Christmas 2022: December 25 is just around the corner and we are all looking forward to it. People have started buying gifts for their loved ones and offices, schools and public attractions have already started decorating for Christmas.
The word ‘Happy’ has started doing the rounds and made us wonder, “Why do we use the word happy to wish someone happy?” And what is the difference between Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas?
Let’s find out!
Why don’t people say Merry Christmas?
It’s not that anyone says Merry Christmas to wish someone. The greeting is used prominently in Britain. This could be attributed to the influence of the late Queen Elizabeth, as she used to greet her citizens with a “Merry Christmas” at her annual broadcasts.
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It is widely believed that the word “happy” had a higher social status connotation than “cheerful”, which was often linked to the stridency of the lower classes. Since then, the royal family has made “Merry Christmas” their preferred greeting, and it is now commonly used in Britain.
How did the greeting “Merry Christmas” come about?
The greeting “Merry Christmas” has been used since the 14th century. This is stated in a dated letter that the bishop wrote to Thomas Cromwell, the prime minister of the then king of Great Britain, Henry VIII. The greeting was also used in the 16th-century version of the English carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The greeting was popularized with the release of Charles Dicken’s novel, “A Christmas Carol” in 1843. Dickens’s novel had a huge impact on modern English and took the greeting to new heights in terms of usage.
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Linguists say that the word “joyful” corresponded more to the Christmas spirit than the word “happy.”
There was a decline in the use of the word “happy” around the 18th century; However, phrases such as “the more the merrier”, Christmas songs and carols persisted, and the greeting “Merry Christmas” became the most popular greeting. The Victorian Christmas has defined many modern Christmas traditions.
Now, Merry Christmas is widely used to greet Christmas in the United States and Merry Christmas became prominent in Britain.
We hope this article has been helpful in understanding the differences between Merry Christmas and Merry Christmas.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn