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Post by stevemacdonald on Dec 17, 2009 19:24:42 GMT
Thiis is a technical question because it involves a technicality of sorts: Some regions use the expression "Merry Christmas" and others prefer to use "Happy Christmas". Since we are now posting our holiday greetings to Hayley, a Kiwi living in London, which is the proper form? Happy or Merry?
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
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Post by Joe on Dec 18, 2009 1:08:36 GMT
"Merry Christmas" would suffice. Oh, and don't use "merr ie" or " xmas"
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Post by Richard on Dec 18, 2009 9:11:12 GMT
Hello Steve! This is an international forum, so I suggest you use whichever word you normally use. I'm sure Hayley won't mind either way. Richard
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Post by martindn on Dec 18, 2009 21:58:14 GMT
But I agree with Joe. "Merrie" is an annoying misspelling, and "xmas" takes Christ out of Christmas.
Martin D
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Post by Roger-G on Dec 18, 2009 22:26:12 GMT
"xmas" takes Christ out of Christmas. Martin D I have to disagree with you. X was a common abbreviation for Christ's name in ancient Christian art and in New Testament manuscripts. It comes from the first letter in the Greek spelling of His name.
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Post by larryhauck on Dec 18, 2009 23:28:52 GMT
Hey I learn something new everyday.
Larry
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Post by larryhauck on Dec 18, 2009 23:31:09 GMT
Hi Martin Merrie xmas......just kidding....I totally agree with you.
Larry
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Post by grant on Dec 19, 2009 0:02:39 GMT
Hi Martin D
I believe "Merrie" is the old English spelling.
I don't like the abbreviation "Xmas" either as, whilst Roger-G is quite right, it still takes "Christ" out of Christmas. Having said that, I had this same argument with a friend several Christmas's ago who claimed that 'X' represented the cross, so I guess the argument works both ways!
Best wishes Grant
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Post by martindn on Dec 19, 2009 1:27:08 GMT
Yes, but I would argue that it is Easter that is about the cross, not Christmas. At Christmas we think about God's gift of His son to the world. At Easter, we think about how the world reacted to it,. But Christmas, for me, should be about the simple joy of God's gift, not the pain that came 30 years later. And X is the unknown factor. And for too many people, it is.
Martin D
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Post by mihizawi on Dec 19, 2009 10:39:23 GMT
"xmas" takes Christ out of Christmas. Martin D I have to disagree with you. X was a common abbreviation for Christ's name in ancient Christian art and in New Testament manuscripts. It comes from the first letter in the Greek spelling of His name. Either if it is suitable or not to use it, I don't know, but that actually makes sense, the Chi letter of the Greek alphabet is similar to X. Michal
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Post by Roger-G on Dec 19, 2009 11:45:26 GMT
The X is a symbol for Christ and is nothing whatever to do with the cross. That is a modern misapprehension.
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Post by larryhauck on Dec 19, 2009 20:38:03 GMT
I have to disagree with you. X was a common abbreviation for Christ's name in ancient Christian art and in New Testament manuscripts. It comes from the first letter in the Greek spelling of His name. Either if it is suitable or not to use it, I don't know, but that actually makes sense, the Chi letter of the Greek alphabet is similar to X. Michal I think Merry or Happy Christmas are both appropriate. However I think that although X is an antiquated fact that most people aren't aware of; and even if they were It would still be inappropriate since we all don't regularly use archaic Greek terminology. Larry
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Post by stevemacdonald on Dec 20, 2009 5:22:33 GMT
On a related note: Which is the better name: "Santa Claus" or "Father Christmas"?
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
Posts: 6,715
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Post by Joe on Dec 20, 2009 18:32:03 GMT
There was something on the news about Happy vs. Merry.
Merry-making, in the Victorian past, alluded to drinking. Happy Christmas was the preferred greeting used at the turn of the century, but Merry is making a comeback.
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Post by martindn on Dec 20, 2009 20:43:33 GMT
A saw a quote today (from Aled Jones I think) that said "If you take the Christ out of Christmas, all that is left is M & S!
Martin D
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