How to Say Merry Christmas in Cherokee

Americas

Nov 3

Written by Kelsey Cecil

Merry Christmas in Cherokee

ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ

Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv

Say it like this: oo-lee-heh-LEE-sdee dah-nee-sdah-yoh-HEE-huh

Big letters show the part to say louder.

Quick answer

In Cherokee, Merry Christmas is ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ (Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv), said like oo-lee-heh-LEE-sdee dah-nee-sdah-yoh-HEE-huh.
Happy New Year is ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎠᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬ (Ulihelisdi itse adetiyisgv).
People say it in Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma), Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (North Carolina).

What Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv means

'Ulihelisdi' (joy, happiness) + 'Danisdayohihv' (the Cherokee name for Christmas). Together it means joy at Christmas.

Cherokee is written in its own syllabary, where each symbol stands for a whole syllable. It was created by Sequoyah in the 1820s.

Other ways to say it in Cherokee

Happy New Year

ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎠᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬ

Ulihelisdi itse adetiyisgv

Say it like this: oo-lee-heh-LEE-sdee ee-TSEH ah-deh-dee-YEE-sguh

joy for the new year

Where people speak Cherokee

Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma)Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (North Carolina)

Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩ) belongs to the Iroquoian language family.

Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Cherokee today, then follow his trip.

Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →

Christmas traditions where people speak Cherokee

The first Cherokee Christmas: In 1805, Moravian missionaries were invited to James Vann's home in Georgia. The first Christmas tree in the Cherokee Nation was decorated with paper Moravian stars and scripture scrolls.^[3]
Christmas on the Square: In Tahlequah, Oklahoma, families gather for Christmas on the Square. Children can write letters to Santa, decorate ornaments, and ride a kids' train, and the Principal Chief shares a Christmas story.^[3]
Cookie Stroll and holiday market: Cherokee Nation museums take part in the Cookie Stroll, where visitors fill a box with treats from downtown shops. A holiday market also sells pottery, paintings and basketry made by Cherokee artists.^[3]

🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Cherokee

Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.

Say Merry Christmas in more languages

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Questions parents ask

How do you say Merry Christmas in Cherokee?

You can say ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ (Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv). Wiktionary lists it among the Cherokee translations of Merry Christmas. Danisdayohihv is the Cherokee word for Christmas, and ulihelisdi expresses joy, so together they wish someone a joyful Christmas.^[1][2]

How do you pronounce "Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv"?

Say it like this: oo-lee-heh-LEE-sdee dah-nee-sdah-yoh-HEE-huh. The capital letters show the part to stress. The v at the end of Danisdayohihv is a nasal vowel, a little like uh said through the nose. Say each syllable evenly, and listen to a Cherokee speaker for the real rhythm.^[1]

What does "Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv" mean?

It means joy at Christmas. Ulihelisdi refers to joy or rejoicing, and Danisdayohihv is the Cherokee word for Christmas. Cherokee words often pack several ideas into one, so a single long word can carry what English needs a whole phrase to say.^[1][2]

How do you write Merry Christmas in Cherokee?

In the Cherokee syllabary it is ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᏓᏂᏍᏓᏲᎯᎲ. In Latin letters it is Ulihelisdi Danisdayohihv, though you may also see Danistayohihv, because Cherokee sounds do not match English letters exactly. For a printed poster or card, ask a Cherokee speaker to check the spelling first.^[1][2]

How do you say Happy New Year in Cherokee?

Happy New Year is "ᎤᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎠᏕᏘᏱᏍᎬ" (Ulihelisdi itse adetiyisgv), said like oo-lee-heh-LEE-sdee ee-TSEH ah-deh-dee-YEE-sguh. It means joy for the new year, and it uses the same first word as the Christmas wish. Because it rests on one source, have a Cherokee speaker confirm it before you print it.^[1]

Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Cherokee?

The greeting is friendly and fits everyone. With elders, say it slowly and respectfully, and listen to how they say it. A card written in the syllabary is a lovely touch, but have a Cherokee speaker check it first, since one wrong character changes the word.^[1]

When do people say Merry Christmas in Cherokee?

People say it during the Christmas season, in messages and cards, and at community events such as Christmas on the Square in Tahlequah. Because Cherokee Nation holiday events begin early in December, the season feels long. A kind tone matters more than perfect pronunciation.^[3]

Is the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for Cherokee speakers?

December 25 is Christmas Day. Cherokee Nation holiday events, such as Christmas on the Square and the Cookie Stroll in Tahlequah, are held earlier in December, so the season stretches across the month rather than centering on one single day.^[3]

What is a Christmas tradition for Cherokee families?

In Tahlequah, families go to Christmas on the Square, where children write letters to Santa, decorate ornaments and ride a train. The Cherokee National History Museum tells the story of the first Cherokee Christmas in 1805.^[3][4]

How can I teach Cherokee Christmas words to kids?

Teach ulihelisdi first, the word for joy, by tapping a finger on each syllable: u-li-he-lis-di. Then add Danisdayohihv one syllable at a time. Ask a Cherokee speaker or a Cherokee language program for a recording so children can copy the real sound, then use the phrase on a class card.^[1]

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

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