“Beannachtai na Nollag” in Ireland is a wish of “Christmas Blessings” to you and yours. I just received the greeting yesterday in a Christmas card from Sister Joanne at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.

“Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad” in Spanish is “Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness.” This is the verse from the famous 1970 Christmas song by Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano. Feliz Navidad is literally Happy Christmas and the song is a treasure of Christmas for all.

Merry Christmas is:

“veselé Vánoce” in Czech, and I am heading down to see all the farmers and their families this weekend at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall in Abbott, Texas.

“joyeux Noël” in French, and the bells will be ringing at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, an amazing church, and the University of Notre Dame north of South Bend, Indiana, a winning football team.

“fröhliche Weihnachten” in German, and in Ivanhoe, Minnesota where my German great-grandmother Magdalene arrived from Germany not that long ago.

“mele Kalikimaka” in Hawaiian, where a resurgence of the native language has named the towns and road signs in the original tongue and where the songs of Christmas will echo under the tent of St. Michael the Archangel on the bay in Kona, Big Island.

“wesołych świąt bożego Narodzenia” in Polish, as my great-grandmother Rose wished great-grandfather John, remembering the train ride from Kansas to their new home, with the family dog following faithfully far behind – that dog somehow made it to the new farm weeks later without a compass or road map.

However we say it and wherever we are at, Merry Christmas means the way home for family and friends. It may sound differently but the greeting is the same in every country on our dear planet.

Merry Christmas, Earth. You’re doing a good job. Thanks for the ride.

And, while we’re here, share a Christmas blessing and happy greeting with someone today and all season long,

Grandpa Jim