Holiday Wishes

[Bill Randall]

On 12/23/2010 5:20 PM, Fairlight wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 23, 2010 at 05:13:43PM -0500, after drawing runes in goat's blood,
> Nancy Palmquist cast forth these immortal, mystical words:
>> Happy Holidays - well dog gone it I am just going to say it "Merry
>> Christmas" and hope that does not offend.
> Or, as the British say, Happy Christmas.  I'm not sure why the Brits don't
> use "merry", I just know that, by and large, they don't seem to.  I need to
> track down a Brit and ask them why, actually.  It's had me puzzled for
> years.  :)
>
I watched a show on History Channel the other night that explained.  The 
original term was coined back in the 1800's with the guy (can't remember 
his name) that wrote 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'.  The short story 
was not even originally called that but something else.  Any ways, the 
final line in that story read 'Happy Christmas to all and to all a good 
night'.  It was changed to 'Merry' when it hit the US and the title was 
changed.  They explained it as corresponding to the commercialization of 
Christmas and the introduction of Santa that we know today.

Bill