Why "Merry Christmas"?

[Illese]

Why do we say "Merry" at Christmas, but "Happy" for the other holidays?

 

[walking lady RIP Tom]

Why "Merry Christmas"?

http://www.publicpress.org/3011

The traditional greeting at Christmas - very commonly used on Christmas cards.
Origin
Merry Christmas"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. Christmases has been merry long before that though. The use of 'Merry Christmas' as a seasonal salutation dates back to at least 1565, when it appeared in The Hereford Municipal Manuscript:
"And thus I comytt you to god, who send you a mery Christmas & many."
1843 was also 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. The word merry was then beginning to take on its current meaning of 'jovial, and outgoing' (and, let's face it, probably mildly intoxicated). 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, i.e. 'pleasant, peaceful and agreeable'.
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. The idea of a modern-day merry England is presumably unwelcome at the palace.
The best-known allusion to merriment at Christmas is the English carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. The source of this piece isn't known. 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. Sir Thomas Elyot, lists the phrase 'rest you merry' in his Dictionary in 1548:
"Aye, bee thou gladde: or joyfull, as the vulgare people saie Reste you mery."
It is often assumed that the carol's lyric portrays the wish that jovial gentlemen might enjoy repose and tranquility. The punctuation of the song suggests otherwise though - it's 'God rest ye merry, gentlemen', not 'God rest ye, merry gentlemen'. In this context 'to rest' doesn't mean 'to repose' but 'to keep, or remain as you are' - like the 'rest' in 'rest assured'.
'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). It isn't the 'rest' that is being given but the 'merry'. Anyone misreading that comma is in good company though. 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
God bless you, merry gentleman! May nothing you dismay!
Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror."




This is where I'll be having a Merry Christmas... I hope you all have a great holiday too.

 

[TacoMan]

Why "Merry Christmas"?

We might blame Charles Dickens, he was a large part in creating the holiday atmosphere.
From wikipedia:

In 1843, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was published, during the mid Victorian revival of the holiday. The word Merry was then beginning to take on its current meaning of "jovial, cheerful, jolly and outgoing." "Merry Christmas" in this new context figured prominently in A Christmas Carol. The cynical Ebenezer Scrooge rudely deflects the friendly greeting: "If I could work my will.. every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding." After the visit from the Ghosts of Christmas effects his transformation, Scrooge exclaims; "I am as merry as a school-boy. A merry Christmas to everybody!" and heartily exchanges the wish to all he meets. The instant popularity of A Christmas Carol, the Victorian era Christmas traditions it typifies, and the term's new meaning appearing in the book, Dickens' tale popularized the phrase "Merry Christmas."

We also tend to combine Christmas and New Years, so saying "Happy" twice sounds awkward. We usually hear "Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year".

 

[Nikki K]

Why "Merry Christmas"?

it means HAPPY CHRIST'S MASS or happy Christ's Birth

 

[Sam N]

Why "Merry Christmas"?

Merry was Jesus' mom but she wasn't God's wife.

It was one of those open relationships, I guess.

 

[Spending Cheese]

Why "Merry Christmas"?

Oh no are we going to head down the religious path. I can see the questions being asked,

was there a real baby Jesus,
did three wise men real come bearing gifts?

Let the discussions begin.: