where did merry christmas originate from

The phrase "Merry Christmas" has its roots in the Middle Ages and was first used by the English poet William Langland in his poem "Piers Plowman" in the 14th century. The phrase became more widely used during the Victorian era in the 19th century, when Christmas was celebrated more openly and became a more important holiday. The phrase was popularized by Charles Dickens's classic novel "A Christmas Carol," which was published in 1843. It is believed that the phrase "Merry Christmas" was first used in print by the Scottish writer John Chatterton in his book "