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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Happy or merry?

45 replies

HappyOrMerry · 24/11/2021 22:40

Sat here thinking about how I should wrap gifts and write all our Christmas cards tomorrow as I am off.. And I cannot for the life of me decide if it's "Happy Christmas & a happy new year" or "Merry Christmas & a happy new year". Merry Christmas is more American, isn't it? What will you write in yours?

OP posts:

MrsMiddleMother · 24/11/2021 22:41

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Always.

Happy Christmas is more American to me

Iamanicepersonreally · 24/11/2021 22:41

How about happy Christmas and a merry new year.

Jumpingintochristmas · 24/11/2021 22:42

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

MamaWeasel · 24/11/2021 22:42

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year

WhatHoMarjorie · 24/11/2021 22:43

I'm old school and stick to 'Happy Christmas'

In Ireland 'happy christmas and a prosperous new year' is traditional.

CoffeeRunner · 24/11/2021 22:43

My mum always insisted it was Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.

I can't remember why.

AuntieStella · 24/11/2021 22:44

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Like the carol, which goes back to the 1800s, and is probably based in lines from mumming plays which are far older. It's definitely not a US import!

SickAndTiredAgain · 24/11/2021 22:45

If I was just mentioning Christmas I’d say either. If I was including new year I wouldn’t put happy for both, so it would be merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Happy Christmas and a happy new year sounds odd to me. Happy Christmas on its own doesn’t.

ImInStealthMode · 24/11/2021 22:46

'Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year'

Original poster

HappyOrMerry · 24/11/2021 22:50

I do agree with happy twice being one too many. I just remembered a conversation with an old friend, from the upper class no less, who said "merry" is a big no-no!

OP posts:

BobbieT1999 · 24/11/2021 22:52

I really don't think it matters.

2319inprogress · 24/11/2021 22:59

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year, when it comes. (Bad luck to wish someone a HNY before the bells!)

ikeepseeingit · 24/11/2021 23:01

Both are correct but I feel like happy Christmas is slightly more American. I’m not really sure why. I tend to use merry Christmas but would never judge or even notice if someone else used ‘happy’ 😅

WhatHoMarjorie · 24/11/2021 23:03

Americans say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas but not Happy Christmas.

ErrolTheDragon · 24/11/2021 23:07

Any two different adjectives which convey what you want. Merry Xmas & happy NY is conventional but you could have a Happy Xmas and a peaceful NY, or prosperous NY or whatever.