GOOD WILL TO MEN - CHRISTMAS GREETINGS IN SIX LANGUAGES

At Christmas, when old friends are meeting,

We give that long-loved joyous greeting -

'Merry Christmas!'

While hanging sheavs for winter birds

Friends in Norway call the words,

'God Jul'

With wooden shoes ranged on the hearth,

Dutch celebrators cry their mirth,

'Vrolyk Kerstfeest!'

In France, that land of courtesy,

Our welcome to our guests would be,

'Joyeux Noel!'

Enshrining Christmas in her art,

Italy cries from a full heart,

'Buon Natale!'

When in the land of Christmas trees,

Old Germany, use words like these -

'Frohliche Weihnachten!'

Though each land names a different name,

Good will rings through each wish the same -

'Merry Christmas!'

(Dorothy Brown Thompson - from Oxford book of Christmas Poems)