I used to get some flak from people for writing Merry Xmas on my Christmas cards. They would say it was sacrilegious but I would let them know that the X is the same X in the ichthys … the fish symbol with the letters IXOPE inside.
The IXOPE were all Greek letters that formed an anagram: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. The X in fact stands for Christos or Christ. Early Christians recognized the emblem as it was easily identifiable. It was their code to let others know they were Christians.
All symbolism gets diluted with time and the same is true with holidays such as Christmas. Today’s Christmas is equal parts secular as it is religious. Much of the religious imagery and symbolism is tied to the manger and the nativity scene but then too you have the wise men with their gifts.
The secular side includes Santa Clause along with sleigh rides and wintery scenes. It’s all good. It’s all part of the celebration of Christ’s birthday.
It doesn’t matter how you say it since its meaning reaches across countries, cultures and continents. It is supposed to convey a feeling of joy and family and love and peace on Earth.
Here are just a few of the ways that the sentiment can be expressed in the world’s languages.
To our French brothers & sisters in solidarity, I say, Joyeau Noël, to my father who is part Lithuanian, I say, linksmų Kalėdų, to our large Vietnamese population and neighbors in Westminster, here is my wish: Giáng sinh vui vẻ, in Danish, Glӕdelig jul, to all of our Spanish speaking friends and loved ones, Feliz Navidad, to the great Armenian people, Shnorhavor Surb Tsnund, In Japanese, Merīkurisumasu (an obvious vocalization of the English in Japanese speak) in Chinese (traditional) Shèngdan jié kuàile, to our Arabic brothers & sisters, I say, eid milad mmajid, in Italian & Portugese which are similar, Buon Natale & Feliz Natal, in Polish I say, Wesołych Świąt, and to the great Filipino people I say, Maligayang Pasko or Maayong Pasko, to our Slovenian friends, vessel božič, to our German friends I wish you, Frohe Weihnachter, and to the resourceful Hungarian people, boldog karácsonyi ünnepeket.
Coming from a small town in Illinois, we learned it one way when I was growing up.
So here is the way I learned it and here is my wish for everyone;
Merry Christmas
to you and yours!!!!