Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in 9 European languages

Few things make people smile like hearing a seasonal greeting in their own language. Whether you're writing to a colleague in Madrid, a friend in Stockholm or neighbours from Brazil, a few words in their language shows care.

Here's how to wish people well over the festive season in nine languages, along with some of the traditions behind the words. And because not everyone celebrates Christmas, each section includes a neutral option too.

A note on neutral greetings

Christmas is widely celebrated across Europe, often as a cultural holiday as much as a religious one. Still, if you don't know whether someone celebrates it, a general "happy holidays" or a New Year greeting is always a safe and warm choice. A New Year wish works for practically everyone.

Spanish

• ¡Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas!
• ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Happy New Year!
• ¡Felices fiestas! Happy holidays! (neutral and very common)
• ¡Próspero Año Nuevo! A prosperous New Year! (a classic, slightly formal)

Customs: In Spain, the big family dinner is on Christmas Eve, Nochebuena. On New Year's Eve, Nochevieja, people eat twelve grapes, one at each stroke of midnight, for luck. Traditionally, children receive presents from the Three Kings (los Reyes Magos) on 6 January, although many families now also exchange gifts on 25 December. In much of Latin America, Nochebuena is also the main celebration.

English

• Merry Christmas! (Happy Christmas is also common in the UK.)
• Happy New Year!
• Happy holidays! / Season's greetings! (neutral; the second is more common in writing)

Customs: Christmas crackers and paper crowns in the UK, stockings by the fireplace, and in Scotland, Hogmanay, a big New Year celebration that often rivals Christmas itself.

French

• Joyeux Noël ! Merry Christmas!
• Bonne année ! Happy New Year!
• Bonnes fêtes ! Happy holidays! (neutral)
• Meilleurs vœux ! Best wishes! (very common in cards and emails in January)

Customs: The réveillon is a festive dinner on Christmas Eve and again on New Year's Eve. In January, people share a galette des rois (king cake), and whoever finds the small figurine (la fève) inside becomes king or queen for the day. In France, you can say bonne année to colleagues throughout January.

Italian

• Buon Natale! Merry Christmas!
• Buon anno! / Felice anno nuovo! Happy New Year!
• Buone feste! Happy holidays! (neutral)

Customs: Panettone and pandoro are everywhere. On New Year's Eve, many families eat lentils, said to bring money in the coming year. On 6 January, la Befana, a kindly old woman on a broomstick, brings sweets to good children and, traditionally, coal to naughty ones.

Portuguese (Brazil)

• Feliz Natal! Merry Christmas!
• Feliz Ano Novo! Happy New Year!
• Boas festas! Happy holidays! (neutral)

Customs: Christmas in Brazil falls in summer, so celebrations are often outdoors. On New Year's Eve (Réveillon), many people wear white for peace, gather on beaches for fireworks, and jump seven waves for luck.

Catalan

• Bon Nadal! Merry Christmas!
• Bon any nou! / Feliç any nou! Happy New Year!
• Bones festes! Happy holidays! (neutral)

Customs: Catalonia has one of Europe's most unusual traditions: the Caga Tió, a log with a face and a blanket that children "feed" during December and then hit with sticks while singing, so that it "poops" sweets and small presents. On 26 December, Sant Esteve, many families eat canelons.

German

• Frohe Weihnachten! / Fröhliche Weihnachten! Merry Christmas!
• Frohes neues Jahr! Happy New Year!
• Guten Rutsch! Literally "good slide", said before New Year to wish someone a good start to it.
• Frohe Feiertage! / Schöne Feiertage! Happy holidays! (neutral)

Customs: Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte), mulled wine (Glühwein) and Advent calendars. Presents are usually opened on Christmas Eve, Heiligabend.

Dutch

• Vrolijk kerstfeest! / Prettige kerstdagen! Merry Christmas!
• Gelukkig nieuwjaar! Happy New Year!
• Fijne feestdagen! Happy holidays! (neutral and very common)

Customs: In the Netherlands, the big gift-giving evening for children is often Sinterklaas on 5 December, separate from Christmas. At New Year, people eat oliebollen, deep-fried dough balls dusted with icing sugar.

Swedish

• God jul! Merry Christmas!
• Gott nytt år! Happy New Year!
• God jul och gott nytt år! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Customs: Jul is a word older than Christianity in Scandinavia, and God jul is used broadly by religious and non-religious people alike. On 13 December, Lucia processions with candles light up the darkest time of the year. On Christmas Eve, the main day of celebration, millions of Swedes watch the same Disney cartoon special, Kalle Anka (Donald Duck), at 3 p.m.

Quick reference

Make it personal

A greeting means most when it's said, not just typed. Practise the pronunciation a few times before a call or a visit. All nine of these languages are available as courses in Parlumi, so if one greeting turns into curiosity, you know where to continue.

Whatever you celebrate, and however you say it: happy holidays.