Greetings in 10 Languages for Your Global Friends During Christmas

This Christmas season, you can share happiness by mastering how to say "Merry Christmas" in a different language.

Saying "Merry Christmas" in your friend's native language can make them feel closer to home during the holiday season. If you're spending the festive season abroad, learning to say "Merry Christmas" in the local language can help you spread the holiday spirit.

The holiday of Christmas is observed globally but is celebrated differently in each culture, with unique traditions marking the occasion.

How to say "Merry Christmas" in different languages and how the holiday season is celebrated worldwide.

"¡Feliz Navidad!" is the Spanish way to say "Merry Christmas".

This is a widely recognized phrase: Spanish is one of the most spoken languages globally.

The popular song by José Feliciano has made it widely recognized by non-Spanish speakers.

The holiday season in Spain is marked by various traditions, such as Lotería de Navidad.

Since 1812, the lottery has been a popular game of chance. To increase their chances of winning the historic lottery, many people pool their money together to purchase tickets.

Every year on December 22, schoolchildren perform a live broadcast of the winning numbers.

Another widely observed tradition in Spain is the large Christmas Eve feast known as Nochebuena, which is celebrated with family and friends.

In Spain, children receive gifts from Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) instead of Santa Claus.

On the night of January 5th, the Three Wise Men parade and distribute treats to kids.

"Merry Christmas" is how you say "Feliz Natal!" in Portuguese.

In Portugal, the majority of festivities occur on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day.

According to Portugal.com, on Christmas Eve, families gather for a big dinner featuring bacalhau, or salted cod, as the main attraction.

On Christmas Eve, it's common for families and friends to exchange gifts.

Catholics celebrate Christmas Eve by attending a midnight Mass known as Missa do Galo.

This holiday season, you can impress your French friends by saying "Merry Christmas" which translates to "Joyeux Noël!"

In France, children commonly receive Advent calendars as a tradition leading up to Christmas.

Père Noël is eagerly awaited by the children of France on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is typically marked by a large feast called Le Réveillon, where loved ones gather.

In France, Nativity scenes are commonly seen during Midnight Mass.

"Merry Christmas" in Italian is "Buon Natale!".

During the holiday season, numerous Christmas markets are established in Italy for purchasing distinctive presents for cherished ones.

A midnight Mass is one of the many religious services held in Vatican City.

In Italy, the holiday spirit continues into the New Year, officially ending on January 6th, which is celebrated as Epiphany.

According to Italian tradition, on the eve of Epiphany, children often receive presents from La Befana, who rides on a broom and delivers gifts.

In Icelandic, "Merry Christmas" is said as "Gleðileg Jól!".

Iceland is almost certain to grant your desire for a white Christmas if you've been dreaming of one.

During the Christmas season, Iceland is not only snowy but also has a bright night sky, with the northern lights often visible.

Christmas in Iceland is spent with family, food and giving gifts.

In Iceland, the holiday lasts for 26 days, as stated on the Guide to Iceland website, from December 11th to January 6th.

According to the source, in Iceland, 13 Santa Clauses, known as Yule Lads, deliver gifts to children over the course of 13 days leading up to Christmas.

Boxing Day is also recognized in Iceland as "the second day of Christmas," as stated on the Reykjavík Excursions website.

Although not as formal as Christmas, the day is typically utilized to reunite with family and friends who were unable to gather on Christmas Day, according to the source.

In both Swedish and Norwegian, "God Jul!" translates to "Merry Christmas."

The winter solstice is marked by Saint Lucia's Day, which is part of Swedish celebrations, on December 13th, as stated on the Visit Sweden website.

According to the source, many cultures celebrate Christmas Eve with a buffet-style feast called Julbord, which is the main event.

In Sweden, children are less mystified about Santa because he personally delivers presents instead of doing so while they sleep, as stated on the Visit Sweden website.

Oslo.com reports that, like Sweden, Norway's Christmas traditions include a Christmas Eve dinner featuring ribbe, pork ribs or pork belly.

Merry Christmas!" in Greek is "Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

Although the decoration of trees has become a widely accepted tradition in many households, Greece is known for its unique holiday traditions, including the decoration of boats, according to the Greek Reporter.

During the holiday season in Greece, numerous kids participate in singing carols.

In Greece, it is customary not to exchange gifts until St. Basil Day on January 1, although families may give gifts on Christmas as well, according to The Simple Greek.

Merry Christmas" in Croatian is "Sretan Božić!

Christmas festivities in Croatia begin several weeks before Dec. 25.

During the beginning of the Advent season in Croatia, people often make wreaths.

In Croatia, December 6th is celebrated as St. Nicholas' Day and December 13th is observed as St. Lucia's Day.

St. Stephen's Day, celebrated on Dec. 26, is an additional day in Croatia for people to spend time with their loved ones after Christmas Eve and Christmas.

In Polish, "Wesołych Świąt!" means "Merry Christmas."

In Poland, Wigilia is a Christmas Eve feast.

Families will typically fast leading up to the feast, according to PolishCulture-NYC.org.

During the feast, families exchange opłatek, a thin wafer, according to the source.

Carp typically takes center stage at the feast.

"Frohe Weihnachten!" means "Merry Christmas" in German.

Even those with no religious affiliation in Germany widely celebrate Christmas.

In 2023, 81% of Germans celebrated the occasion, according to the website deutschland.de.

Both putting up a Christmas tree and giving gifts are traditional in Germany.

Advent wreaths are commonly used in Germany, as stated on the U.S. Army website.

The wreaths feature four candles symbolizing the four Sundays before the holiday.

According to the source, Advent calendars are widely used in Germany to help children count down the days until Christmas Eve.

Saint Nikolaus Day is celebrated in Germany on December 6th.

According to the U.S. Army website, children usually place their boots by the door on the night before Saint Nikolaus fills them with gifts.

During the holiday season in Germany, there are numerous Christmas markets brimming with vendors selling souvenirs and sweets.