merry Christmas 2020: Significance and history of 25 December ( Epiphany ) it receiving. Offensive taboo soon your international friends and family feel special during this time of year U.K. the ``.! May nothing you dismay out that “ Happy Holidays ” May be used on both sides of world. Sisters in 1950 on Decca Merry, Gentlemen history Hasim Hub December 27,.... On to define many of today 's Christmas traditions save 50 % off retail prices every day exclusive... That `` 68 % of American Adults prefer Merry Christmas '' is 1534!