Merry Christmas In Spanish: 6 Ways To Wish Feliz Navidad In Festive Season

The holiday season arrives every year! If you want to add Spanish flair to your greetings, you’re in the right place.

We’ll explore six ways to say Merry Christmas in Spanish, with examples to help you use these phrases.

Before we start, check out this playlist by Spring Spanish, a project I co-founded, about Christmas celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries:

Now, let’s look at all those fancy Spanish expressions you’ll need during Christmas celebrations!

1. Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas in Spanish)

It works in formal and informal settings, perfect for greeting friends, family, colleagues, or strangers during the holiday season.

It’s used throughout the Spanish-speaking world in person, in cards, or as a general greeting.

Here’s a conversation with it:

María: Hola Juan, ¡Feliz Navidad! ¿Cómo vas a celebrar este año? (Hi Juan, Merry Christmas! How are you celebrating this year?)
Juan: ¡Feliz Navidad a ti también, María! Voy a pasarlo con mi familia. ¿Y tú? (Merry Christmas to you too, María! I’m spending it with my family. And you?)
María: Yo también estaré con mi familia. ¡Que lo pases muy bien! (I’ll be with my family too. Have a great time!)

2. Felices Fiestas (Happy Holidays)

“Felices Fiestas” is the Spanish equivalent of “Happy Holidays.”

It extends wishes beyond Christmas, including New Year’s celebrations. It’s a neutral greeting suitable for diverse settings, from casual conversations to formal business communications.

Use this when you’re unsure about someone’s specific holiday traditions.

A sample dialogue with this specific topic.

Carlos: Hola Elena, ya que no nos veremos hasta el año que viene, ¡Felices Fiestas! (Hi Elena, since we won’t see each other until next year, Happy Holidays!)
Elena: Muchas gracias, Carlos. ¡Felices Fiestas para ti y tu familia también! (Thank you very much, Carlos. Happy Holidays to you and your family too!)

3. ¡Que tengas una feliz Navidad! (May you have a Merry Christmas!)

This phrase adds warmth to the standard “Feliz Navidad.”

Using “que tengas” expresses a hope for the other person. It’s slightly more formal than “Feliz Navidad,” but still appropriate for friends, family, and acquaintances.

Here’s how it might be used to say Merry Christmas in Spanish:

Pedro: Ana, antes de que te vayas de vacaciones, ¡que tengas una feliz Navidad! (Ana, before you go on vacation, may you have a Merry Christmas!)
Ana: ¡Qué amable, Pedro! Que tú también tengas una feliz Navidad. Nos vemos el próximo año. (How kind, Pedro! May you also have a Merry Christmas. See you next year.)

4. ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo! (Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!)

This expression combines Christmas and New Year’s greetings. It’s good for informal and formal situations, popular in cards, emails, or as a parting phrase before the holidays.

An example:

Luisa: Javier, ya que mañana empiezan las vacaciones, ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo! (Javier, since vacation starts tomorrow, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!)
Javier: Gracias, Luisa. ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo para ti también! Que descanses mucho. (Thanks, Luisa. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you too! Get plenty of rest.)

5. ¡Que pases una feliz Navidad! (May you spend a Merry Christmas!)

This phrase highlights the experience of spending Christmas.

It’s a warm way to wish someone an enjoyable Christmas. It’s informal and friendly, ideal for close friends and family members.

A conversation example:

Sofia: Bueno, Roberto, me voy de viaje mañana. ¡Que pases una feliz Navidad! (Well, Roberto, I’m leaving on a trip tomorrow. May you spend a Merry Christmas!)
Roberto: Gracias, Sofia. ¡Que tú también pases una feliz Navidad! Cuídate mucho en tu viaje. (Thanks, Sofia. May you also spend a Merry Christmas! Take care on your trip.)

6. ¡Que disfrutes de una maravillosa Navidad! (May you enjoy a wonderful Christmas!)

This expression hopes the recipient enjoys a wonderful Christmas.

It’s heartfelt and slightly more elaborate than a simple “Feliz Navidad “(Merry Christmas in Spanish). It’s perfect for close relationships where you want to express more care.

Here’s how it might be used:

Isabel: David, ya que no nos veremos hasta después de las fiestas, ¡que disfrutes de una maravillosa Navidad! (David, since we won’t see each other until after the holidays, may you enjoy a wonderful Christmas!)
David: Muchísimas gracias, Isabel. ¡Que tú también disfrutes de una maravillosa Navidad! Espero que la pases genial con tu familia. (Thank you very much, Isabel. May you also enjoy a wonderful Christmas! I hope you have a great time with your family.)

Celebrate Christmas with popular Spanish Christmas vocabulary

Besides the 6 ways to say Merry Christmas in Spanish, you have to be up-to date with the Spanish Christmas vocabulary, too.

So, here’s everything you might need related to one of the best holidays in Spanish speaking countries:

Popular Christmas quotes and Christmas greetings in Spanish

And maybe you’re looking for the best quotes in Spanish related to this amazing and warm holiday. Here are some of the best we can offer, so you can send greetings with them – either on a card, or virtually:

1. “Que en estas fiestas la magia sea tu mejor traje, tu sonrisa el mejor regalo, tus ojos el mejor destino y tu felicidad mi mejor deseo.”
   (“May magic be your best attire, your smile the best gift, your eyes the best destination, and your happiness my best wish during these holidays.”)
2. “Que la Navidad llene nuestros corazones de paz, alegría y mucho amor.”
   (“May Christmas fill our hearts with peace, joy, and lots of love.”)
3. “Que nunca te falte un sueño por el que luchar, un proyecto que realizar, algo que aprender, un lugar donde ir y alguien a quien querer. ¡Feliz Navidad!”
   (“May you never lack a dream to fight for, a project to accomplish, something to learn, a place to go, and someone to love. Merry Christmas!”)
4. “La Navidad no es un momento ni una estación, sino un estado de la mente. Valorar la paz y la generosidad y tener merced es comprender el verdadero significado de Navidad.”
   (“Christmas is not a moment or a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be merciful, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”)
5. “Que la estrella de Belén te ilumine en esta Navidad y que cada día del Nuevo Año la bendición del Señor te guarde a ti y a tus familiares.”
   (“May the star of Bethlehem light up your Christmas and may each day of the New Year the Lord’s blessing keep you and your family safe.”)

Say Merry Christmas in Spanish to everyone with these amazing exercises

You can practice using the correct phrases for Merry Christmas in Spanish with our pre-made flashcard sets!

And if you learn more, you can request access to our Full Practice Worksheet Library:

Learn more about Christmas traditions and Christmas Day with Conversation Based Chunking

Learning Christmas vocabulary in Spanish is easier with the Conversation Based Chunking method.

This approach focuses on learning common phrases as complete units, mirroring natural language acquisition.

For example, you learn “Feliz Navidad” (Merry Christmas in Spanish) as a chunk instead of “feliz” (merry, happy) and “Navidad” (Christmas) separately.

This way, you learn how words are used in real conversations. Try it with the phrases in this article to expand your Spanish holiday vocabulary quickly and confidently.

We can give you a head start: sign up now, and you’ll get an Essential Spanish Chunking list with other valuable resources to learn Spanish.