A Celebration for All Nations
Since the Biblical account of Babel, mankind has been separated by a plethora of language barriers. People from varying backgrounds commonly struggle to convey complex ideas, often discouraging interaction between cultures. While language courses and interpreters allow for some degree of understanding, flawless fluency in a foreign dialect is rarely achieved by even the most astute scholar. In spite of the difficulties imposed by conflicting verbiage, some sentiments transcend all linguistic obstacles; this phenomenon proves especially evident during the holiday season. Thoughts of peace, love, and family are prevalent in practically every nation during the festive moments leading up to Christmas Day, prompting each language to develop a unique phrase to express their feelings of goodwill. From the Spanish “Feliz Navidad” to the Hawaiian “Mele Kalikimaka,” the theme of Christmas has been adopted into countless languages. Very few and far between are individuals who possess the linguistic prowess to translate holiday well-wishes into every existing language; however, if an individual pauses long enough to listen, their heart is bound to hear a resounding “Merry Christmas” from every corner of the globe.
