Language, culture and Christmas traditions around the world
Christmas is probably the most multilingual time of the year. Emails, greeting cards, WhatsApp messages and social-media posts cross borders in every direction. For a few weeks, everyone seems to aim to convey roughly the same idea — though rarely in exactly the same words.
Wishing someone “Merry Christmas” may seem simple, but switch language or country and a whole world of cultural nuances suddenly appears. Christmas greetings reflect traditions, social conventions and even national humour.
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
In Spanish, two commonly used formulas coexist: “Feliz Navidad” and “Felices fiestas.” The former is direct and clearly religious; the latter is broader and more inclusive, also encompassing the New Year and other celebrations. It is no coincidence that companies and institutions tend to favour “Felices fiestas,” while in personal contexts “Feliz Navidad” continues to carry a strong emotional weight.
English offers two main options: “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays”. The first is warm, traditional and personal. The second is broader, more neutral and widely used in professional or multicultural settings, especially in the UK and the US.
Choosing between them is not just a linguistic decision, but a cultural one. A literal translation from another language may sound awkward or even inappropriate if the context is ignored — something automated tools still struggle to grasp.
Christmas greetings around the globe
Looking beyond English reveals even greater diversity:
- French: Joyeux Noël— concise and elegant.
- German: Frohe Weihnachten— solid and unmistakable.
- Italian: Buon Natale— expressive and melodic.
- Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest, a reminder that not all languages favour brevity.
- Japanese: メリークリスマス (Merī Kurisumasu), borrowed straight from English, reflecting Christmas as a cultural rather than religious celebration.
Traditions that don’t translate neatly
Christmas traditions are full of concepts that resist direct translation:
- A British Christmas cracker is not a biscuit.
- An ugly Christmas jumper is worn proudly, not ironically.
- A Spanish Belén is far more than a “nativity scene”.
- And explaining Secret Santa often requires cultural context, not just vocabulary.
This is where professional translation makes the difference: it is not just about finding words, but about conveying cultural references so that the message works just as well on the other side.
When literal translations go wrong
Christmas is also peak season for translation mishaps. Automated greetings wishing "Season’s greetings” as "Greetings of the season”, or treating "X-mas” as an algebraic mystery, are amusing reminders that language needs a human touch.
Humour travels — but only when adapted. A joke about turkeys, reindeer or stockings by the fireplace may delight one audience and completely miss the mark with another.
Language, Christmas and connection
Ultimately, Christmas highlights what language is really for: connecting people. Showing appreciation, strengthening relationships and building trust across cultures.
Whether you are writing to an international client, a foreign partner or a friend abroad, choosing the right words — in the right language — makes all the difference. A well-crafted Christmas message conveys warmth, cultural awareness and professionalism.
From Hasting Traducciones, we wish you a festive season full of clear messages, cultural understanding… and translations that truly make sense.
