A student asked over the holidays, “Mr. Thomas, How do I say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Latin?”

Here is my reply:

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As for Merry Christmas, I would go with: felicem natalem Christi!

It’s often helpful to look at the same message in other Romance languages.  And, just for fun… Esperanto.

Spanish: Feliz Navidad!

French: joyeux Noël!

Italian: buon Natale!

Romanian: Craciun Fericit!

Portuguese: feliz Natal!

Esperanto: feliĉan Kristnaskon!

Happy New Year – Felix annus novus. 

Spanish: Feliz año nuevo!

French: bonne année!

Italian: felice anno nuovo!

Romanian: an Nou Fericit!

Portuguese: feliz Ano Novo!

Esperanto: feliĉan Novjaron!