“The Hidden History Behind ‘Merry Christmas’ vs. ‘Happy Christmas’”

“Merry Christmas” feels like one of the warmest and most innocent phrases in the English language. Yet few people realize that it was once criticized as irreverent — even offensive — by religious leaders and social critics. That history raises a few interesting questions: Why do we say “Merry Christmas,” but not “Merry Easter” or “Merry Birthday”? Why do people in the UK often prefer “Happy Christmas”? And do “merry” and “happy” really mean the same thing?

To understand this, it helps to look at where the words themselves come from.

The word merry entered the English language first, arriving around the 12th century from Germanic roots. At the time, it meant joyful, pleasant, and cheerful. Happy appeared later, around the 14th century, and originally had a different meaning altogether — it was tied to luck, fortune, and chance rather than emotion. While the two words overlap today, their histories and connotations are not identical.

For many centuries, “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Christmas” were used interchangeably. That balance shifted during the Victorian era, when attitudes toward Christmas itself began to change.

Historian and podcast host Katie Charlwood explains that earlier Christmas celebrations were often loud, chaotic, and indulgent. By the 19th century, the word merry had evolved to describe behavior that was boisterous, rowdy, and frequently fueled by alcohol. For some religious thinkers, this association clashed with the idea of Christmas as a sacred and solemn holiday.

Criticism of the phrase actually predates the Victorian period. As early as 1772, a writer condemned “Merry Christmas” as sinful, arguing that people were celebrating Christ’s birth “as if we were ministering the mad orgies of Bacchus,” the Roman god of wine.

That discomfort became more vocal in the mid-1800s. In 1864, Reverend Gordon Calthrop publicly advocated for replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Christmas.” He believed merriment was often performative — a loud display meant to hide inner sadness.

“The boisterous gaiety which many put on,” he said, “is oftentimes only a mask.” True happiness, in his view, was quiet, sincere, and reflective — not noisy or extravagant.

Despite these objections, popular culture had other plans.

“Merry Christmas” quickly embedded itself into Victorian-era traditions. It appeared on the first commercial Christmas cards, in beloved carols, and most famously in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which includes the phrase nearly twenty times — without a single mention of “Happy Christmas.” Even The Night Before Christmas eventually replaced its original closing line, “a Happy Christmas to all,” with the now-familiar “Merry Christmas.”

By the late 19th century, “Merry Christmas” had become the dominant holiday greeting in the United States.

Across the Atlantic, however, the story took a different turn. In Britain, “Merry Christmas” was often viewed as informal or even a bit uncouth, particularly because of its popularity in America. One British critic dismissed it as overly sentimental — a very British complaint. When King George V used “Happy Christmas” in a radio address, followed by George VI and later Queen Elizabeth II, the phrase became firmly established as the preferred and more refined choice in the UK.

At its core, this linguistic divide reflects a much older debate: Should Christmas be a quiet, spiritual occasion or a joyful, festive celebration? That question has shaped both how the holiday is observed and how people express goodwill during it.

In that sense, the familiar greeting “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” might be the perfect compromise — festive enough to celebrate, thoughtful enough to include everyone.