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soniya saxena
“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” are words commonly heard during the holiday season and are often printed on Christmas cards and gift wrapping. Have you ever wondered why Merry Christmas, rather than Happy Christmas is used as a Christmas greeting?
Laura Legend investigates the terminology “Merry Christmas”…
Merry Christmas is a common phrase exchanged amongst Christians during the holidays. However, religions that have celebrations around Christmas time, like the Jewish Hanukkah, are more inclined to say “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas”.
The term Christmas is a translation of the Old English version – Cristes Maesse which is the Mass of Christ.
Under modern day definitions of the word “merry” means gay, cheerful or festive. However, when the saying Merry Christmas first came about, the widely accepted meaning of the word was peaceful or blessed. Thus, wishing someone a Merry Christmas is truly wishing them a blessed or peaceful Mass of Christ.
Christmas, under that definition, is a Christian holiday set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ, the son of God and the savior. The Jewish faith does not view Jesus Christ as the son of God. The believe a savior is coming, the Messiah, but do not grasp the belief that Christ was the Messiah, thus they don’t celebrate Christmas as the Christians do.
Did you know?Christianity and Judaism are the most similar religions in existence as both hold that the Old Testament is the authoritative word of God; however, the New Testament is not accepted in Judaism.
Rather, they celebrate Hanukkah which some people call the Jewish Christmas although it is not similar to Christmas celebrations except that it falls into the holiday season. Hanukkah is a celebration of the rededication of the temple at Jerusalem and gaining of religious freedom to practice Judaism after a long-term occupation of the city.
Thus, while Christians bid you Merry Christmas, those of the Judaism faith will wish you Happy Holidays.
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