Merry Christmas and a happy new year
"Merry christmas and a happy new year!" - This phrase is probably one of the most common and popular greetings used at Christmas and New Year. You have probably already used these very words personally or written them on a greeting card. The two idioms have become very common in modern parlance. Admittedly, they are therefore not very original. For this reason, it is worthwhile to use the two popular greetings a little more consciously. And what does it actually mean when you wish "a happy new year"?
"Merry Christmas" - the ultimate Christmas greeting
Originally the Christmas greeting "Merry Christmas" refers to the Christian Christmas festival. More precisely, it means the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The word "Christmas" means "consecrated" or "holy" night.
- The greeting is often used as the best-known Christmas greeting or Christmas greeting in German. the Christmas greeting par excellence.
- In modern parlance, however, the greeting is now used more extensively. The Christian meaning of Christmas has become less obvious and is often no longer in the foreground in this general Christmas wish.
- Synonyms of this Christmas greeting are u. a. "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays" or "Happy Holidays".
"Happy New Year" - what the greeting means
Linguists are not entirely sure what the New Year's greeting, which is so popular in German-speaking countries, actually means.
Christmas wishes for a teacher can be formulated in a relaxed and informal manner, ...
- On the one hand, it is believed that the "good slide" refers to the verb "slide". When you use this greeting, you wish the recipient that they "slide" over into the New Year or "slide" over gently and effortlessly.
- It is also often claimed that the greeting comes from Yiddish. From the Hebrew term "Rosh hashanah tov" or "a git rosch" ("a good head" or "Good beginning") this New Year's greeting was derived and the term actually means: "I wish you a good start!" to translate. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.
How to use popular greetings correctly
Both greetings in combination are frequent and popular, but not very personal or original. Nor are they always the best or appropriate way to convey Christmas and New Year wishes.
- Not everyone celebrates a Christian Christmas or Christmas at all. In contrast, wishes such as B. "Happy and relaxing holidays!"
- For a polite and more formal Christmas wish - e.g. B. in business - you shouldn't be too brief. The following variant could be appropriate: "I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and relaxing holidays! "Caution - also keep in mind that not all cultures celebrate the New Year on 1. January is celebrated.
- Wishing a "happy new year" is rather colloquial. For serious New Year greetings, you can use phrases like "I wish you a prosperous New Year" or "I wish you a good start into the new year" instead.
- If, on the other hand, you would like to make your New Year's greetings casual and personal, you can also use the wording as a hook for a more original design.
- See the phrase in front of you: You can "slide into" the New Year gently and smoothly, but also with speed and verve.
- Perhaps you like phrases like "Have a good slide - and may you land gently!" or I I wish that you slide into the new year with verve and verve - just like you do is used to! "
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