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How Countries In Europe Say ‘Merry Christmas’
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How Countries In Europe Say ‘Merry Christmas’

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Whether you’re enjoying some sunny Mediterranean weather or skiing this winter, or you just want to surprise a friend by sending them a Christmas card in their language, here are all the European Christmas greetings you could need.

This colorful map of Europe was made by Jakub Marian, a Czech linguist who makes fun infographic maps in addition to having written a line of textbooks. If you like this Christmas map, you can check out his other maps that you can use all year long, like how European languages say “I love you”. His map of tea may surprise you with its simplicity – it looks like the world’s most popular drink is the one thing that most of us are in agreement about.

More info: Official site | Twitter | Amazon

This map shows how Europe says Merry Christmas

The colors on the map show the etymological roots of each phrase: for example, red represents Romance languages that use a Latin-based word for the event of the birth of Christ. You can see that some other languages, like the Celtic languages and Turkish, get their Christmas greetings as loanwords from the Romance languages. You can also see that up north, highlighted in green, people get their word for Christmas from the Old Norse pagan festival jól (we have this word in English as Yule!)

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In Marian’s analysis on his website, he explains that he groups together German, Czech and Slovak because the latter two languages adopted an old German word for “holy night” into their lexicon.

He also explains that Romanian and Hungarian, even though Romanian is an Indo-European language like the other Romance languages, while Hungarian is from a completely different family, seem to have gotten their word for Christmas from the same root in either Proto-Slavic or Latin.

Maybe you didn’t know that Christmas is celebrated differently all over Europe, and in many places, it’s not over yet. Orthodox Christians in Russia, Ukraine, and parts of the Balkans will be celebrating the Nativity on January 7th, due to a difference in the ceremonial calendar that they use, and get national holidays to match.

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However, in countries that spent most of the 20th century under Soviet control, suppression of religion prevented celebrating Christmas, which meant that Christmas celebrations were largely rebranded and merged with New Year’s Eve. As a result, many cultures as you go east celebrate New Year’s Eve more heavily than Christmas to this day, often mixing imagery from the two holidays. (Conveniently, Marian has included a map for that too!)

Here are all of the phrases listed on the map, if you need to copy and paste them:

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AlbanianGëzuar Krishtlindjet
BasqueEguberri on
Belarusianз Калядамі or з Божым Нараджэннем (z Kaljádami or z Bozym Naradžénnjem)
BretonNedeleg laouen
BulgarianВесела Коледа or Честито Рождество Христово (Vesela Koleda or Chestito Roždestvo Hristovo)
CatalanBon Nadal
CroatianSretan Božić
CzechVeselé Vánoce
Danish God jul or Glædelig jul
DutchVrolijk Kerstfeest
EnglishMerry Christmas or Happy Christmas
EstonianHäid jõule
FinnishHyvää joulua
FrenchJoyeux Noël
GalicianBo Nadal
GermanFröhliche Weihnachten or Frohe Weihnachten
GreekΚαλά Χριστούγεννα (Kalá Christoúgenna)
HungarianBoldog karácsonyt
IcelandicGleðileg jól
IrishNollaig Shona + Dhuit (singular) or Daoibh (plural)
ItalianBuon Natale
LatvianPriecīgus Ziemassvētkus
LithuanianLinksmų Kalėdų
LuxembourgishSchéine Chrëschtdag
MacedonianСреќен Божиќ or Христос се роди (Sreḱen Božiḱ or Hristos se rodi)
Malteseil-Milied it-Tajjeb
NorwegianGod jul
Northern SamiBuorit juovllat
RomanianCrăciun fericit
OccitanBon Nadal
PolishWesołych Świąt (Bożego Narodzenia)
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Russianс Рождеством (Христовым) (s Roždestvóm [Hristóvym])
Scottish GaelicNollaig Chridheil
SerbianSrećan Božić or Hristos se rodi
SardinianBona Pasca de Nadale
SlovakVeselé Vianoce
SloveneVesel božič
SpanishFeliz Navidad
SwedishGod jul
TurkishMutlu Noeller
Ukrainianз Різдвом (Христовим) (z Rizdvóm [Hrystóvym])
WelshNadolig Llawen

Jakub Marian’s books and map prints can be found on his official website.

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taranw avatar
TaranW
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For Great Britain, I always thought it was "Happy Christmas." I heard that a lot when visiting as a kid, but that's been some years now. It could have been due to the area I was in, has it changed?

violainelb avatar
Violaine LB
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happy Christmas is definitely more common than Merry Christmas, I would agree and I live in the UK.

Load More Replies...
avitalpilpel avatar
Avital Pilpel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, not European but in Hebrew: "Hag Molad Same'ach", literally "holiday of birth happy" (the adjective is usually after the noun in Hebrew).

twilight_mist avatar
Astrid Nineor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what they all actually mean. We scandis are still heathens :p Jul is the old norse celebration. I wonder if any of the other greetings have a simikar background or if they all relate to the Christ part of Christmas?

duska1407 avatar
Duska Radmanovic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Serbian ''Hristos se rodi'' means ''Christ was born'' this is the first part of Christmas greeting, other person suppose to answer ''Vaistinu se rodi'' means ''He trully was born''.

