Happy Christmas vs. Merry Christmas

[David A. Daniel]

My direct contact with Brits and Britspeak goes back to 1967. I have, from
that time till now, observed that Brits say Happy while Americans say Merry.
Got a note from an English friend today, said Happy. And, while we're at it,
I'd like to wish both Happy and Merry Christmas to all.
DAD


To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Happy Christmas vs. Merry Christmas

Subject:      Happy Christmas vs. Merry Christmas
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My wife, daughter, and I went to a Christmas Eve brunch today which
was attended by a largish group of Americans, Canadians, Brits, Irish,
and Australians. The Americans, Canadians, Irish, and Australians said
Merry Christmas, and the Brits (English and Scots, in this case) said
Happy Christmas. In the past few years, I've noticed that English
people (or at least English expats here in Switzerland) tend to say
Happy Christmas. But I seem to remember that when I lived in England
some twenty years ago, most people I knew said Merry Christmas. This
is all unscientific, unrepresentative, and subjective, but I am
wondering if there is a difference between Brits and other English
speakers in this respect. Is it correct to generalize that Brits these
days tend to say Happy Christmas (But Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year) and Americans Merry Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Paul

Paul Frank
Translator
Chinese, German, French, Italian > English
Espace de l'Europe 16
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
mobile +41 79 957 5318
paulfrank at bfs.admin.ch
paulfrank at post.harvard.edu

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org