Ever wondered where the phrase "Merry Christmas" comes from?
It's that time of year again, when everyone is sending out "Happy Christmas" wishes to everyone in their life. You've probably also posted a couple of Instagram photos and included the phrase "merry" in the message on the face of your Christmas cards. In a country where "Happy Easter" and "Happy birthday" are the norm, the term "merry" is quite unique. No one is exactly sure where the phrase came from, but there are several theories about its origins.
Historians believe that the phrase "merry" was originally used by church leaders in Great Britain to encourage Christians to be happy instead of being sad. The reason is that the word "merry" refers to a behavior, while "happy" is an emotion.
As the word's meanings and expressions changed over time, people started to stop using "merry" as their own word. It eventually stuck around in various forms of media, such as songs and stories. The Victorian Christmas was also instrumental in shaping the modern Christmas traditions.
In the 16th century, a song known as "We Wish You a Happy Christmas" was released, which further promoted the phrase. It became a commercial product and helped define the Christmas traditions of today.
It's no wonder that people now associate the word "merry" with the holiday season. Even the phrase itself makes us reflect on the meaning of Christmas.
It's widely believed that Queen Elizabeth prefers "happy" over "merry" due to how the former is associated with intoxication and a sense of restlessness. Some say that the former is referring to the underprivileged class, while the latter is associated with the royal family.
