What Does Merry Christmas Really Mean

What do we mean when we say merry christmas.

What does merry christmas really mean. And characterized by festive conviviality. Words used around the year 1038. As both words evolved and changed meaning over time people slowly stopped using merry as its own individual word during the 18th and 19th centuries. This is a highly popular slogan found on the greeting cards.

1843 was the date of the publication of charles dickens christmas carol and it was around that time in the early part of the reign of queen victoria that christmas as we now know it was largely invented. The 16th century carol english of course god rest you merry gentlemen demonstrates the true meaning of the word merry and ironically highlights how the word itself is oft times misinterpreted. The word merry was then beginning to take on its current meaning of jovial and outgoing and let s face it probably mildly intoxicated. According to my old webster s dictionary means full of cheer.

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. To wish one a merry christmas means to wish them well in celebrating a season of festivity or rejoicing. Eventually by 1131 it had become. It is the purpose of this tract to take the words merry christmas and examine the true meaning and essence of those words.