Can you imagine what it would be like if you were unable to have Christmas if you could not speak ‘Christmasese’? If Christmas had a language all of its own, would you take the time to learn it? What would it be like if you saw people loving Christmas and enjoying it because they spoke ‘Christmasese’ and you couldn’t? It would not quite be the same, and imagine if Christmas didn’t come to you but you had to go to it?
As we all know there are some words that are associated only with Christmas, and some things that worldwide are part and parcel of Christmas. In the many and varied traditions, these words would somehow form a part of ‘Christmasese’ and you would have to learn them. These words might include:
Mistletoe – a small twig like plant that people kiss under
Presents – gifts given to people (or pets) wrapped up in shiny paper
Christ - The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the reason for celebrating Christmas
Holly – a dark green bush with sharp pointed leaves and red berries often used for decorations
Mince Pie – a sweet pie eaten at Christmas
Tinsel - strings of shiny, glittering tassels that are used as decoration
Carols – songs sung to celebrate the season
Turkey – a large bird, killed and cooked for lunch – normally very dry
Mistletoe – a small twig like plant that people kiss under
Presents – gifts given to people (or pets) wrapped up in shiny paper
Christ - The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the reason for celebrating Christmas
Holly – a dark green bush with sharp pointed leaves and red berries often used for decorations
Mince Pie – a sweet pie eaten at Christmas
Tinsel - strings of shiny, glittering tassels that are used as decoration
Carols – songs sung to celebrate the season
Turkey – a large bird, killed and cooked for lunch – normally very dry
For anyone coming to visit the land of Christmas, these simple words would be very helpful. Phrases like “Merry Christmas” and even ‘Happy New Year” would be frequently heard, or a ‘Christmasese’ translation at least. A large, portly gentleman would be seen wearing red, and cheerfully shouting, “Ho Ho Ho” and calling out these strange words: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and unmistakably Rudolph, but of course, we all know they are the names of his reindeer and you only ever hear them spoken about at this time of year, but if you couldn’t speak ‘Christmasese’ you would not have a clue!
Christmas would not be Christmas is if you had no idea what was going on, and if people spoke in a language you didn’t understand, you would feel like an outsider. The meaning of Christmas might just get a little lost, but thankfully, one does not have to learn a language to enjoy Christmas. Christmas is a universal language, understood by everyone, and whether Christmas is celebrated in Spain, China, Vietnam or Poland, while traditions may change, the language that is quintessentially Christmas doesn’t.
The language of Christmas is a language of love, happiness and hope, it can be translated into any spoken language you choose, but the feeling, the sentiment, and the meaning is the same wherever you find yourself. Christmas is a time where one language is spoken. The barriers of language that we know exist, can fall away when a welcoming smile, a handshake and a hug speak more than words themselves, as Christmas comes from the heart and is easily shared.
Celebrate Christmas this year, and as you do, think of your loved ones, and then think of people all over the world who are celebrating the same but saying any one of the following…
عيد ميلاد مجيد Joyeux Noël!, Frohe Weihnachten!, 圣诞快乐, Καλά Χριστούγεννα!, メリークリスマス, ¡Feliz Navidad!, vrolijk kerstfeest, Selamat Hari Natal!, สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส, C рождеством! 메리 크리스마스 and Buon Natale!
You don’t have to go and visit 'Christmas' and no matter what language you speak, the sentiment is the same, and we wish you a Merry Christmas.
“Merry Christmas” from VLLC
عيد ميلاد مجيد Joyeux Noël!, Frohe Weihnachten!, 圣诞快乐, Καλά Χριστούγεννα!, メリークリスマス, ¡Feliz Navidad!, vrolijk kerstfeest, Selamat Hari Natal!, สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส, C рождеством! 메리 크리스마스 and Buon Natale!
You don’t have to go and visit 'Christmas' and no matter what language you speak, the sentiment is the same, and we wish you a Merry Christmas.
“Merry Christmas” from VLLC
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