The wording on Christmas cards

Most cards I buy (Charity cards) just say 'Season's Greetings'.

It is what we always ordered when I ordered corporate cards as many of our overseas clients were not Christian and had not grown up in in a putatively Christian country.

Look online for cards from a charity. I usually buy from 'The Leprosy Mission' which is a christian charity. Their cards usually include a bible verse and greetings such as 'Wishing you peace and joy at Christmas' or simply 'Happy Christmas'.

If you don't want a specifically christian message I'm sure other charities will have cards with appropriate greetings.

PurpleStar

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....

I'm Irish and it used to be the norm for a bereaved family to not send cards the first Christmas after the bereavement. I don't think it's followed as rigidly now, but still happens.

Of course . . .

Great minds,*Elegran*, great minds…

Snap!
Forgive me repeating your post, MaybeMaw

Elegran

The comma dividing "merry" and "gentlemen" signifies that the adjective "merry" does not belong with the noun "gentlemen" but with the first few words, "God rest you" (keep you) . It does show how important punctuation is to the meaning.

There is a big diference between "Let's eat, grandma!" and "Let's eat grandma!"

I was careful in my punctuation when I made that point upthread Elegran - at least I hope I was, autocorrect has a lot to answer for!

The comma dividing "merry" and "gentlemen" signifies that the adjective "merry" does not belong with the noun "gentlemen" but with the first few words, "God rest you" (keep you) . It does show how important punctuation is to the meaning.

There is a big diference between "Let's eat, grandma!" and "Let's eat grandma!"

I sign it Maggie and (DH name). But then it’s a family joke that DS often calls me by my name anyway.

To my DDs and their partners, I use Mum and Dad (our last initial).

Slightly off piste question. When sending a card to a son and daughter in law, do you sign it off Mum and Dad? Even though DIL has her own mum and dad? Doesn’t feel quite right.

I want Christmases to be merry and bright!

It’s more to do with colloquialism - the commonly understood meaning of a word or phrase changing over time.

The phrase God rest you merry means may God grant you peace and happiness.

Holiday comes from Holy Day. Christmas is a mass for Christ.

Meaning has been lost to commercialism. Merry is now more commonly understood to mean happy and sometimes lightly drunk. A holiday is a break from work. Christmas is about exchanging gifts and feasting.

The words of the carol as recorded in 1760 are ones that we all know well albeit with slightly different words for the last two lines.

God rest ye merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this Day.
To save poor souls from Satan's power,
Which long time had gone astray.
Which brings tidings of comfort and joy.

It's a celebration of the birth of Christ for those who believe.

It’s tricky, isn’t it? We are making assumptions that people don’t know the old meanings of words - but some do.

Maybe, to stand against the over-commercialisation of Christmas, we should be using the word merry.

Socksandsocks01

I'd like to see more religious cards in the shop. I'm amazed how much people celebrate Christmas who are atheists. I actually found the local market selling real Christmas cards with religious pictures and verses inside at reasonable prices too. It's a shame it's all santa claus and merry Christmas things in the shops.

The Christian festival merged with the old pagan Midwinter one. Things like the Yule log, the holly and the ivy, etc., all have pre Christian origins. Goodness knows a Northern European midwinter needs something to cheer it up a bit, so please don’t begrudge non-believers their own
sort of Christmas.
In Sweden, and I dare say in other Scandi countries, they still call Christmas Jul (Yule).

I managed to find 2 Christmas cards last year that were very suitable for the 2 friends who had lost their partners. I think I went to my local market stall and found them there.

Yes I dislike “merry” but that has a lot to do with being brought up by a German mother who thought it a ridiculous descriptor. I prefer “peaceful” or heaven forbid “blessed” as I firmly believe that Christmas is about the birth of Christ. I too wish there were more religious cards but I still find Christmas a very magical time and am a sucker for snow scenes and glitter.

Lovely lady. Perfectly put. Christmas it is about Christian folk celebrating the birth or christ even if that is not the real day he was born. It Mark's his coming. If you dont believe that's your choice dont try changing it but it would be nice to see more appropriate cards etc.

I'd like to see more religious cards in the shop. I'm amazed how much people celebrate Christmas who are atheists. I actually found the local market selling real Christmas cards with religious pictures and verses inside at reasonable prices too. It's a shame it's all santa claus and merry Christmas things in the shops.

Should we be distracted from sending genuine loving thoughts and good wishes at Christmas or any other time by the printed message inside?
Frankly I take little notice although I try to avoid the too jolly “Have fun this Christmas/birthday/Hanukkah “ sort.
What matters to me is the often brief but sincere message inside from the sender, to know that I have been remembered and that for a few minutes at least we are in each other’s thoughts.

I always think of Christmas as a time to celebrate midwinter in the very old Yule time way.
As northern Europeans we needed to mark midwinter and turn thoughts to the coming of spring.
Also the practicalities of coming together to share food and heat.

I am not a Christian and I believe that Christmas (and Easter) were hijacked from the "old" ways.
We need celebrations and it feels good to wish other people a good time. I like Christmas time. The season.
When I lost a beloved jus tbefore Christmas I couldn't celebrate I was far too sad. And I do try to respect anyone who might be in grieving and send Good Wishes, not Christmas.....

Just ordered my Christmas cards from Muscular Dystrophy and there were several with doves and messages of peace and joy.

Early

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.

To the vast majority of people it doesn’t mean ‘holy day’ any more, though.

Lucca

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

For me I think it's the fact that "Holidays" are something I go on in the summer, a vacation as the Americans would say.

Plus it seems lazy to me - as if I can't be bothered to find out that my (hypothetical) Jewish friend is celebrating Hannukah - I'd get an appropriate card instead.

Aveline

I can't stand 'Happy Holidays' on Christmas cards. It's so American.
I prefer to buy charity cards especially for charities that I like to support.

I agree. I'm not keen on Seasons Greetings either but it can be useful.

Doesn’t Season’s Greetings refer to the festive season, the celebration of the winter solstice, when days start to get longer? As such, it is applicable to most religions, whatever they call their particular festival. At some point in the early fourth century it was decided that the winter solstice was the appropriate time to celebrate Christ’s birth.

It’s a bit like the Queen’s official birthday being in June.

About four years ago a friend of mine lost her beloved husband of fifty years in June. She would be spending Christmas alone as only son lived abroad. As Christmas approached and cards started appearing in shops she said one day "I do hope people will send me normal cards this year that say Happy or Merry Christmas, not those that say Thinking of You, it was on all the sympathy cards! I will have a happy Christmas this year because I have so many lovely memories of past Christmases, but I don't want to be treated any differently, or worse still not receive cards because folk don't know what to say." Her words brought tears to my eyes, and of course I sent her a lovely 'normal' card.

I also know someone who is saddened that she no longer receives Anniversary cards from family and friends since her husband died. She misses getting them, and of course it is still a happy date/day for her but the absence of greetings from other people (especially family) seems to emphasize her loss.

I know not everyone would feel the same way as these two ladies but I just thought I'd mention this.