😉Don't Say Merry Christmas!😉

It's insulting! Or... is it?

Why is it offensive to say Merry Christmas?

Because saying “merry” in England can mean that person is a drunk. Or wanton! Or they give in to indulgences. INDULGENCES!

Charles II (reigned 1660-85) was the “merry monarch” not because he was happy but because he was overly indulgent and exuberant in everything. Unlike the current Charles.

Charles II doesn’t look so merry… he looks more like he escaped from an asylum for 80s heavy metal bands.

But this does explain why many English people say “Happy Christmas” instead of “Merry Christmas.” They don’t want to encourage you to drink. Especially not at their house. And especially not their mulled wine! Apparently genteel Brits in the 19th century switched to “Happy Christmas” so they wouldn’t encourage all this low class behaviour. SO be genteel if you want to be genteel.

I, for one, am very merry at Christmas time in terms of indulgences--like if you offer me a Smartie cookie I will indulge in it. I will also indulge in short bread and gingerbread and nut squares and toffee popcorn and those crunchy cerials mixed with nuts and I also indulge in turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and well… you get the picture.

So may you have a Merry Christmas, a Merry Holiday, a Merry Celebration of your own choosing, religious or otherwise, and a very Merry New Year. And a Happy New Year, too.

And may you read many merry books. I mean ones that make you feel merry, not ones that make you feel like drinking.

Thanks for reading!

Art

P.S. I know, I know, I’m supposed to promote my novels. My apologies for being not being commercial in this most commercial of seasons. I do encourage you to go out and gift as many books as possible. It will make other people merry.

P.P.S. This whole “merry” thing makes me wonder why Santa has such red, red cheeks…