What’s the difference between Merry and Jolly

So what’s the difference between Merry and Jolly you ask?

Are they not but two adjectives meaning the exact same thing?

In the confusing muddled mush that is the English language where there are such sillinesses as silent gh’s stuck in the middle of words, and words that contain no vowels and are then forced to utilize the ridiculous “but sometimes y” rule, do we really need adjectives that mean exactly the same thing? I wish it were that simple.

While on the surface these two adjectives appear to mean the same thing, under further examination they are quite different.

A simple deconstruction of Christmas carols (where the two adjectives became famous) will shed some light on the answer and thus lead us from the dark times we are in now, thinking these two words are twins of one another. This is actually quite far from the truth.

Let’s look at merry.

If you’re anything like me, the words that come to your mind while thinking of the word merry are happy, jubilant and joyful.

And with jolly, my mind is instantly filled with happy, jubilant and joyful thoughts. So where’s the difference?

Let’s look at the carols.

“We wish you a merry Christ-mas”

Focus on what follows the word merry. Christ-mas. A direct reference to Christianity.

“T’is the season to be jolly, fa la la la la. Deck the halls with boughs of holly”

An eruption of singing, followed by instructions to deck something.

How could we be so blinded to only see the happiness of these two words.

One is conservative, and while happy in nature, designed to create a solemn reference to a religious icon.

The second, steeped with a vibrant energy, complete with song and violence.

Never again will I confuse these two “happy” words.