Load More Replies...
johnlouis avatar
John Louis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you say Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays or I can't wait for this c**p to be over?

mariebuin avatar
Marie Buin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Norwegian it's; "God Høytid" or "Jeg kan ikke vente til denne dritten er ferdig"

Load More Replies...
angoookurv avatar
Angooo Kurv
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learning languages is fun, but I'd like to see more of lang included all over the world like there's so many interesting languages in asian and they also celebrate Christmas. So i wanted to add one more, in Indonesia we say "selamat natal" just so you know.

gwynplaine avatar
Gwyn Plaine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm freaking out, you included Wales! This just does not happen!!!!!!!!!!

hmnsns avatar
Melinda Huszanagics
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Writing from Hungary to refute the following argument: "However, in countries that spent most of the 20th century under Soviet control, suppression of religion prevented celebrating Christmas, which meant that Christmas celebrations were largely rebranded and merged with New Year’s Eve. As a result, many cultures as you go east celebrate New Year’s Eve more heavily than Christmas to this day, often mixing imagery from the two holidays." It's BOGUS! Where do you get these ideas from? "I love being reduced to a cultural stereotype." (Woody Allen, Annie Hall)

merlinthecat1 avatar
Monika Rhodes
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Polish is mostly right but the- radosnych godow is c**p I have never heard about and it's some kind of bs without research.

olszarj avatar
Julia Zar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's Silesian and not used much today, maybe that's why you've never heard of it. "Radosny" of course means "happy" or "merry", and the "godów" part actually comes from an old pagan slavic tradition (celebrating the god of sun). "God" in that case meant a year, and so "gody" was a term for the period between the old year and a new one. And so, even after christianity came, folks still called christmas "Gody". Hence the phrase. Some sill use it, mostly old people, but it's definitely fading away. I only know it from my elders, and because i'm fascinated by this stuff :)

Load More Replies...
alisa_cizmic avatar
Alisa Cizmic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's is Bosnia and Herzegovina on the list? And yes, we usually say both Sretan Bozic and Srecan Bozic,depends (long story). But don't be afraid to put one independent country on the list,and on the map, make some corrections. Cheers and Happy Christmas.

georgedigamma avatar
George Digamma
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your linguistic research is definitely better than your geographical one. Merry Christmas to all, to all European languages. And peace on earth.

jorgemgduarte avatar
Jorge Duarte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In portuguese you can say also "Bom Natal" (similar with the italien "Buon Natale" ) that means "Good" instead of "Feliz" that means ""happy"...

pakisulat avatar
Dark Half
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon !!!! Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year !!! From the Philippines =)

dutchyswife58 avatar
Dawn K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why isn't Netherlands on the list? For anyone interested, they say Merry Christmas like this -------> Vrolijk Kerstfeest

lindavlemmings avatar
Linda Vlemmings
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this is 100% accurate. I grew up with the Dutch catholic phrase "zalig kerstfeest". Whenever we said "vrolijk kerstfeest" we got commented on by my mother and aunt that's the expression for Easter (vrolijk pasen). On Christmas days we can also use the less religious phrase "fijne kerst". Or "fijne feestdagen" - a combined expression for Christmas and New Year's - which is more like "happy hollidays".

Load More Replies...
milagmhp avatar
Camila Monteiro
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In portuguese (Brazil) is Feliz Natal. I hate how my country never appears...

kennykulbiski avatar
pliexn avatar
Suluhu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is still Christmas in many European countries. In the Netherlands for example we celebrate it on the 25th and the 26th.

Load More Replies...
richard_wareham avatar
Richard Wareham
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one for the UK is a joke. Everyone says Merry Christmas. Only 11% of Welsh people speak Welsh and just 1.1% of Scottish people speak Gaelic.

sian_edwards avatar
Sian Edwards
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though we may not all speak Welsh, nearly all of us know or can attempt Nadolig Llawen. Even my Swedish family know what Nadolig Llawen means!

Load More Replies...
kathrynstretton avatar
kathryn stretton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know I will get downvotes. Thus I probably be called the stupidest poster on panda. What a load of tish. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year !!!

volume83 avatar
Selim
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Turkey does not have celebration for that. Its just translation of merry christmas

jlk103144_1 avatar
CharlieK
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

My guess is that in every country above, with the possible exception of France, everyone also uses the English version.

taranw avatar
TaranW
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For Great Britain, I always thought it was "Happy Christmas." I heard that a lot when visiting as a kid, but that's been some years now. It could have been due to the area I was in, has it changed?

violainelb avatar
Violaine LB
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happy Christmas is definitely more common than Merry Christmas, I would agree and I live in the UK.

