Re: Country Related: Christmas

Raymond A. Brown wrote:

> News to me - my Christmas is still merry and my New Year happy :)
>
> Indeed, I was so alarmed by John's news that I took a look at all our
> Christmas Cards - 100% MERRY!!! Not a happy Christmas among them ;)  Seems
> neither the card makers nor our many friends, acquaintances, neighbors etc
> are aware of this either  ;)
Well, well, as on many occasions before, Raimundus astonishes me.
All I can say is that of the various Brits who have wished me joy
of the season, all others have said "Happy Christmas" (or in one
case, "Crimbo"), and that is the form I see in British publications
that make it over here.

However, evidently this form does not extend to Christmas cards
(an American invention?).

> >This is now a marked difference between the dialects.
>
> Which dialects?
I meant Standard English and General American.

--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)