Meaning of “Many Happy Returns” Origin of Phrase with examples.

Many Happy Returns

Meaning

Have many more happy days, especially birthdays. Origin

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 on birthdays; prior to the mid-19th century it was used more generally, at any celebratory or festive event.

The first record O can find of it in print is in a letter written by Lady Newdigate in 1789:

“Many happy returns of ye day to us my Dr Love.”

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