Re: Country Related: Christmas

On Wed, 23 Dec 1998, Raymond A. Brown wrote:

> >Well, over here in Merkia, the _stereotypical_ English form is Happy Xmas.
> >We get it on pseudoEnglish cards;
>
> Well all my _genuine_ English/British cards have MERRY CHRISTMAS (or MERRY
> XMAS).
I'm not arguing...this is simply against all expectation, though!

>
> >pseudoEnglish tv characters;
>
> Probably about as accurate as the portrayal of 'stereotypical' Merkians on
> oyr media  ;)
Oh, I don't know about that!...

>
> >and from
> >"real" tv characters.  I can think of Being Served and Mr Bean in which
> >"Happy Christmas" was the greeting of choice.
>
> >From what I recall there's practically no speaking on Mr Bean and he's
> certainly not prototypical, stereotypical or any other typical.  As for
> "Are you being served?" rather exaggerated - I'm surprised that only 'Happy
> Christmas' was used there and not a single "Merry Christmas".  I can assure
> you "Merry Christmas: is still alive and kicking this side of the pond even
> if we'd not find "Happy Christmas" as odd as Merkians apparently do.
Indeed I probably oughtn't to have cited Mr Bean, since he's so difficult
to understand at the very best of times.  He could well have said "merry"!

I thought I'd dredge out some real English lit., and lo, the last chapter
of A Christmas Carol has "Merry Xmas" no less than three times; not a
"Happy Xmas" in sight.  I suppose _that_ ought to clinch the discussion if
nothering else!

>
> MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Indeed, and the same for you and your kin!

Padraic.

> Ray.