Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Happy Christmas....

... or, as they say here in America, Merry... I'm wondering, not for the first time, why it is that I was brought up, in England, saying Happy Christmas, while over this side of the pond it's invariably Merry Christmas. I checked this out with a fellow ex-pat yesterday at the gym and she confirmed that, yes, she too had been brought up saying Happy. More Dickens readers here, these days, I wonder? Or is the U.S. simply still stuck in the nineteenth century? Curious, the old habits one sticks with. I have never felt comfortable saying Merry Christmas--and it's not the Christmas part of it, as those who wage that noble war against the war on Christmas would have it. It's the Merry part. I can't quite get my mouth around to saying the word. It's like bath. I haven't yet learned to say it with that short, practical, American "a". I still say "baaarth." Though I don't use the thing much myself, anyway. I shower, American-style. But I do still use the word for George, the dog. He enjoys a weekly baaarth. Ah well. Happy Christmas, everyone!

5 comments:

Girlplustwo said...

however we say it, it means the same love and warmth. happy christmas, peter.

robin andrea said...

Happy Christmas to you and your loved ones, Peter. We never said either Merry or Happy Christmas in our Jewish household. When we bought cards to mark the season, my mom always bought those that said, "Season's Greetings." Only this year did I start wishing people a Merry Christmas, but I think I might prefer Happy Christmas. I'll have to try that.

khengsiong said...

I thought some say "Happy Holidays"?

Anyway, Happy Boxing Day.

Unknown said...

Have have wonderful Boxing Day, Peter.

Peter Clothier said...

Thanks to all. I have been mulling these kind thoughts and have written about them in The Buddha Diaries today, the Thursday after Christmas.