一年一度的圣诞节就要来了,先为大家送上最诚挚的圣诞祝福,不过为什么其它节日祝福都是Happy,而圣诞节要用Merry呢?
为什么是Merry Christmas?
Google 这么说:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" (thus incorporating two greetings) was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. The same phrase is contained in the 16th century secular English carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and the first commercial Christmas card, produced in England in 1843.
1699年一位英国上将在一封非正式的信里写到“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. 16世纪的英国圣诞歌里也包含了同样的说法“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”。而1843年英格兰的第一封市售的圣诞卡片上,也印有相同的祝福。
"Happy" is an emotional condition, while "merry" is a behavior. "Happy"感觉像一种情绪,而"Merry"感觉是一种行为,会要做什么事情来庆祝。
比如,英语中有一种说法:
- The more, the merrier 越多,越快乐
但是在英国,可能会说Happy Christmas
- British people say "Happy Christmas"
北美主流还是Merry Christmas
- Wish you a very merry Christmas
Happy Holiday VS. Merry Christmas
美国是个多元国家,其实很多人不是基督徒,也不庆祝圣诞节,所以现在提倡大家说:
- Happy Holiday!
特别现在媒体喜欢讨论政治正确,去宗教化,大家还会为这个争执起来:
- War on Christmas
我们有一期会员课也特别讨论了这个问题:
- Advanced - Political correctness
除了圣诞,其它节日都用happy
其它节日,我们都要用Happy:
- Happy New Year! 新年快乐
- Happy Easter! 复活节快乐
- Happy Thanksgiving! 感恩节快乐
- Happy Birthday! 生日快乐!