聖誕節和新年快到了，除了罰抄「Merry Christmas and Happy New Year」之外，來到寫聖誕卡的季節，我們還有什麼祝福語可用呢？
"May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace. The gladness of Christmas give you hope. The warmth of Christmas grant you love."
"The year end brings no greater pleasure then the opportunity to express to you season's greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and new year be filled with joy. (By Charles Dickens)"
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. (By US President Calvin Coolidge)"
"For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. (By John Greenleaf Whittier)"，這句有施比受更為有福的意思。
"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. (By Charles M. Schulz; 花生漫畫的創作者)"
"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. (By Janice Maeditere)"，不要讓禮節性的習慣，忘記了這個為了救贖而來的日子，打開心窗，關心別人。
以上均是向天主教和基督教的朋友的祝福語，若是你想祝福信奉其他宗教的朋友，我們有另一套說法。
向猶太教，我們可以說"Season's Greetings."或"Happy Hanukkah. "前者是「萬能」的，可安全地適用於任何人士，可算是商業社會的首選句。
比較令筆者上心的一句，乃是昔日一個華爾街報告節目，在近年終的節目告別語："Wish you another profitable year and make it a productive one."
每逢聖誕，筆者老愛聽約翰連儂的《Merry Christmas War is Over》。歌詞全文可在網上找到，在這只作個撮要。
"So this is Christmas. And what have you done. Another year over. And a new one just begun."
"The near and the dear one. The old and the young. Let's hope it's a good on. Without any fear."
"And so this is Christmas. For weak and for strong. For rich and the poor ones. The world is so wrong."
我們真的要反省，這個世界十分錯，不單是他、她或他們的錯，每個人都有責任。
"And so happy Christmas. For black and for white. For yellow and red one. Let's stop all the fight."
不分膚色的人，我們不要互相傷害。
"A very Merry Christmas. And a happy new year. Let's hope it's a good one.
Without any fear. War is over, if you want it. War is over now."
只要我們真心想要，就可停戰。
最後，借用一位智者的雋語，"A good conscience is a continual Christmas. (By Benjamin Franklin; 美國建國之父其中之一)"■林健根 會計師
隔星期五見報