Christmas Trivia and How to Say Merry Christmas in Different Languages

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again – chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sleigh bells ringing, children hoping they make the nice (not naughty) list again. Oh, and we can’t forget about Santa Claus getting ready for his annual present-palooza. Talk about a hectic schedule…next time you think you’ve had a tough day, try delivering presents to billions of people around the globe, all in a single evening!

We at Pimsleur wish you multilingual tidings of good cheer this holiday season.  And in typical Pimsleur fashion, we thought it would be a good idea to expand & enlighten your celebratory mood by learning how to say Merry Christmas in other languages together!  Keep scrolling to the end because we’ve also included some fun Christmas facts and trivia to share at your next holiday gathering to boot!

Some Background on Christmas

For many, Christmas is the centerpiece of the holiday season in the United States, but did you know that more than 2 billion people celebrate Christmas worldwide? The holiday is celebrated in more than 150 countries on every continent—yes, even Antarctica, which has dozens of scientific personnel at any given time! While different cultures have celebrated the birth of Jesus for centuries, Germany was the first country to bring Christmas into the mainstream in the 1500s. Germany also pioneered Christmas carols, especially with O du fröhliche. Before that, pagan and Roman cultures celebrated the holiday with different celebrations for their agriculture and sun gods, which corresponded to the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year!). In the end, Christmas is clearly a big deal around the world. While most people associate the holiday with English-speaking countries, it’s a tradition for plenty of cultures outside the Anglosphere. Saying “Merry Christmas” in different languages happens all the time!

How Do You Say Merry Christmas in Different Languages?

1. Arabic – عيد ميلاد مَجيد /Aiyeed milad sayeed!
2. Czech – Veselé Vánoce!
3. Danish – Glædelig Jul!
4. Dutch – Vrolijk Kerstfeest! 
5. Dothraki – Zalak Vitteya Ajjalani Neaka. (Happy Feast of The Long Night)
6. Farsi – کریسمَسِ شُما مُبارَک باشَد / krīsmas-i shumā mubārak bāshad (May your Christmas be blessed)
7. Finnish – Hyvää Joulua!
8. French – Joyeux Noël! 
9. German – Fröhliche Weihnachten!
10. Greek – Καλά Χριστούγεννα / Kala Christougena!
11. Hawaiian – Mele Kalikimaka!
12. Irish – Nollaig Shona Duit!
13. Italian – Buon Natale!
14. Japanese – メリークリスマス! / Merīkurisumasu!
15. Klingon – Qismas Botivjaj!
16. Korean – 메리 크리스마스 / Meli Keuliseumaseu!
17. Mandarin – 圣诞节快乐 Shèngdàn jié kuàilè
18. Norwegian – God Jul!
19. Ojibwe – Niibaa’ Anami’egiizhigad & Aabita Biboon!
20. Portuguese – Feliz Natal!
21. Russian – C Рождеством!  / S-RazhdestvOm
22. Spanish – ¡Feliz Navidad!
23. Swiss German – Schöni Wiehnachte!
24. Tagalog – Maligayang Pasko!
25. Thai – สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส / Suksan Wan Christmas!

So there you have it – a comprehensive list of different ways to say Merry Christmas in different languages. Now, if you ever find yourself celebrating Christmas in those far corners of the globe, at least you’ll be able to enjoy the festivities with the locals!

10 Fun Christmas Facts & Trivia

1. Santa was a Viking.

Modern-day Santa owes his existence in large measure to the Vikings. In Norse mythology, Odin, the long-bearded father of the gods, presided over the midwinter Yule festival. Soaring above the rooftops astride his 8-legged white horse, Sleipnir, Odin led the flying Wild Hunt where he would slip down chimneys and deliver toys and candy into children’s boots left warming by the fireplace. Another fun fact: the word jolly is derived from the Old Norse jōl, meaning yule.

2. Tinsel comes from the Old French word ‘estincele’, which means “sparkle.”

Originally made from real silver, the shiny strands were meant to enhance the candlelight on a Christmas tree representing the starry sky over the Nativity.

3. Fried Chicken is the meal of choice for Christmas dinner in Japan.

Sparked by KFC’s 1970s ad campaign for “Kentucky Christmas” or “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii,” the fast-food chain has become synonymous with the holiday.  People reserve their meals months in advance. 

4. The Zip Code in the North Pole is H0H 0H0

The special zip code that Canada Post set up to ensure that all letters to Santa are directed promptly to the North Pole. Postage is free, and every child (from both Canada and abroad) who writes a letter to Santa receives a personalized response.

5. Norad has a Santa Tracker

This hugely popular program which follows Santa’s sleigh progress via U.S. military radar and satellite systems actually started at the height of the Cold War because of a misprint in a Sears Christmas ad.

The ad instructed kids to call Santa directly on what mistakenly turned out to be a top-secret military hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs. Rather than disappoint the youngsters, the colonel in charge staffed the (literally red) phone with airmen who gave the children Santa’s flight coordinates throughout Christmas Eve.

6. The Christmas carol that was banned in Boston –

The 1950s hit song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was originally banned by the Roman Catholic Church on the grounds that it mixed sex with Christmas. The ban was lifted after singer Jimmy Boyd famously met with church officials to explain why the song was not obscene. And speaking of holiday music, check out a dozen of the most popular holiday songs from around the world.

7. Why is Christmas shortened to Xmas?

Christians have historically used “X” as a symbol to represent “Christ.” It comes from the Greek letter “Chi”, or “X”, which is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ (Christos). The “mas” ending comes from the Old English word for “mass”. These two words together make the term “Christ’s mass” or Christmas.

8. Why do Brits say “Happy Christmas” while Americans prefer “Merry Christmas?”

“Merry Christmas” started to fall from favor during the Temperance Movement in Victorian England because “merry” also means “tipsy” in British slang. The Royal family, who also introduced the tradition of indoor Christmas trees, popularized the use of “Happy Christmas” as part of their effort to redefine the holiday from a drunken, raucous affair to one centered around family and charity.

9. Tis the season for break-ups?

According to a 2010 Facebook study, the peak time for couples to break-up during the year is two weeks before Christmas. However, the least likely day of the year to get a Dear John letter (or text) is Christmas day because that would just be too cruel.

10. $49,263 

Thinking about buying all a dozen gifts from the classic 12 Days of Christmas carol? Well, grab your wallet or purse, and be prepared for sticker shock. According to MSN, the cost for all 12 presents is now over $49,000 – that’s much more than double the $20,000 price tag, when the prices were first tracked back in 1984.

Give the Gift of Languages this Holiday Season!

Want to say more than just Merry Christmas in different languages? How about expanding your knowledge to an entire foreign language (holiday season or not), with the ability to speak it conversationally? For language lovers, frequent travelers, heritage learners, and aspiring polyglots, the holiday season just got more exciting! Language learning is a unique gift that unlocks new worlds and opportunities.