Meaning
A common greeting used to celebrate Christmas.
Cultural Background
Christmas is widely known as a 'Couple's Holiday'. It is the busiest day for luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants as couples celebrate their romance. Many companies give employees a small gift or hold a short 'Merry Christmas' lunch, but it is not as long a break as in Western countries. Idols release 'Season's Greetings' and special Christmas songs. The phrase '메리 크리스마스' is a staple in these festive releases. For the roughly 30% of Koreans who are Christian, the phrase is used alongside '성탄절' (Seong-tan-jeol) to mark the birth of Jesus.
Add a Smile
In Korea, this greeting is almost always delivered with a high-energy, cheerful tone. Don't be shy!
Texting Style
When texting, use lots of emojis like 🎄, 🎅, and ❄️ to fit the Korean digital aesthetic.
Meaning
A common greeting used to celebrate Christmas.
Add a Smile
In Korea, this greeting is almost always delivered with a high-energy, cheerful tone. Don't be shy!
Texting Style
When texting, use lots of emojis like 🎄, 🎅, and ❄️ to fit the Korean digital aesthetic.
Timing is Everything
Don't say it after the 25th. It feels very awkward in the fast-moving Korean culture.
Test Yourself
Complete the polite greeting to your boss.
부장님, 메리 크리스마스 _______!
When wishing someone a happy holiday politely, '보내세요' (please spend/have) is the correct verb.
Which is the most common way to write 'Merry Christmas' in Hangeul?
Choose the correct spelling:
The standard transliteration uses '메' (me) and '크' (keu).
Match the greeting to the person.
1. Close friend, 2. Church Pastor, 3. Customer in a shop
Informal for friends, formal/religious for a pastor, and polite/neutral for a customer.
Complete the dialogue between two coworkers.
가: 벌써 12월 24일이네요! 나: 그러게요. 모두들 ________!
December 24th is Christmas Eve, so '메리 크리스마스' is the appropriate greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Christmas in Korea Essentials
Food
- • Strawberry Cake
- • Fried Chicken
- • Wine
Places
- • Myeongdong
- • Lotte World
- • Department Stores
People
- • Couples
- • Friends
- • Santa Harabeoji
Practice Bank
4 exercises부장님, 메리 크리스마스 _______!
When wishing someone a happy holiday politely, '보내세요' (please spend/have) is the correct verb.
Choose the correct spelling:
The standard transliteration uses '메' (me) and '크' (keu).
1. Close friend, 2. Church Pastor, 3. Customer in a shop
Informal for friends, formal/religious for a pastor, and polite/neutral for a customer.
가: 벌써 12월 24일이네요! 나: 그러게요. 모두들 ________!
December 24th is Christmas Eve, so '메리 크리스마스' is the appropriate greeting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is a secular national holiday and the greeting is used by everyone regardless of religion.
Yes, most Koreans will understand you perfectly, but saying it with Korean phonology (Me-ri Keu-ri-seu-ma-seu) sounds more friendly and integrated.
Add '보내세요' (bonaeseyo) to the end: '메리 크리스마스 보내세요'.
Not really. 'Happy Holidays' is much less common than 'Merry Christmas' in Korea.
No, it's more for couples and friends. Family gatherings are reserved for Seollal and Chuseok.
It means 'Holy Birth Festival' and is the formal name for Christmas.
Yes, but digital messages via KakaoTalk are much more common nowadays.
Yes, as long as you use the polite '보내세요' ending.
Korean phonology doesn't allow 'chr' or 'st' clusters, so it adds the 'eu' vowel to separate the consonants.
Young people sometimes use '메크' (Me-Keu) in texts.
Related Phrases
{성탄절|聖誕節}
specialized formChristmas Day (Literal: Holy Birth Festival)
산타 할아버지
similarSanta Claus (Literal: Grandpa Santa)
새해 복 많이 받으세요
builds onHappy New Year
연말연시
similarYear-end and New Year season
