THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IS HERE

Learn How to Say "Merry Christmas" in 10 Different Languages!

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Christmas is just around the corner and we are all getting ready! Besides decorating the tree, baking cookies, and exchanging gifts, you can add an international touch to your celebrations this year.

Spending quality time with your closest family and friends during the holidays is a cherished tradition. Fortunately, today's technology also allows you to send messages to people all over the world, so you don't have to be in the same neighborhood to share the holiday season.

Here, we've compiled 10 ways to say "Merry Christmas" in different languages, so if you have family members living abroad or would like to find new friends on other continents, this article is for you.

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Let's start with the one that readers of this article are already familiar with. Although the specialists claim that "Merry Christmas" originated in Europe around the 16th century, many people in England discontinued its use and replaced it with "Happy Christmas" due to the influence of Queen Elizabeth.

But American English tends to use "Merry Christmas" instead. Although there is no certain theory as to why the term "Merry" has gained popularity on this side of the ocean, some linguists believe that the reason behind it is the meaning represented by each word. "Happy" refers to an emotional state, while "Merry" is linked to a behavior related to enjoyment. Luckily, the famous carol, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," agrees.

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Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world and the second most spoken in the United States, so the phrase Feliz Navidadis probably not new to you.

You may have heard it in the famous 1970 song by Puerto Rican composer José Feliciano, who sings, "Feliz Navidad, prospero año y felicidad" (Merry Christmas, prosperous year, and happiness). Now you won't be able to get this song out of your head, but at least you can brag about being a polyglot this Christmas.

Credit: Jamie Street

If you are planning to travel for the holiday season, Paris, the City of Love, is a great destination. Besides tasting some mouth-watering delicacies and enjoying the best of fashion, you can communicate with the French using this popular Christmas greeting. You can also use the more general phraseMeilleurs Voeux, which means "Best wishes."

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German belongs to the same language family as English, but that doesn't make it easy to learn. Frohe Weihnachten is the classic way to wish a Merry Christmas in German. If you want to take your first steps in this language, this simple phrase will help you to make German-speaking friends during this time of the year.

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Rome, the capital of Italy, is 6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, so if you're feeling very excited and can't wait for Santa to arrive, you don't have to wait until midnight in North America. You can just send a message saying Buon Natale 6 hours earlier!

If someone living in Italy greets you first, you can reply Grazie, Buon Natale a te! (Thank you, Merry Christmas to you too!).

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How about going to the beach to celebrate Christmas? Hawaiian, a Polynesian language, is spoken on all inhabited Hawaiian islands. Along with English, it is the official language of the US state of Hawaii.

Since there is no literal Hawaiian translation for the words "Merry Christmas," Mele Kalikimaka, the phonetic translation, is the best way to express your best wishes when visiting the Aloha State.

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If you have already learned how to wish a Merry Christmas in Spanish, it won't be difficult for you to say it in Portuguese since both phrases are similar.

As with other languages, Portuguese is spoken in more than one country. So, whether you're planning a trip to Portugal or prefer to have a summer Christmas in Brazil, Feliz Natal will come in handy!

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Do you notice any similarities with English? If so, you are right. Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Japan, so they don't have a native phrase for "Merry Christmas." That's why people in Japan pronounce Merii Kurisumasu, the English phrase with a Japanese inflection.

Although the holiday has expanded significantly since the second half of the 20th century, Christmas in Japan is not the same as in America. Did you know that Christmas is celebrated as a romantic holiday in the Land of the Rising Sun? Just like we do on Valentine's Day, Japanese couples will go out on dates or give each other gifts for Christmas!

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If you want to stand out at the family party, this is a great phrase to learn, as it is short and easy to pronounce. God means "Good," "Merry," or "Happy," and Jul is, of course, the Swedish word for "Christmas."

But if you are up for more, you can use the general holiday greetings: Trevlig helg for the classic"Happy holidays," or Varma lyckönskningar, which surprisingly means "Warm wishes."

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This is the phrase you'll hear the most during this time of the year in the Philippines, where Tagalog is the most widely spoken language.

Unlike other Asian countries, the Philippines celebrates Christmas in a big way. In fact, in this archipelagic country, the holiday season is so important that they start celebrating in September! That's right, Filipinos hold the record for the longest Christmas celebration in the world.

They really give a whole new meaning to the term "holiday season."If you want to join their party, just be sure to pack your best beachwear.