"...And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry..."
(Jeremiah 30:19 KJV)
Though Christmas has been celebrated since the 4th century AD, the first known usage of any Christmastime greeting, "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. Later, Charles Dickens would make the phrase universally popular with his 1843 A Christmas Carol.
"Merry" is a word used only one month out of the year. Throughout the other 11 months we year Happy Birthday, Happy New Year', or 'Happy Valentines Day'. In almost every month we try to find something to be happy about, but only in December do we seek to be 'merry'.
The present day definitions of the word "merry" means gay, cheerful or festive. However, when the saying Merry Christmas first came about, the widely accepted meaning of the word was peaceful or blessed. Thus, wishing someone a Merry Christmas was wishing him or her a blessed or peaceful Mass of Christ. The word "merry" was chosen as an adjective for Christmas for a very important reason. To understand that reason, we must first notice the difference between being "happy" and being "merry".
Happiness is something we can possess despite our present conditions. In the midst of struggles, trials, and difficulties, we have the ability (as believers in Christ) to be happy. Find me a poor man who loves the Lord and I will show you a happy man (despite his poverty). Throughout the centuries persecuted believers have happily been led away to their deaths (just pick up a copy of Foxes' Book of Martyrs and see for yourself). Our happiness does not depend upon the physical or social conditions around us.
However, to be merry, we must have a certain degree of abundance. Merriment implies a great feast, festive dancing, music, time off from work, presence of our friends, and relatively care-free living (at least for the moment). When we attend a party, we can leave our troubles behind us and simply enjoy. No worries, no struggles...just festivities!
Merry Christmas is a powerful term. It reminds us that not only does God desire our happiness, He wants us to experience merriment. In this earthly life, we can always be happy. But once in a while, and only rarely, do we experience times of merriment. Yet, we have a great promise. In the passage above Jeremiah envisions a time when there would be a permanent time of merriment.
Think about that! There is coming a day (in Heaven) where we will feast, dance, and enjoy festivities for eternity. How fitting that we use that special word in the Christmas season. We celebrate merriment once a year in commemoration of Christ, who offers us eternal merriment.
Merry Christmas!
"Merry" is a word used only one month out of the year. Throughout the other 11 months we year Happy Birthday, Happy New Year', or 'Happy Valentines Day'. In almost every month we try to find something to be happy about, but only in December do we seek to be 'merry'.
The present day definitions of the word "merry" means gay, cheerful or festive. However, when the saying Merry Christmas first came about, the widely accepted meaning of the word was peaceful or blessed. Thus, wishing someone a Merry Christmas was wishing him or her a blessed or peaceful Mass of Christ. The word "merry" was chosen as an adjective for Christmas for a very important reason. To understand that reason, we must first notice the difference between being "happy" and being "merry".
Happiness is something we can possess despite our present conditions. In the midst of struggles, trials, and difficulties, we have the ability (as believers in Christ) to be happy. Find me a poor man who loves the Lord and I will show you a happy man (despite his poverty). Throughout the centuries persecuted believers have happily been led away to their deaths (just pick up a copy of Foxes' Book of Martyrs and see for yourself). Our happiness does not depend upon the physical or social conditions around us.
However, to be merry, we must have a certain degree of abundance. Merriment implies a great feast, festive dancing, music, time off from work, presence of our friends, and relatively care-free living (at least for the moment). When we attend a party, we can leave our troubles behind us and simply enjoy. No worries, no struggles...just festivities!
Merry Christmas is a powerful term. It reminds us that not only does God desire our happiness, He wants us to experience merriment. In this earthly life, we can always be happy. But once in a while, and only rarely, do we experience times of merriment. Yet, we have a great promise. In the passage above Jeremiah envisions a time when there would be a permanent time of merriment.
Think about that! There is coming a day (in Heaven) where we will feast, dance, and enjoy festivities for eternity. How fitting that we use that special word in the Christmas season. We celebrate merriment once a year in commemoration of Christ, who offers us eternal merriment.
Merry Christmas!
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