Mighty Christmas

[snopes]

Comment: There are several websites that talk about the etymology of
Christmas carol lyrics. For example, many sites talk about the word
"merry" as originally meaning "mighty" in an older version of English. So,
"Merry Christmas" would actually be "Mighty Christmas".

See: http://www.actlikeaman.org/mighty-christmas/

However, I have looked at several etymology sites and don't see this
"original" meaning of the word merry. Is this true?

[RealityChuck]

The OED has no cites of "merry" meaning "mighty." Here is their etymology:

Originally Posted by OED

merry, adj.
Forms: OE merge (Kentish), OE murge (rare), OE myrge, OE myrige, OE (Kentish)–eME ... (Show More)
Etymology: Cognate with the first element of Middle Dutch mergelijc pleasant, agreeable, merchte , merechte mirth n., and also with Old High German murg short, Gothic -maurgjan (in gamaurgjan to shorten) < the Indo-European base of Sanskrit muhur suddenly, Avestan mərəzu- short, Sogdian mwrzk short, ancient Greek βραχύς short (compare brachy- comb. form), and probably also (with suffixation) classical Latin brevis short (compare brevi- comb. form). The development of sense appears to have been ‘short; that shortens or whiles away time; entertaining, pleasant’; for a similar semantic development compare pastime n., short v.1 3, shorten v. 1b, shurt v., and also Middle High German kurzwīle short while, whiling away of time, pastime, pleasure (German (arch.) Kurzweil pastime), Middle High German kurzwīlec entertaining (German kurzweilig ), Old Icelandic skemta to amuse, entertain ( < skammur short; compare skent v.).

[musicgeek]

Even if it were true in some old English variant, the "mighty" meaning wouldn't make sense in the context of the old carols:

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay" - be mighty, and not dismayed?

"And therefore be merry, put sorrow away, remember our Saviour was born on this day" - be mighty, and not sad?

[Horse Chestnut]

I was looking for instances where people were stating this. All I could find were some postings on Christian blogs or Facebook pages saying that "merry" used to mean "mighty". There are no sources listed to prove that the use of the word has changed. Here is one example: http://www.startmarriageright.com/20...hty-christmas/

In this posting from last year, not only do thay say that "merry" used to mean "mighty", but the word "rest" used to mean "make". Again, they offer no sources or evidence for these statements:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/myprin...28429477220922

I did find what might be the original source of this statement. Apparently it came from Christian author Ace Collins: http://www.acecollins.com/books/storiesbehindchr.html , but he doesn't offer any cites to back up his information, either.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Horse Chestnut

I did find what might be the original source of this statement. Apparently it came from Christian author Ace Collins, but he doesn't offer any cites to back up his information, either.

I have that book. He also included the apocryphal "'The Twelve Days of Christmas' began as a coded message used by persecuted Christians" explanation as true.

[snopes]

In Old English the word merry could mean happy but it is also used in place of the word mighty. Examples would be Robin Hood’s merry (mighty) men. The merry men were not some happy go lucky bunch but were men that King Richards fear.

FAIL.

Way back when, a Merryman was a "companion or follower of a knight, outlaw, etc."

[snopes]

The nation of Great Britain was called “Merry Old England” – which was a powerful nation back then.

FAIL AGAIN.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=merry

Merrie England (now frequently satirical or ironic) is 14c. meri ingland, originally in a broader sense of "bountiful, prosperous."

[Floater]

The nation of Great Britain was called “Merry Old England” – which was a powerful nation back then.

Yet one more fail. There is no such thing as the nation of Great Britain.

[GenYus234]

Is this yet more fail?

Examples would be Robin Hood’s merry (mighty) men. The merry men were not some happy go lucky bunch but were men that King Richards fear.

In the legends I know that relate to King Richard, Robin Hood and his merrymen were fighting against Prince John, the usurper of King Richard's rightful rule.

[ganzfeld]

Definitely a fail. Richard wasn't even brought in to the stories until centuries later and didn't play a central role until many centuries later, eventually becoming the king who was away and (even later still!) the one to whom Robin was loyal.

[Lainie]

In Old English the word merry could mean happy but it is also used in place of the word mighty. Examples would be Robin Hood’s merry (mighty) men. The merry men were not some happy go lucky bunch but were men that King Richards fear.

It's certainly "mighty" to be feared not just by one King Richard, but by all King Richards, at all times, everywhere.