Are you curious about how they say “Merry Christmas” around the world? Every December, people from all cultures stop for one moment of their busy lives to wish for peace and joy to others. In English-speaking countries, it is “Merry Christmas“; in France, it is “Joyeux Noël” and in China it is “圣诞快乐“.
Do you want to wish a Merry Christmas to the whole world at the next party? Here is a complete list to get you started:
Merry Christmas!
‘Merry Christmas’ is the common phrase in many countries around the world, including the ones where English is official such as:
- United States
- Canada
- England etc.
They say ‘Merry Christmas’ on the Easter Island, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Fiji too.
Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
Irish is not spoken by the majority in Ireland, but there are statistics showing that there are more people learning Irish around the world then there are Irish speaking the language. Anyway, this is how they wish for Merry Christmas in Ireland.
Feliz Navidad!
This is how you can wish a Merry Christmas from the bottom of your heart in practically all Spanish speaking countries!
The Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Gibraltar (excluding Portugal, where they say ‘Boas Festas!‘), Mexico and Central America including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile (in Chile they also say “Feliz Páscua!“), Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Joyeux Noël!
Joyeux Noël is how the Francophiles wish for a joyful season. You can hear it in France, of course, but also in much of Canada, various African nations such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Madagascar or Togo.
Zalig Kerstfeest!
It is the greeting you will hear in Dutch-speaking countries. In Belgium, they say Vrolijk Kerstfeest.
Frohliche Weihnachten!
You can brighten the day of a German person by wishing Frohliche Weihnachten. You can do the same in Liechtenstein too. In Switzerland, there is a small variation; they say “Fröhlichi Wiehnacht!”
If you are in Austria, you will have less difficulty in pronouncing the phrase. It’s simply “Frohe Weihnachten.”
Buon Natale!
It’s the Italian version of Merry Christmas, but make sure you say it with gusto! You can also talk like this in San Marino and Libya.
Milad Mubarak!
The Middle East also has its Christmas sayings, although they are somewhat controversial. You can say Milad Mubarak on the day of the festivity in Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, and in Tunisia.
“Natal Mubarak” is the Indian version, and in Pakistan they say “Bara Din Mubarrak Ho!” (not as in “Ho Ho Ho” :D).
Mo’adim Lesimkha!
This is how you say Merry Christmas in Israel.
Gézuar Krishlindjet!
The only one place in the whole world where people say Gézuar Krishlindjet is in Albania. It’s the same word they use when they wan to toast to (good) “health!” Gézuar!
Sretan božić!
It’s how they say in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia, but if you’re going to Eastern Europe, you should know that there are many variations as much as there are countries: In the Czech Republic, say “Vesele Vanoce!”. In Slovenia, you would say “Srecen/Veseli Bozic,” while in Macedonia it’s more commonly to say “Христос се роди” (Hristos se rodi), which is an orthodox christian greeting for Christmas literally meaning “Jesus has been born”. Bulgarians say “Весела Коледа“.
Merii Kurisumasu!
It’s how they say Merry Christmas in Japan. In Hong Kong, they say “Sing dan fiy loc,” and in Korea “Sung Tan Chuk Ha.” If you want to wish Merry Christmas in Chinese Mandarin, first you have to take a deep breath and then say “Kung His Hsin Nien Bing Chu Shen Tan.”
Further south in Vietnam they say “Chuc Mung Giang Sinh” and “Sawasdee Pee Mai” in Thailand.