Why We Wish People a Merry, Not Happy Christmas Ever wonder why we wish people a “Merry” Christmas and not a “Happy Christmas”? After all, we wish people a “happy birthday” or say, “Happy Easter” or “Happy Halloween” or “Happy Mother’s Day,” right? But at Christmas, we wish people a Merry Christmas? So why do we do this? Being “happy” is seen as more of an emotional condition, while “merry” is seen as more of a behavior. “Merry” also implies a more active showing of happiness. Kind of like the phrases – “making merry” or “merry making.” Therefore it is something we can wish upon somebody.