Christmas is coming and with it come Christmas carols and traditions, it is time to buy gifts and decorations to decorate our homes and celebrate with family and friends. the origin of christmas
When buying Christmas decorations, you may notice that it says Merry Christmas, but have you ever wondered why it doesn’t say “happy” if it means happy in English? In Superhistory we are going to tell you the reason and origin of using Merry Christmas and not Happy Christmas.
Why is it Merry Christmas and not Happy Christmas?
What the studies and ancient writings that have been preserved say is that the word “merry” is transformed from “myrige”back in the seventh century, which had a translation similar to nice or special. In other contexts, we might also find this word associated with some people describing them as an honest and sincere person.
And it is in the years after 1843, when in a song by the well-known writer Charles Dickens he translates the word “merry” as happy, as we translate it today.
But the most well-known reference to the word “Merry” when we talk about Christmas, takes us to a well-known English Christmas carol called “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” which was published in the “Sandy’s Christmas Carlos Ancient and Modern” collection in 1823, so it has a lot of history. It is unknown who was the author of this Christmas song and we must take into account that at that time, some of the words have different meanings or conceptssuch as the word “rest” that was used to say save and not rest.
Next, we leave you here the lyrics of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
for Jesus Christ our Savior
Was born upon this day (or Was born on Christmas Day)
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manager
Upon this blessed morning
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing afflict you,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
The shepherds at those tidings
Much rejoiced in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manager,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
Or tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
Or tidings of comfort and joy.
What is the big difference between “Happy” and “Merry”?
At this point, what are the big differences between the word “merry” and the word “happy” and when should we use one and not the other? The first thing is that if you hear someone say “Happy Christmas” it’s not really wrong, although it’s true that it’s not normal.
- Happy: it is to feel happy, but it does not reach more than the happiness that we can feel ourselves.
- merry: it goes beyond the concept of happiness in oneself, it is feeling happy with the situation and with what surrounds us.
Next, here we are going to leave you some words and certain expressions in which the word “merry” (including its comparative derivatives) was previously used in texts to mean “good, happy, cheerful”:
- The more the merrier: which means “the more, the better”. It is used more or less as a saying «The more the merrier, we thought as we invited many people to our New Year party» which could be translated as “The more, the merrier”, we think when we invite many people to our New Year’s party».
- Merry-go-round: means merry-go-round when it comes to the term “attraction” or a kind of playground swing (roundabout to flat). Its literal translation would be “like turning around in a fun way”;
- The Merry Widow: translated as “The Merry Widow”, it is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár, first staged in the early 20th century. There was an adaptation with the same name in the cinema.
- Merrie Melodies: It is a famous American animated series during the period from 1931 to 1969 by Warner Brothers.
If you want to see some examples of what we have previously exposed, we recommend that you read the classic authors of English literature, such as Charles Dickens, whom we mentioned at the beginning of the article.
The important thing is not that you use the word “merry” or the word “happy” the only thing that matters is that you are happy with your loved ones and know how to enjoy this beautiful time.