Idag er os en Frelser foedt !
NOTE and DISCLAIMER: I am "language-impaired!" Aside from a few phrases, I neither speak nor read languages other than English. Thus, I am totally dependent upon the good
will and accuracy of others in the compilation of this and similar lists of greetings. If you have a correction,
please send me an e-mail!
In the United States, we generally say: "Christ is Born!" The response is: "Glorify Him!"
Here are some of the ways Orthodox Christian people around the world greet one another on the Nativity of Our Lord (AND for several days following, but NEVER before the Feast itself!):
DANISH:
Idag er os en Frelser foedt !
FLEMISH and DUTCH:
Traditional Western salutation:
Zalig Kerstfeest!
[Holy Feast of Christ]
["Kerst" is the old Dutch form for Christ].
GERMAN:
Usually greet one another:
Frohliche Weihnachten.
(Joyous night of blessings.)
Heute ist uns der Heiland geboren. Lasset uns gehen und anbeten.
["Today a Saviour is born to us. Let us go and
worship Him."]
GREEK:
Christos Gennatai!
Doxasate!
(Christ is Born! Give glory!)
Sung in Church.
Kala Christougenna
Said before Christmas - usually in advent.
Christos etexthi! Alithos etexthi!
(Christ has been born! He has truly been born!)
Similar to the Paschal Greeting, and is the form
also used by the Serbians.
ICELANDIC:
Gledileg jol og farsaelt nyar
pronounced:
Glethileg yol og farsaelt nyaar
[This greeting includes both Yule and New Year greetings.]
JAPANESE:
Omodeto Gozaimas(u)
NORWEGIAN:
Kristus er født, Tilbe ham
Kristus er oss født i dag. Gi ham ære
RUSSIAN:
Kristos rozhdaetsya! Slav'te ego!
or
S Rozhjdestvòm Hristòvyim !
SERBIAN:
"Hristos se Rodi" "Voistinu se Rodi"
"Christ is born! Indeed He is Born!"
UKRANIAN:
Christos razhdayetsya! Slavite yoho!"
In some countries, Orthodox people do not
use a specifically "Orthodox" greeting, but instead use
the more secular "Merry (Happy) Christmas" and "Happy
(Good) New Year" (or it's equivalent).
ARMENIAN:
Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand.
AZERI-AZERBAIJAN:
Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun.
BASQUE:
Zorionstsu Eguberri. Zoriontsu Berri Urte.
BULGARIAN:
Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo. Tchestita Nova Godina.
CATALAN:
Bon Nadal i Felic, any nou
CHINESE-CANTONESE:
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun.
CHINESE-MANDARIN:
Kung Ho Hsin Hsi. Ching Chi Shen Tan.
CZECH:
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok.
DUTCH:
Zalig Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieukjaar.
ESTONIAN:
Roomsaid Joulu Phui ja Uut Aastat.
FINNISH:
Hyvaa joula. Onnellista Uutta Voutta.
FRENCH:
Joyeux Noel et Nouvelle Annee.
GAELIC-IRISH:
Nolag mhaith Dhuit Agus Bliain Nua Fe Mhaise.
GAELIC-SCOT:
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur.
GERMAN:
Frohliche Weihnachten und ein Glueckliches Neues Jahr.
GREEK:
Kala Khristougena kai Eftikhes to Neon Ethos.
HAWAIIAN:
Mele Kalikimake me ka Hauloi Makahiki hou.
HEBREW:
Mo'adim Lesimkha.
HUNGARIAN:
Boldog Karacsonyl es Ujevl Unnepeket.
ICELANDIC:
Gledlig jol og Nyar.
INDONESIAN:
Selamah Tahun Baru.
IROQUOIS:
Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
ITALIAN:
Buon Natalie e felice Capo d'Anno.
JAPANESE:
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto.
KOREAN:
Sung Tan Chuk Ha.
LATVIAN:
Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus un Laimigu Jauno Gadu.
LITHUANIAN:
Linksmu sventu Kaledu ir Laimingu Nauju Metu.
MANX:
Ollick Ghennal Erriu as Blein Feer Die. Seihil as Slaynt Da'n
Slane
Loght Thie.
NORSE-DANISH:
Gledlig jul og godt Nytt Aar.
POLISH:
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia i szczesliwego Nowego Roku.
PORTUGUESE:
Feliz Natal e propero Ano Novo.
RAPA-NUI (Easter Island):
Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua.
ROMANIAN:
Sarbatori Fericite. La Multi Ani.
RUSSIAN:
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva Khristova i s Novim Godom.
UKRANIAN:
Veselykh Svyat i scaslivoho Novoho Roku.
SAMOAN:
La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou.
SERBIAN:
Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina.
SINGHALESE (Ceylon/Sri
Lanka):
Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth
Awrudhak Vewa.
SLOVAK:
Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok.
SLOVENE:
Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto.
SPANISH:
Feliz Navidad y prospero Ano Nuevo.
SWEDISH:
Glad jul och ett gott Nytt ar.
TAGALOG (Filipino):
Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon.
TURKISH:
Yeni Yilnizi Kutar, saadetler dilerim.
WELSH:
Nadolic Llawen. Blwyddn Newdd Dda.
Added 11/99revised 3/2006 Copyright ©
1999-2006 Elizabeth W. Riggs
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