As a linguist, I’m always fascinated by how people in other countries use completely different words to effectively say the same thing.
For this week’s blog post, I’ve therefore rounded up the many versions of Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas or Season’s Greetings that will be seen and heard around Europe over the festive period.
You’ve probably missed the recommended last posting date for all of these countries in terms of sending Christmas cards, but you might still like to impress family, friends or colleagues by using one of these Christmas greetings in an email or social media update.
Christmas greetings by language
| Bosnian | Cestit Bozic |
| Croatian | Sretan Bozic |
| Czech | Vesele Vanoce |
| Danish | Glædelig Jul |
| Dutch | Prettige Kerstfeest / Vrolijk Kerstfeest |
| Esperanto | Gajan Kristnaskon |
| Finnish | Hyvää Joulua |
| Flemish | Zalig Kerstfeest |
| French | Joyeux Noël |
| German | Frohe Weihnachten / Fröhliche Weihnachten |
| Greek | Kala Christouyenna |
| Hungarian | Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket |
| Icelandic | Gledileg Jol |
| Irish (Gaelic) | Nollaig Shona Dhuit |
| Italian | Buon Natale |
| Lithuanian | Linksmu Kaledu |
| Norwegian | God Jul / Glædelig Jul |
| Polish | Wesołych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia |
| Portuguese | Boas Festas / Feliz Natal |
| Romanian | Crặciun Fericit |
| Serbian | Hristos se rodi |
| Slovakian | Vesele Vianoce |
| Slovenian | Vesel Bozic |
| Spanish | Feliz Navidad |
| Scottish | Blithe Yule |
| Swedish | God Jul |
| Turkish | Mutlu Noeller |
| Ukranian | Veseloho Vam Rizdva |
| Welsh | Nadolig Llawen |
Bonus greeting: If you’re taking the kids to see Father Christmas in Lapland, the one you’ll need to learn is Buorrit Juovllat!
Disclaimer: Apologies if there are any errors in this list of Christmas greetings. I compiled it from several online sources – aiming for as much consistency as possible – so hopefully they’re accurate! It’s also not meant to be a definitive list, but if I’ve made a glaring mistake or missed your country out, do please let me know in the comments.
Meanwhile, I’d like to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!
(image courtesy of samarttiw at freedigitalphotos.net)
The Hungarian and Polish greetings look a bit of a mouthful :0
Don’t they just?!
I will do my best!
Thank you 🙂
Not in the least! It is just one more variation, there are several of them. Yours is absolutely accurate and fine! Thanks again. I adore your brilliant blogs.
So kind of you to say so! Do pass them on to any friends who might be interested.
Thank you for this splendid blog, Geraldine. I wish you a very spiffing Christmas! And… Z Rizdvom Christovym!
Glad you enjoyed it! Did I get the Ukrainian one wrong then?