" Many happy returns " is a greeting which is used by some on birthdays , and by others in response to "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year ". Since the 18th century this has been used as a salutation to offer the hope that a happy day being marked would recur many more times. It is now primarily used, by some, on birthdays. Prior to the mid-19th century, it was used at any celebratory or festive event. The phrase is more common in British English , Indian English , Hiberno English and to some degree in Canadian English than in American English .
2-527: Many happy returns is a greeting, often for birthdays. Many Happy Returns may also refer to: Many happy returns Current usage is often as a more formal option than "Happy Birthday". It is also often found on greetings cards. Its earliest attributable use was by Lady Newdigate in a letter written in 1789 (and published in Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels in 1898) Many happy returns of þ day to us my D Love The letter
4-559: Was written in London on 31 May 1789 by Hester Margaretta, Lady Newdigate, to her husband, Sir Roger Newdigate , 5th Baronet, and refers to a wish for their wedding day. A much earlier reference is found in Joseph Addison 's newspaper The Freeholder : The usual Salutation to a Man upon his Birth-day among the ancient Romans was Multos & foelices ; in which they wished him many happy Returns of it. An alternative explanation
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