A Holiday Greeting to All!
Many people have asked me over the years what to say at Christmastime: Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas. The answer? Easy: "Merry" is the American version and "Happy" is the U.K. version. It's up to you which one you use.
So where does the word merry come from and what is its meaning?
According to the dictionary, merry is a word that comes from the Middle English meri(e), myrie or murie, and before that from the Old English / Anglo-Saxon myrige or merige, and means "full of cheerfulness" or "joyous." The word was used by both British and American writers well into the 19th century -- for example, Dickens uses it profusely in A Christmas Carol (1843) -- but its usage declined massively in favor of happy and other synonyms.
So why on earth do we Americans persist in using it? Very simply, because Americans, despite their innovation and forward-looking attitude (if I do say so myself...), use an older version -- in general -- than British speakers. For what reason? In Linguistics 111 in my undergraduate studies, my excellent professor, Dr. Darilyn Bock, lectured us on language transmission from colonizing country to the colonized peoples. Her posit, proved linguistically, was that the colonized country or territory that used the home country's native language tended to keep an archaic or older version of the language, or witnessed slower change in the language than that in the home country. (Vast examples for French speakers are the differences between continental French and the use of the language in Québec.)
Some Other "Christmasisms"
Santa ClausThe 18th century Dutch colonized New York -- previously called Nieuw Amsterdam -- and left us many linguistic and cultural gifts. Did you ever wonder why Broadway in New York had only one name? From the Dutch of course: Breedweg! The Dutch also left their tradition of Sinterklaas (but not his nemesis the evil Zwarte Piet or Black Pete, from the Dutch Sint (Saint) + Heer (Sir) and Klaas, a shortened version of Niklaas or Nicholas. Santa Claus' other name is Saint Nicholas, by the way.
Santa was epitomized in literature by Clement Clark Moore in his poem A Visit from St. Nicholas more commonly called The Night Before Christmas in 1823.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”
American children, before going to bed on Christmas Eve, always leave out a plate of Christmas cookies and a glass of milk for Santa Claus who is busy delivering all of his presents to children all over the world. Some even leave out oats or other food for his reindeer.
As Santa Claus is an American tradition, the British have kept the traditional usage name Father Christmas, even though the commercial tradition of Santa Clause is gaining ground.
The parasitic plant viscum album is a nuisance plant to trees and other large plants. The ancient Druids considered mistletoe magical, since it stays green even through the winter. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from its link with fertility in the ancient world.
Today, a person standing under a sprig of mistletoe can be kissed once on the cheek as an expression of affection.
Giving Gifts at Christmas
The tradition of giving one another gifts at Christmastime, according to this site, is in direct reference to the Magi or the wise men bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child traditionally on the feast of Epiphany on January 6.
But after all, the traditional date of Christmas or December 25 is usually a date associated with cold and snow. What better way to cheer one's family up than to exchange gifts?
In literature, O. Henry's short story, The Gift of the Magi, is one of my favorite Christmas stories. Since it is relatively accessible, readers of all levels should be able to enjoy it in English.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas was such an important festival on the Christian liturgical calendar that in olden times the festival lasted for 12 days, the final day being the eve of Epiphany, the next major Christian festival on January 6. Several other Christmas feasts -- St. Stephen, the Holy Innocents, St. Thomas à Becket, among others -- fall within the 12 days of Christmas.
The traditional song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is a favorite of children, since they try and remember all of the gifts listed in the carol!
The Twelve Days of Christmas
This is a concert featuring The Twelve Days of Christmas from the U.K. Read along with the text below as the singers go through all twelve verses of the carol:
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Golden Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
And just to be totally silly, click here to listen to the same carol sung by the Minions.
Christmas Carols
Songs sung traditionally at Christmastime are called carols, a very ancient form of song designed to be sung in a circle. A carol today is a song, sacred (i.e. religious) or secular that commemorates Christmas time, holiday traditions and festivities, and in general family gatherings. The YouTube link below will provide you with some lovely performances of popular Christmas carols.
A Christmas tradition at King's College at Cambridge University is the Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols, which combines readings from the bible with performances of Christmas carols, and is always preceded by a processional where the choir sings the first Christmas carol on the above recording, Once in Royal David's City, and ends with the recessional carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Depending on your native language, you will undoubtedly recognize English versions of popular carols from your own linguistic traditions, just as an English speaker would recognize the melody of the French carol Vive le vent! as Jingle Bells.
Christmas Stockings
In English speaking countries, each child in a family has a personalized stocking -- an old word for a long sock worn inside of boots. The children's parents traditionally hang the stockings on the mantel of the family's fireplace, since Santa Claus traditionally flies down the mantel with his sack to distribute presents. On Christmas morning, children will awake to find their stockings filled with smaller gifts which can range from socks or small items of clothing, to candy and sweets, to more personal items -- virtually anything that can fit into a stocking will become a stocking stuffer, a reference to small gift items placed in stockings. The size of the gift has nothing to do with its value, as husbands and wives can easily place watches, jewelry or other more costly items in the stocking with the other smaller gifts.
One long-lasting tradition of giving Christmas cookies, cakes and breads is very old, according to this blog. Christmas cookies differ from other cookies in both their ingredients -- often richer and more sugar-filled and thus more adapted to the longer, colder winter months when we who live in the northern hemisphere need more sources of energy and calories -- and their aspect, since they are almost always frosted or iced and decorated. Traditionally, parents will spend a considerable amount of time in the run-up (i.e. the time before) to the holiday preparing cakes and cookies and often will allow their children to assist in the pleasant task of icing and decorating the cookies. In my family, I have my paternal grandmother's recipe for Christmas "cut-outs", since most of the cookes are cut out of rolled dough with special cookie cutters in different Christmas-themed shapes, and it is something that I cherish both as a memory of a wonderful woman who highly influenced my own life (she was also a teacher!), and also because the recipe is absolutely delicious! I often invite friends over to talk and spend time decorating cookies together, and of course they leave with some of their production.
Christmas cookie platters are often exchanged between friends and family members as tokens of the appreciation and love that they share, or given to employees or charities as a way of sharing Christmas cheer during the cold and very short days of the deep winter.
Eggnog
Now, I am not a fan of eggnog which to me is far too rich and almost sickening to drink, but many people enjoy it so I will briefly touch on it. Imagine drinking English custard or crème anglaise but richer and spiked with brandy, bourbon or rum. If you'd like to try your hand at making your own eggnog, here is a recipe from Food Network.
Many people think that this cold drink which warms you up from the inside at Christmas time is a must. I don't. However, a variant from my region in the American Midwest is called a Tom and Jerry (yes, the same as the cartoon characters). The eggnog mixture is actually frozen into an ice cream consistency, scooped into a mug, spiked with brandy and rum -- so you obviously shouldn't be driving after having one -- warmed with boiling water, and spiced with nutmeg. It is not for the faint of heart, but after an hour of shoveling or blowing snow, working outdoors in the cold, or sitting around a cozy, comfortable fireplace with one's family, it is actually quite tasty. If you'd like to try making one yourself, here is a recipe, but watch out -- it contains a dozen eggs!
Today's Traditions
As our society becomes more international and more secular, traditions change. Whether one celebrates Christmas as a religious festival, out of traditions or nostalgia for one's childhood, to entertain children or friends during a time traditionally not worked, the holiday's traditions continue on into the future. In any event, I hope that your end of year festivities were warm and wonderful, and that like me, you were able to spend the time with some or all of the people very close to your hearts.
"A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
Paul
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