How Do You Say "Merry Christmas" in German: Formally, And Informally
- Jens Olesen
- Dec 10, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 13
Formal, Informal, and Neutral German Holiday Greetings Explained
Whether you’re visiting Germany during the festive season, writing Christmas cards to German friends, or simply curious about how Germans celebrate Weihnachten, knowing how to say “Merry Christmas” in German is both useful and culturally meaningful.
Like most things in German, context matters. A greeting to your boss isn’t the same as one to your best friend or your grandmother. In this guide, you’ll learn the formal, informal, and neutral ways to wish someone Merry Christmas in German, along with pronunciation tips, cultural notes, and example phrases to make your festive greetings sound natural and authentic.
🎁 The Basic Phrase: Frohe Weihnachten!
The most common and universal way to say Merry Christmas in German is:
Frohe Weihnachten! (FRÖ-heh VAI-nach-ten)
Literally, this means “Joyful Christmas!” or “Happy Christmas!” It’s the standard greeting you’ll hear everywhere in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—from Christmas markets to office emails and postcards.
Example sentences:
Frohe Weihnachten, liebe Familie! – Merry Christmas, dear family!
Ich wünsche dir frohe Weihnachten und schöne Feiertage. – I wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.
Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute fürs neue Jahr! – Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year!
Cultural note: The word Weihnachten comes from die Weihe (consecration) and die Nacht (night), so it literally refers to the “holy night(s)” around Christmas Eve (Heiligabend). Germans often wish each other Frohe Weihnachten beginning on 24 December and continuing through die Weihnachtsfeiertage (the Christmas holidays).
🕯️ 1. Formal Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” in German
In professional or polite situations—such as writing to clients, colleagues, or acquaintances—you’ll want to sound a little more formal. Germans value courtesy and tend to use complete sentences for business correspondence or cards.
Here are the most common formal Christmas greetings in German:
German Greeting | English Translation | Usage Context |
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesegnetes neues Jahr! | Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! | Traditional and respectful; suitable for clients or older recipients. |
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr! | Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! | Standard business greeting. |
Ich wünsche Ihnen frohe Weihnachten und besinnliche Feiertage. | I wish you a Merry Christmas and reflective holidays. | Elegant and slightly poetic; often used in formal emails or cards. |
Ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest und alles Gute im neuen Jahr. | A blessed Christmas celebration and all the best in the new year. | Often used by churches or religious institutions. |
Example sentences:
Sehr geehrter Herr Müller, ich wünsche Ihnen frohe Weihnachten und ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr.– Dear Mr Müller, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a successful new year.
Frohe Weihnachten und herzlichen Dank für die gute Zusammenarbeit!– Merry Christmas and many thanks for the good cooperation!
Grammar tip:
Formal greetings in German often use Ihnen (the polite form of “you”) and verbs like wünschen (to wish). Always capitalise Ihnen when writing formally.
🎄 2. Neutral and Universal Greetings
Neutral greetings work in almost any situation—friendly yet polite, festive but not overly emotional.
German Greeting | English Meaning |
Frohe Weihnachten! | Merry Christmas! |
Schöne Feiertage! | Happy holidays! |
Ein frohes Fest! | A happy celebration! |
Fröhliche Weihnachten! | Joyful Christmas! (slightly more emotional) |
Frohe Festtage! | Happy festive days! |
These phrases are perfect if you’re unsure how religious or formal someone is. You can safely use Frohe Weihnachten with neighbours, shop staff, teachers, or acquaintances.
Example sentences:
Frohe Festtage und viel Glück im neuen Jahr! – Happy holidays and lots of luck in the new year!
Schöne Feiertage mit Ihrer Familie! – Have lovely holidays with your family!
Language tip: The adjective frohe comes from froh (happy). You’ll sometimes hear fröhliche Weihnachten as a slightly livelier version, but Frohe Weihnachten is the accepted standard everywhere.
