To everyone on the Forum, I do hope you have a very happy and relaxing Christmas, and a productive and 'healthy' 2022.

Thanks to everyone who have joined in to wish all
the posters on this forum a Merry, Bright, and Happy
Christmas and New Year.

I wonder how many of us use "Merry" or "Happy" in
our wishes for this season - and where did these
terms come from?

I'll have to look them up.

May every one of you of goodwill experience peace and joy as you spend time with family and understand why it is called Christmas.

Should we say - "Happy Birthday Jesus?"
Instead of "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas?"

The word Christ comes from the Greek word "Christos"
which comes from the Hebrew meaning "Messiah."
The Messiah, in Judaism, is the name of the expected
king meant to deliver the Jewish nation, according to
Britannica.

There's more information about Christmas here:

http://whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml

Jesus' name in Hebrew was "Yeshua" which translates to
English as Joshua.

Yeshua, means Saviour - those that surrounded the birth of Jesus believed he would save Israel as a people from Roman occupation. Even his disciple did not fully understand his mission and were questioning him about when he would overcome the occupation forces. From the beginning of his mission the leader of the zealots in the wilderness expected him to join them to overthrow the Romans. However, he knew his mission was greater than Israeli nationalism, from the very commencment as he speaks of the faith of Gentiles that upset his Jewish listeners at Synagogue. Those with political and religious influence tried to take him out, but his life brought new hope to the World.