With Christmas and its joyful celebrations just around the corner, it’s time to learn a few Arabic Christmas greetings and vocabulary to add a touch of festivity.
If you’re going to spend this Christmas in the Middle East and want to learn Arabic Christmas greetings, this article is for you. You’ll even discover some local Christmas traditions in different Arab countries at the end!
Arabic Christmas Greetings
Let’s start with the most commonly used Arabic Christmas greetings you should know:
1. Merry Christmas! – ʿIīd Miyilād Maǧīd Mubaārak
Hey, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Ever wondered how to say it in Arabic? Say عيد ميلاد مجيد مبارك in Arabic, and spread those joyful vibes by celebrating the birth of Christ!
2. Merry Christmas And May You Be Well Every Year! – Eid Milad Majid, Wa Kul ‘Aam Wa Antum Bialf Khair
This expression – عيد ميلاد مجيد وكل عام وأنتم بألف خير – is a warm and traditional greeting that you can say during the Christmas season. It combines the joyous wish for a Merry Christmas with a heartfelt sentiment of well-being for the coming years.
3. With The Joy Of Christmas And The Delight Of Gatherings, I Wish You Happy Days – Bifarah Al-Milad Wabihiqat Al-Liqaa, Atamanna Lakum Ayyaman Sa’idah
The Christmas season has a joyous atmosphere, and it’s a great time for delightful moments with your loved ones. This phrase – بفرح الميلاد وبهجة اللقاء، أتمنى لكم أياماً سعيدة – wishes for happy days, conveying a desire for ongoing joy and positivity in the recipient’s life.
Arabic New Year Wishes
Christmas greetings in Arabic are often followed by a New Year wish. So, here are some New Year wishes in Arabic:
4. Have A Happy New Year! – ʾAtamannā Laka Sanah ǧadīdah Saʿīdah
Have an awesome New Year! In places where Christmas isn’t a big deal, but the New Year is, toss around this friendly wish: أتمنى لك سنة جديدة سعيدة. Festive vibes all around!
5. See You Next Year! – ʾArāka Al-Ssanah Al-Qādimah
Catch you on the flip side! Whether you’re jetting off for the holidays or waving goodbye to a vacation-bound buddy, here’s a cool way to say see you next year: أراك السنة القادمة.
6. Best Wishes For The New Year! – ʾAṭyabu Al-Tamanniīāt Lilʿām Al-ǧadiīd
This phrase (أطيب التمنيات للعام الجديد) is another way to send good vibes for the upcoming year, especially if your peeps follow the Gregorian calendar. Happy New Year on January 1st, y’all!
Arabic Holiday Wishes
As you may know, the Middle East is home to multiple religions, and many non-Christians don’t celebrate Christmas. For those, you can wish them happy holidays in Arabic with these phrases.
7. Have A Great Winter Vacation! – ʾAtamannā Laka ʿIṭlaẗa šitāʾin Rāʾiʿah
Wishing you an epic winter vacation! This phrase (أتمنى لك عطلة شتاء رائعة) is perfect for those not into religious celebrations during Christmas. Just remember, it’s winter only in the Northern Hemisphere during Christmas.
8. Enjoy The Holidays! – Tamattaʿ BilʿUṭlah
You can throw this phrase (تمتع بالعطلة) out there for your holiday-loving pals. Perfect for those who don’t specifically celebrate Christmas but still take a break.
Christmas-Related Vocabulary
Now, here’s a list of Christmas-related Arabic vocabulary you may need to use in the holidays. If you’re looking for even more words and phrases, you can try the Ling app, which is available on the App Store or Play Store.
Christmas Traditions In Arab Countries
In the Middle East, where approximately 10 to 13 million Christians live, Christmas traditions vary across different Arab countries. These customs, rich in diversity, are handed down from one generation to the next.
Jordan
In Jordan, the Christmas cake-making tradition kicks off in early December. Dried fruits are soaked in cognac, brandy, and rum and then baked into a delicious cake. This festive treat takes center stage at Christmas Eve dinners, followed by visits to family and friends on Christmas Day.
Lebanon
Lebanese Christmas festivities involve planting chickpeas, wheat, lentils, beans, or cotton wool two weeks before Christmas. These sprouts are carefully nurtured until Christmas day and then placed under the Christmas tree or around the house to symbolize the birth of Jesus. Instead of turkey and cranberries, Lebanese families enjoy kibbeh, a lamb-rice dish, and burghul with tabbouleh for the traditional Christmas lunch. The celebration also includes the lively dabkeh, a Lebanese dance performed in a circle to native percussion tunes.
Bethlehem
As the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Bethlehem holds a special place for Christmas celebrations. Various Christian denominations, including Catholic, Protestant, Syrian, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian churches, conduct simultaneous masses in different languages within the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. The Palestinian Christmas feast features roast lamb or turkey, nougat and sesame seed sweets, semolina pancakes stuffed with cheese and nuts, and a hot drink made with sweetened rose water.
Syria
In Syria, the Christmas present-giving tradition takes an interesting twist. Children are told that their gifts are brought by the youngest camel that once carried the three wise men to visit Jesus. Instead of milk and cookies, children leave water and hay outside their homes on New Year’s Eve for the camel, who arrives on New Year’s Day with their presents.
Egypt
The Coptic Church in Egypt follows the Orthodox tradition, celebrating Christmas on January 7. During the Advent period, Copts fast from meat, poultry, and dairy for 40 days as they prepare for Christ’s birth. Christmas Day involves visiting relatives, neighbors, and friends, with the customary exchange of kahk, a traditional shortbread, often accompanied by shorba, a soup.
Wrapping Up
After reading this article, why don’t you surprise your Arab friends by saying Arabic Christmas greetings? You can even join their traditions to celebrate Christmas with them. Thanks to language learning apps like the Ling app, it’s super easy to learn useful phrases in a foreign language!