Load More Replies...
avitalpilpel avatar
Avital Pilpel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK, not European but in Hebrew: "Hag Molad Same'ach", literally "holiday of birth happy" (the adjective is usually after the noun in Hebrew).

twilight_mist avatar
Astrid Nineor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what they all actually mean. We scandis are still heathens :p Jul is the old norse celebration. I wonder if any of the other greetings have a simikar background or if they all relate to the Christ part of Christmas?

duska1407 avatar
Duska Radmanovic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Serbian ''Hristos se rodi'' means ''Christ was born'' this is the first part of Christmas greeting, other person suppose to answer ''Vaistinu se rodi'' means ''He trully was born''.

Load More Replies...
johnlouis avatar
John Louis
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you say Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays or I can't wait for this c**p to be over?

mariebuin avatar
Marie Buin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Norwegian it's; "God Høytid" or "Jeg kan ikke vente til denne dritten er ferdig"

Load More Replies...
angoookurv avatar
Angooo Kurv
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learning languages is fun, but I'd like to see more of lang included all over the world like there's so many interesting languages in asian and they also celebrate Christmas. So i wanted to add one more, in Indonesia we say "selamat natal" just so you know.

gwynplaine avatar
Gwyn Plaine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm freaking out, you included Wales! This just does not happen!!!!!!!!!!

hmnsns avatar
Melinda Huszanagics
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Writing from Hungary to refute the following argument: "However, in countries that spent most of the 20th century under Soviet control, suppression of religion prevented celebrating Christmas, which meant that Christmas celebrations were largely rebranded and merged with New Year’s Eve. As a result, many cultures as you go east celebrate New Year’s Eve more heavily than Christmas to this day, often mixing imagery from the two holidays." It's BOGUS! Where do you get these ideas from? "I love being reduced to a cultural stereotype." (Woody Allen, Annie Hall)

merlinthecat1 avatar
Monika Rhodes
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Polish is mostly right but the- radosnych godow is c**p I have never heard about and it's some kind of bs without research.

olszarj avatar
Julia Zar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's Silesian and not used much today, maybe that's why you've never heard of it. "Radosny" of course means "happy" or "merry", and the "godów" part actually comes from an old pagan slavic tradition (celebrating the god of sun). "God" in that case meant a year, and so "gody" was a term for the period between the old year and a new one. And so, even after christianity came, folks still called christmas "Gody". Hence the phrase. Some sill use it, mostly old people, but it's definitely fading away. I only know it from my elders, and because i'm fascinated by this stuff :)

Load More Replies...
alisa_cizmic avatar
Alisa Cizmic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's is Bosnia and Herzegovina on the list? And yes, we usually say both Sretan Bozic and Srecan Bozic,depends (long story). But don't be afraid to put one independent country on the list,and on the map, make some corrections. Cheers and Happy Christmas.

georgedigamma avatar
George Digamma
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your linguistic research is definitely better than your geographical one. Merry Christmas to all, to all European languages. And peace on earth.

jorgemgduarte avatar
Jorge Duarte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In portuguese you can say also "Bom Natal" (similar with the italien "Buon Natale" ) that means "Good" instead of "Feliz" that means ""happy"...

pakisulat avatar
Dark Half
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon !!!! Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year !!! From the Philippines =)

dutchyswife58 avatar
Dawn K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why isn't Netherlands on the list? For anyone interested, they say Merry Christmas like this -------> Vrolijk Kerstfeest

lindavlemmings avatar
Linda Vlemmings
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think this is 100% accurate. I grew up with the Dutch catholic phrase "zalig kerstfeest". Whenever we said "vrolijk kerstfeest" we got commented on by my mother and aunt that's the expression for Easter (vrolijk pasen). On Christmas days we can also use the less religious phrase "fijne kerst". Or "fijne feestdagen" - a combined expression for Christmas and New Year's - which is more like "happy hollidays".

Load More Replies...
milagmhp avatar
Camila Monteiro
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In portuguese (Brazil) is Feliz Natal. I hate how my country never appears...

kennykulbiski avatar
pliexn avatar
Suluhu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is still Christmas in many European countries. In the Netherlands for example we celebrate it on the 25th and the 26th.

Load More Replies...
richard_wareham avatar
Richard Wareham
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one for the UK is a joke. Everyone says Merry Christmas. Only 11% of Welsh people speak Welsh and just 1.1% of Scottish people speak Gaelic.

sian_edwards avatar
Sian Edwards
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though we may not all speak Welsh, nearly all of us know or can attempt Nadolig Llawen. Even my Swedish family know what Nadolig Llawen means!

Load More Replies...
kathrynstretton avatar
kathryn stretton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know I will get downvotes. Thus I probably be called the stupidest poster on panda. What a load of tish. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year !!!

volume83 avatar
Selim
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Turkey does not have celebration for that. Its just translation of merry christmas

jlk103144_1 avatar
CharlieK
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

My guess is that in every country above, with the possible exception of France, everyone also uses the English version.

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