The wording on Christmas cards

The thing is, that even if you know about 'merry', it's current usage makes it rather inappropriate.
Lots of charity cards have Season's Greetings - I often use Unicef or Amnesty that have them in different languages.

I actually struggle to find cards to send to Muslim friends who like to stick to the idea of having only patterns on cards, not any depictions of living things. Unicef are quite good for that.

I didn't know that about the origins of Merry either so thank you MayBeMaw

The RNLI cards are lovely and quirky and I always buy them, usually from a Christmas fundraising event that is held here but, sadly, not last year.

I think most of the Red Cross cards say "Season's Greetings" and not Merry Christmas, EP.

I always look for cards with some Christian symbols on them. Not into Santas, happy holidays, or reindeer. It is, after all, a celebration of the birth of Christ.

ElderlyPerson

> But of course you will know the origin of the word “merry” ?^

Actually I didn't, but I do now, thank you.

> Hence “God rest ye Merry, gentlemen” (not “Merry gentlemen” )meaning “may god keep you agreeable”

Well, that's two new things learned from one post then, thank you again.

Well, um, well, we used to sing it and nobody ever said. Never suspected that it meant otherwise.

Silly though it might seem, is it possible that misunderstanding the meaning of Merry on the cards is so widespread that it leads many people to eat and drink to excess because they implicity assume that they should do that as they are being encouaged to do so!

I have a friend who is adamantly anti-religion. She found cards last year that just spoke of "Winter days" or something. For this reason, I try and avoid religious symbols - a tree or a candle is innocuous enough without being overtly commercial or symbolic of any religion, just tradition. The wording usually refers to Christmas, though. I shall try and remember that when sending a card to that particular friend this year. Maybe just send an e-mail!

I’ve always managed to find and send a ‘thinking of you’ card to anyone bereaved that year. The Card Factory will have a good choice.

I send Winter Solstice cards, doesn't matter if they don't celebrate it, it happens everywhere in the Northern hemisphere anyway

JackyB

I have a friend who is adamantly anti-religion. She found cards last year that just spoke of "Winter days" or something. For this reason, I try and avoid religious symbols - a tree or a candle is innocuous enough without being overtly commercial or symbolic of any religion, just tradition. The wording usually refers to Christmas, though. I shall try and remember that when sending a card to that particular friend this year. Maybe just send an e-mail!

You could send her a customised one-off card from Papier.

You can then choose your own wording.

Sent directly to her or to you first, as you choose.

You see quite a lot with Season’s Greetings, which personally I don’t like, but would send to anyone I know to be Muslim or Hindu, etc., e.g. a couple of neighbours who send to us.

IMO anything’s better than the American ‘Happy Holidays’ though.

I agree Georgesgran. I find those “thinking of you “ Christmas cards readily available. The Card Factory has cards for every occasion.

I don’t mind what they say as long as it isn’t “Winter Wishes”. I saw some that I liked in a catalogue that SSAFA sent me, but I really don’t want to send people “Winter Wishes”!

There are Christmas cards that have “wishing you a Peaceful Christmas” or words to that effect. They usually have pictures of doves or one I had with purple crocuses in the snow. I have sent these when I have suffered a bereavement or the person to whom I wish to send it has.

Usually these cards come in packs and are often from a charity such as Mind or Muscular Dystrophy from whom I get mine. You may find you pay a little more for the card but you are helping the charity.

Why do we always have to be so rabidly anti anything American ? They say happy holidays, we don’t. Big deal.

For the record, when newly widowed, I took myself off on a walking holiday my first Christmas alone and had a merry time in every sense of the word. It was pleasant, I enjoyed the glorious scenery and culture and drunk a bit too much wine on occasion. It’s how my dear husband and I would have enjoyed the holiday together and how he would have wanted me to enjoy it alone. Life went on, life goes on. I never wanted people to treat me differently or with kid gloves or to imply that I shouldn’t be enjoying Christmas when others are. We have had many threads here about how people treat the bereaved differently, making us feel other and outside of things. I would never have taken offence at being wished Merry Christmas. Don’t for a second think that I did not love him with all my heart. Fifteen years on, there isn’t day goes by that I don’t miss him but widows’ weeds were for Victorians.

Lucca

Why do we always have to be so rabidly anti anything American ? They say happy holidays, we don’t. Big deal.

Quite right, Lucca. Holiday is from Holy Day which is exactly what Christ Mass is.

MayBeMaw

I would disagree with your basic premise- I have bought cards with all sorts of greetings- Merry Christmas being only one.
Seasons Greetings seems to be the most common and nobody can take exception to that.
But of course you will know the origin of the word “merry” ?
Merry", derived from the Old English myrige, originally meant merely "pleasant, agreeable" rather than joyous or jolly

Hence “God rest ye Merry, gentlemen” (not “Merry gentlemen” )meaning “may god keep you agreeable”

Thanks MayBeMaw for that. I understand the meaning now. I love that every day is a school day here on GN!
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Lucca

Why do we always have to be so rabidly anti anything American ? They say happy holidays, we don’t. Big deal.

Is it American? I don't like it much either.

Many people are working in essential jobs so no chance of a Christmas break.

It's nice that the OP Elderlyperson,is being thoughtful and compassionate about a friend.When my wonderful Father unexpectedly passed,a friend sent me a Christmas card saying have "the most wonderful christmas" I could have slapped her with the card! As a rule in our extended family,when a loved one has passed away,that 1st Christmas is a no no on the card front.Its an impossibly sad time with reminders everywhere.I love Christmas,but didn't cope with the 1st after his death,too well and just wanted to get through it. We are Irish so I don't know if its an Irish or just a family thing.But it makes so much sense.Bereft people,usually, do not want Christmas cards,despite the kind intentions....

Sorry ElderlyPerson,I misread and now see that you were saying a "What if" scenario....

That is interesting. In that scenario my instinct would have been to send a card, one suitably peaceful for a reflective time. It not occurred to me that someone would prefer no card, so as to just go through the final days of December as if it were some other month. Something for me to bear in mind.

I use moonpig. If you go on line and write in moonpig voucher code, you get a discount too so it's about £3 a card for my special 6 people and you can say exactly what you like as they offer ones where you write the text. Admittedly too expensive if you send lots but I only send 6 a year .

25Avalon

There are Christmas cards that have “wishing you a Peaceful Christmas” or words to that effect. They usually have pictures of doves or one I had with purple crocuses in the snow. I have sent these when I have suffered a bereavement or the person to whom I wish to send it has.

Usually these cards come in packs and are often from a charity such as Mind or Muscular Dystrophy from whom I get mine. You may find you pay a little more for the card but you are helping the charity.

The one I found many years ago had a picture of a dove.

Snap, Early. Beautifully expressed too. Thanks.

Maybemaw "Seasons Greetings seems to be the most common and nobody can take exception to that"

Sorry but I do take exception to that. We are not celebrating the season, we are celebrating Christmas. I would never buy cards that do not mention Christmas regardless of people's different faiths. I would not take offence at receiving cards celebrating other religious festivals at other times of the year but the 25th December is Christmas.

I agree it is bland- but any connection with religion seems too inflammatory for some people.
I suppose you choose your cards according to what you think will bring pleasure to others.
As someone who was widowed about 6 weeks before Christmas I can honestly say I took no notice of the printed greeting but liked reading the few words friends had added - it was comforting to know that anybody was thinking of me at all