🎅 3. Informal or Casual Greetings
Among close friends, relatives, or on social media, Germans often keep their greetings lighthearted or personal.
German Greeting | English Translation |
Schöne Weihnachten! | Have a lovely Christmas! |
Frohes Fest, ihr Lieben! | Happy holidays, my dears! |
Ich wünsche euch entspannte Feiertage! | I wish you relaxing holidays! |
Genießt die Zeit mit eurer Familie! | Enjoy the time with your family! |
Fröhliche Weihnachten, mein Schatz! | Merry Christmas, my darling! |
Example sentences:
Frohes Fest, Mama! Danke für das leckere Essen! – Merry Christmas, Mum! Thanks for the delicious food!
Schöne Weihnachten euch allen und einen guten Rutsch! – Merry Christmas to all of you and a happy New Year!
Grammar note: The difference between dir (you, singular informal) and euch (you, plural informal) is important when writing cards or posts:
Ich wünsche dir schöne Weihnachten. – to one person
Ich wünsche euch schöne Weihnachten. – to several people
🕊️ 4. Religious and Traditional Greetings
For those who prefer a spiritual tone, there are beautiful religious alternatives still commonly used in Germany and Austria.
German Greeting | English Translation |
Gesegnete Weihnachten! | Blessed Christmas! |
Ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest! | A blessed Christmas celebration! |
Frohe Weihnachten im Kreise Ihrer Lieben. | Merry Christmas among your loved ones. |
Gesegnete Feiertage und Frieden auf Erden. | Blessed holidays and peace on earth. |
Cultural note:Religious greetings are typical in Catholic and Protestant regions of southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, especially in handwritten cards or parish newsletters.
📅 5. Combining Christmas and New Year’s Greetings
Many Germans combine their Christmas greeting with wishes for the new year. This is particularly common in cards, emails, and office communication.
German Greeting | English Meaning |
Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! | Merry Christmas and a good slide into the New Year! |
Frohe Weihnachten und ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr! | Merry Christmas and a successful New Year! |
Schöne Feiertage und alles Gute fürs neue Jahr! | Happy holidays and all the best for the new year! |
Cultural note: The phrase guten Rutsch (“good slide”) might sound funny in English, but simply means “a good start” into the new year. It comes from the Yiddish word rosch (beginning, head).
Example:
Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch! Wir sehen uns im Januar!– Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you in January!
Read our post on New Year's wishes in German for additional information.
💌 6. Writing German Christmas Cards
When writing a Christmas card in German, the structure typically follows this order:
Greeting line – e.g. Frohe Weihnachten!
Personal message – one or two sentences expressing good wishes.
Optional religious or poetic phrase – e.g. Möge der Frieden dieser Zeit dein Herz erfüllen. (“May the peace of this season fill your heart.”)
Sign-off – e.g. Liebe Grüße, Herzliche Grüße, Mit besten Wünschen, followed by your name.
Example of a formal card:
Sehr geehrte Frau Schneider, Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesegnetes neues Jahr. Herzlichen Dank für die angenehme Zusammenarbeit in diesem Jahr. Mit freundlichen Grüßen,[Your Name]
Example of an informal card:
Liebe Anna, Ich wünsche dir und deiner Familie frohe Weihnachten, viele schöne Momente und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! Liebe Grüße,[Your Name]
Tip:Never translate directly from English “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family” — Germans would say Frohe Weihnachten und alles Gute für dich und deine Familie!
