The late Queen Elizabeth II recorded 89 Christmas messages––formally known as Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech––during her historic reign, but all of them except one followed a unique rule of etiquette. While every Christmas speech was unique, they almost all ended with the late Queen saying “I wish you all a very happy Christmas.” It turns out there is a historical reason for that iconic festive sign-off.
Steven Moore, colloquially known as "the David Attenborough of teacups” as well as an author, journalist, and TV presenter, shared a little known rule to wishing someone a pleasant Christmas on Instagram. He explains, “historically, in certain sectors of British society, if you described someone as merry, it was a polite way of saying they were a bit drunk.” While this secret meaning did not cross the Atlantic to affect the American tradition, Moore elaborates that “it was felt that wishing someone a ‘merry Christmas’ was inappropriate, because you’re basically saying “get drunk at Christmas.””
