When you think of Christmas, you might picture snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, heartfelt carols, Secret Santa surprises, and the cheerful figure of Santa Claus with his reindeer-drawn sleigh.
But Christmas is more than just traditions; it’s a season of connection, a time to reach out to loved ones and spread cheer. One of the most common ways to do this is by saying “Merry Christmas.” Have you ever wondered how this joyful greeting sounds in other languages?
Let’s explore how people use different ways to say Merry Christmas in different languages
Merry Christmas Greetings in European Languages
Western European
- English — Merry Christmas
- French — Joyeux Noël
- German — Frohe Weihnachten
- Dutch — Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Northern European
- Danish — Glædelig Jul
- Swedish — God Jul
- Norwegian — God Jul
- Finnish — Hyvää Joulua
- Icelandic — Gleðileg Jól
- Latvian — Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus
- Lithuanian — Linksmų Kalėdų
Eastern European
- Polish — Wesołych Świąt
- Russian — Счастливого Рождества (Schastlivogo Rozhdestva)
- Czech — Veselé Vánoce
- Croatian — Sretan Božić
- Ukrainian — Веселого Різдва
Southern European
- Spanish — ¡Feliz Navidad!
- Portuguese — Feliz Natal
- Italian — Buon Natale
- Greek — Καλά Χριστούγεννα (kalá Christoúgenna)
- Romanian — Crăciun fericit
Merry Christmas Greetings in Asian Languages
East Asian
- Japanese — メリークリスマス (Meri Kurisumasu)
- Korean — 메리 크리스마스 (meri keuriseumaseu)
- Chinese (Mandarin) — 圣诞快乐 (Shèngdàn kuàilè)
- Taiwanese — 聖誕快樂 (Shèngdàn kuàilè)
Southeast Asian
- Indonesian Selamat Hari Natal
- Malay — Selamat Hari Natal
- Tamil — கிறிஸ்துமஸ் நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் (kiṟistumas nalvāḻttukkaḷ)
- Thai — สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส (sùk-sǎn wan krís-mâas)
- Vietnamese — Chúc Mừng Giáng Sinh
- Tagalog — Maligayang Pasko
South Asian
- Hindi — “शुभ क्रिसमस” (Śubh Krismas)
- Urdu — “کرسمس مبارک” (Krismas Mubārak)
- Bengali — “শুভ বড়দিন” (Shubho Bôṛodin)
Western Asia
- Arabic — عيد ميلاد مجيد (Eid Milad Majid)
- Turkish — Mutlu Noeller
- Persian — کریسمس مبارک (Krismas Mobarak)
Merry Christmas Greetings in African Languages
- Swahili — Heri Ya Krismasi
- Zulu — uKhisimusi oMuhle
- Afrikaans — Geseënde Kersfees
- Amharic — መልካም ገና (Mälkam Gäna)
- Yoruba — E ku Ojo Keresimesi
The Spirit of Christmas: Beyond the Greeting
Christmas holds religious and cultural significance worldwide, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. While its core messages of joy, love, hope, and goodwill are universal, celebrations vary based on regional customs.
Japan
Christmas is less about religion and more about fun and romance. It resembles Valentine’s Day with couples spending time together and exchanging presents.
Since the successful ad campaign in 1974, it became a popular tradition for Japanese families to celebrate Christmas with a KFC meal.
If you’re planning to adapt your campaigns this holiday, our Japanese Translation Services are ready to help you connect with local audiences.
Germany
Famous for its Christmas markets, or Weihnachtsmärkte, offering handmade ornaments, clothing, and more items. Visitors can also enjoy traditional foods like stollen, bratwurst, and lebkuchen, all in a magical atmosphere.
Another beloved tradition is the Advent calendar. These calendars have 24 windows, one for each day of December before Christmas. Behind each window is a small treat like toys, quotes, chocolates, and more.
Spain
It hosts the remarkable “El Gordo” Christmas Lottery on December 22, one of the most anticipated draws of the year. It marks the official start of the season. Children sing the winning numbers in a televised event, and the winnings are divided among thousands of ticket holders.
Just like El Gordo captures the attention of millions, our expert Spanish Translation Services help your message to effectively reach your target audience.
China
Can you believe it? China has no cultural ties to Christmas, yet it produces most of the world’s Christmas decorations. Recently, Christmas has gained popularity, among youngsters, giving rise to adopting the “Peace of Apple” Christmas tradition.
Apples are often given as gifts to symbolize peace, prosperity, and good wishes for the next year.
Are you targeting the Chinese market this season? Our expert Chinese Translation Services align your message perfectly with your local audience.
Mexico
A traditional aspect of Christmas celebrations is the star-shaped piñata, made of clay or cardboard. On Christmas Eve, people wear blindfolds and take turns trying to hit the piñata to retrieve the sweet treats inside.
South Africa
While South Africa has a lot in common with Britain and America in Christmas traditions, it is not surprising that it is celebrated in a unique way.
Forget about the frosty weather, and think of long sunny days by the pool, tables full of delicious food, and great company. Just like in Australia, Christmas is observed with sunny and beach vibes.
Curious to discover even more fascinating celebration ways from other countries? Click here to find out.
Some Popular Christmas Carols from Around the World
Christmas carols bring people of all ages and backgrounds together to spread the joyful spirit of Christmas. Here are some iconic songs:
| Language | Christmas Carol |
| French | Petit Papa Noël |
| Italian | Tu scendi dalle stelle |
| Spanish | Mi Burrito Sabanero |
| English | Silent Night |
| German | O du fröhliche |
| Japanese | SEKAI NO OWARI |
The Perfect Gift for Your Business: Why Translation Services Matter During the Season
Christmas connects people, and companies must interact in multiple languages to reach global audiences, particularly when launching charitable campaigns or seasonal promotions.
Since Christmas traditions are deeply rooted in local customs, you should rely on translation services to craft culturally relevant slogans, messages, and even packaging that resonate with the target audience.
TransPalm: Your Partner for Accurate and Culturally Relevant Language Services
Whether it’s for Christmas cards or greetings to loved ones, we’ve learned how to say Merry Christmas in different languages.
In over 120 languages, TransPalm delivers high-quality language services that are linguistically accurate yet culturally relevant. Contact us for all your translation needs.
How do you say Merry Christmas in your language, and how do you celebrate this occasion? Let us know in the comments below!
