Almost everyone knows the words to the old Christmas carol, "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, let nothing you dismay..." However, you may be surprised to find its meaning has changed a bit over the years.
Today, we thing of merry as meaning "lighthearted" or "cheerful"... sort of a contagious happiness that can't help but be spread among people of good will. In Medieval times, I doubt that Prince John would have found Robin Hood's "Merry Men" particularly amusing. And would you describe a land noted for fog and rain as "Merry England?"
Merry (or sometimes, merrie) comes
from the Anglo-Saxon word, maera, meaning "great" or
"illustrious." In its proper context, the outlaws of
Of course, gentleman originally referred to a land owner, that is to say, someone of noble birth. So then, our carol now becomes less a jolly Yuletide greeting than a plea for charity from the street urchins who traditionally sang it for a few pence.
So then:
“God rest ye
merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our savior
was born on Christmas
day
to save us all from Satan’s power
when we were gone
astray.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy”;
becomes more:
"God
bless you great and noble Sir.
Look kindly on me.
Don't forget that Christmas Day is
Christ our Lord’s
birthday.
He came to save us one and all
from hellish misery.
So please, be generous… (the comfort and joy parts)."
Acknowledgments: 3, 4