🎶 7. Common Seasonal Expressions
German Expression | English Equivalent | Usage |
Schöne Feiertage! | Happy holidays! | Neutral and widely used in both formal and casual settings. |
Frohes Fest! | Happy celebration! | Warm and friendly; often used in cards. |
Besinnliche Weihnachten! | Reflective Christmas! | Evokes the quiet, contemplative side of the holiday. |
Frieden und Freude zur Weihnachtszeit! | Peace and joy this Christmas! | Poetic, ideal for cards. |
Weihnachtliche Grüße! | Christmas greetings! | Short, elegant closing line for messages or cards. |
📖 8. Mini Vocabulary: German Christmas Greeting Words
German Word | Meaning |
die Weihnachten / das Weihnachtsfest | Christmas |
der Heiligabend | Christmas Eve |
die Feiertage | holidays |
die Wünsche | wishes |
der Gruß / die Grüße | greeting(s) |
die Familie | family |
die Freude | joy |
die Liebe | love |
das Geschenk | present |
die Hoffnung | hope |
Example sentences:
Ich sende dir herzliche Weihnachtsgrüße aus London. – I’m sending you warm Christmas greetings from London.
Zu Weihnachten geht es um Liebe, Familie und Frieden. – Christmas is about love, family, and peace.
Expand your vocabulary with our guide to German names of 50 common Christmas terms.
🕊️ 9. Cultural Insights: How Germans Use These Greetings
In German-speaking countries, the festive season is defined by specific dates and customs:
Advent (Adventszeit): Begins four Sundays before Christmas. People say Schöne Adventszeit! (“Have a lovely Advent season!”).
Nikolaustag (6 December): Children greet each other with Schönen Nikolaus! or Alles Gute zum Nikolaustag!
Heiligabend (24 December): The main celebration day—when families gather, exchange gifts, and wish Frohe Weihnachten!
Weihnachtsfeiertage (25 & 26 December): Public holidays spent with family; greetings continue.
Silvester (New Year’s Eve): Many combine Frohe Weihnachten with Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Cultural difference: In contrast to English-speaking countries, where “Merry Christmas” can be used weeks in advance, Germans usually reserve Frohe Weihnachten for Christmas Eve onward. Before that, Schöne Adventszeit! is more common. To learn more, read our post on how Christmas is celebrated in German-speaking countries.
❓ 10. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Fröhliche Weihnachten correct?Yes. It’s a perfectly correct, slightly more expressive version of Frohe Weihnachten. Both mean “Merry Christmas.”
Q: What’s the plural of Weihnachten?Weihnachten is always plural in form but treated as singular grammatically: Frohe Weihnachten ist ein schöner Gruß.
Q: Can I use “Merry Christmas” translations interchangeably across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland?Absolutely! Frohe Weihnachten is universal, though Austrians also say Gesegnete Weihnachten or Schöne Feiertage.
Q: What do I say to someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas? Use Schöne Feiertage! or Frohe Festtage! – both are secular and polite.
Q: How do I respond to “Frohe Weihnachten”?Simply reply: Danke, dir auch! (Thanks, you too!) or Ihnen auch! (formal).
🧠 11. Quick Grammar & Pronunciation Tips
The “ch” in Weihnachten sounds like the Scottish “loch” or German Bach.
Capitalise Weihnachten—all nouns in German are capitalised!
Frohe changes to Froher when used as an adjective before masculine nouns:
Froher Advent! (Happy Advent!)
Frohe Weihnachten! (Merry Christmas!)
Pronunciation key:
Frohe Weihnachten = [ˈfʁoːə ˈvaɪ̯naχtn̩]
Practise saying it slowly, emphasising VAI in Weihnachten.
🎓 12. Learn German Through Christmas Culture
Christmas greetings are more than just words—they express warmth, togetherness, and the cultural rhythm of Weihnachten. Learning how to use them in different contexts helps you sound natural and culturally aware when speaking German.
To deepen your language skills and understanding of German culture, join Olesen Tuition, the top-rated German language school in London, offering:
🎯 German classes in London – small groups taught by expert native tutors.
💻 Online German lessons – learn flexibly from anywhere.
🚀 Intensive German courses – ideal for fast progress or exam preparation.
📚 Explore 500+ clear explanations of grammar and vocabulary on our German language blog.
So whether you’re sending business cards, chatting at a Weihnachtsmarkt, or wishing friends Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch!, you’ll be spreading not just holiday cheer—but authentic, beautiful German.
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
