Why is it Merry Christmas in the US but Happy Christmas in the UK?

British people just HAVE to be different.

American people just HAVE to be different.

Yea, R1. It's not they came first or anything. Hmph!

It was changed from Merry to Happy because in the UK "Merry" had the implied meaning of inebriation.

Here in the UK we say and/or write, 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year', because 'Merry New Year' would sound like English as a third language.

[quote]It was changed from Merry to Happy because in the UK "Merry" had the implied meaning of inebriation.

'Tis the reason for the season, isn't it?

I have never heard nor see anyone write "Merry New Year" in any language, first, second or third.

[quote]t's important to note that "Happy Christmas" hasn't faded completely—it's still widely used in England. This is believed to be because "happy" took on a higher class connotation than "merry," which was associated with the rowdiness of the lower classes. The royal family adopted "Happy Christmas" as their preferred greeting, and others took note. (In fact, each year, Queen Elizabeth continues to wish her citizens a "Happy Christmas," rather than a merry one.)

Same source as R8 ^

[quote]But "Merry Christmas" has been used since at least 1534. A dated letter from bishop John Fisher to Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell reveals as much. The English carol, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which was introduced in the 1500s, also uses the popular phrase.

[quote]So when did "Happy Christmas" become "Merry Christmas" in the U.S.?

[quote]Historians believe it might boil down to a simple grammatical lesson. "Happy" is a word that describes an inner emotional condition, while "merry" is more of a behavior descriptor—something active and maybe even raucous. Consider, for example, the free-spirited act of "merry-making" versus the state of simply "being happy."

[quote]As both words evolved and changed meanings over time, people slowly stopped using "merry" as its own individual word during the 18th and 19th centuries. It stuck around in common phrases like "the more, the merrier," as well as in things like Christmas songs and stories, largely due to the influence of Charles Dickens. The Victorian Christmas went on to define many of today's Christmas traditions.

[quote]British people just HAVE to be different

Merry Christmas is for the lower classes. You can understand why the Americans insist on using it.

R10 You type "yellowed teeth."

I guess I must be lower class, as I don't know anyone who says happy Christmas. It just sounds off. Probably on purpose as one of those U/non-U things.

I prefer to wish everyone a Wonderful Winterval

Just watched Let'Em Have It, British movie on Criterion. Made in 1992 but events took place in the late 50s. The family wished their jailed son a Happy Christmas Good movie but incredibly sad. Not a Santa Claus lane movie.

Merry Christmas is being said a lot more in the UK in the past few years. I thought I heard it was the Queen herself who encouraged saying Happy Christmas because Margaret was such a drunk and “merry” implies being drunk.

Mary! Christmas!

Holly and Phil said “Merry Christmas” on ITV’s This Morning so that makes it official.

And JB from JLS...

Those repeating m's make Merry Christmas sound better.

R16 But the Queen continued to say "Happy Christmas" today, so no, it's not yet official.

Merry New Year!

?????

Hearing “Merry Christmas” in a lot of BBC/ITV promos. It really does seem to be a conscious choice to revert back to the way it used to be.