Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Arabic? ArabicPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Arabic Christmas phrases!
Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Arabic speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, ArabicPod101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Arabic!
Table of Contents
- How to Celebrate Christmas in Egypt
- Holiday Greetings and Wishes
- Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
- Twelve Days of Christmas
- Top 10 Christmas Characters
- How ArabicPod101 Can Help You
1. How to Celebrate Christmas in Egypt
Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. It is on December 25 in the western countries, while Coptic Orthodox in Egypt celebrate it on January 7 and it is a public holiday. Let us learn together more information about this day and how the Copts in Egypt celebrate it…
Why do you think the colors red and green predominate on Christmas?
We’ll show you the answer at the end.
Christmas is the second most important Christian holiday after the Easter that we are going to talk about in another episode. During the era of the Mamluks, Christmas was one of the biggest festivals. Churches used to be decorated and sultans used to give out candy, dumplings, mullet, and gifts to princes. There also used to be celebrations and fireworks. People in Egypt, regardless of their religion, used to buy colored candles and beautiful lanterns to hang them in shops and markets.
On Christmas, there are always religious celebrations and prayers especially for this occasion. Moreover, there are family gatherings and social celebrations, the most important of which are decorating the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, receiving Santa Claus, and having the Christmas dinner.
Do you know? There are many non-Christians who celebrate this occasion in churches with Christians. Christmas is one of the festivals in which people spend lots of money. There are many songs, melodies, movies and plays for this occasion as well.
Which do you think is the sector of society that waits for Christmas most impatiently?
Merchants are the group who wait the most eagerly for Christmas, as it is a wonderful period for religious and social celebrations for many Egyptian families. It is an occasion that reunites families and friends and so gift exchanging increases. The most exchanged gifts during this period are gold gifts, watches, women’s accessories, leather bags, and perfumes.
One of the most famous areas in Egypt where Christians buy their supplies for the holiday is Darb El-Barabra. Since Christmas comes after forty days of fasting, at 12 at night in Egypt, which is the time for Christmas dinner, banquets are held that are full of the most delicious rich traditional cuisine that has been passed down from generation to generation. These foods include turkey, duck, geese, meat pie, and fatteh that consists of bread, rice, garlic, meat, and sauce. Moreover, because of this, the smell of delicious food spreads around the majority of neighborhoods in Egypt at 12 at night.
And now I’ll give you the answer to the earlier quiz.
Why do you think the colors red and green predominate on Christmas?
Typically, the colours green and red are the traditional colours that relate to and symbolize Christmas. The reason is that the colour green symbolize the “eternal life”, especially for evergreen trees that do not lose their leaves, while the colour red symbolizes Christ himself.
2. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season
1- Merry Christmas!
عيد ميلاد مجيد مبارك!
ʿiīd miyilād maǧīd mubaārak!
Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Arabic? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!
2- Happy Kwanzaa!
عيد كوانزا سعيد!
ʿiīdu kwaānzā saʿīd!
Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!
3- Have a happy New Year!
أتمنى لك سنة جديدة سعيدة!
ʾatamannā laka sanah ǧadīdah saʿīdah!
In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.
4- Happy Hanukkah!
عيد هانوكة سعيد
ʿiīdu hānūkkah saʿīd
Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.
5- Have a great winter vacation!
أتمنى لك عطلة شتاء رائعة!
ʾatamannā laka ʿiṭlaẗa šitāʾin rāʾiʿah!
This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.
6- See you next year!
أراك السنة القادمة!
ʾarāka al-ssanah al-qādimah!
Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.
7- Warm wishes!
أحر التماني!
ʾaḥarru al-tamānī!
An informal, friendly phrase to write in Arabic Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.
8- Happy holidays!
عطل سعيدة!
ʿuṭalun saʿīdah!
If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in Arabic, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead.
9- Enjoy the holidays!
تمتع بالعطلة!
tamattaʿ bilʿuṭlah!
After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in Arabic, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.
10- Best wishes for the New Year!
أطيب التمنيات للعام الجديد!
ʾaṭyabu al-tamanniīāt lilʿām al-ǧadiīd!
This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.
3. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Arabic! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At ArabicPod101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!
1- Christmas
عيد الميلاد
ʿiīdu al-miīlād
This is the Arabic word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in Arabic will include this word!
2- Snow
ثلج
ṯalǧ
In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.
3- Snowflake
ندف الثلج
nadafu al-ṯṯalǧ
Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.
4- Snowman
رجل ثلج
raǧul ṯalǧ
As you guessed – a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.
5- Turkey
الديك الرومي
al-dīk al-rūmī
Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?
6- Wreath
إكليل
ʾikliīl
Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.
7- Reindeer
الرنة
al-rranah
Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?
8- Santa Claus
بابا نويل
bābā nuūīl
Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!
10- Elf
قزم
qazam
An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!
11- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
رولف الرنة ذو الأنف الأحمر
ruūlf al-rranah ḏuū al-ʾanfi al-ʾaḥmar
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!
12- North Pole
القطب الشمالي
al-qiṭbu al-ššamalī
The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!
13- Sled
مزلجة
mizlaǧah
A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.
14- Present
هدية
hadiyyah
Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.
15- Bell
جرس
ǧaras
On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.
16- Chimney
مدخنة
midḫanah
The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!
17- Fireplace
مدفأة
midfaʾah
In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!
18- Christmas Day
عيد الميلاد
ʿiīdu al-miīlād
This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.
19- Decoration
تزيين
taazīīn
Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.
20- Stocking
جورب
ǧaūrab
According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.
21- Holly
شجرة الإيلكس
šaǧaraẗu al-ʾiīliks
Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.
22- Gingerbread house
بيت كعك الزنجبيل
baītu kaʿki al-zzanǧabīl
According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.
23- Candy cane
عكاز الحلوى
ʿukkaāz al-ḥalwaā
According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!
24- Mistletoe
الدبق
al-ddabaq
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!
4. Twelve Days of Christmas
Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Arabic, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!
The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?
5. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture
This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in Arabic! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.
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