When to use "New Year" vs. "A New Year" vs "The New 2011 Year"?

[vgv8]

I am sure it was discussed but I was overwhelmed in various discussions with these phrases unrelated to my question when I tried to search.

I see that there are greetings:
1)"A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
2)"Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
3)"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"

What is the difference of "Merry Christmas" vs. "A Merry Xmas"?
Why are the articles capitalized (while "and" - not)?

Really, these holidays seem to me like known definitive specific events
Can I say:
"The Merry Christmas and The Happy New Year"?

How would it be more correct to insert 2011 into this phrase related to Year only ?
and if related to both Christmas (of year 2011) and Year 2011?


Update:

What are the differences in meaning of:
-"On the Christmas Eve"
- "On a Christmas Eve"
- "On Christmas Eve"
?

[5jj]

Too many questions for one post. I have answered some.

1)"A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
2)"Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"
3)"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"

You will hear all three. On the rare occasions I utter such words, I use #2

What is the difference of "Merry Christmas" vs. "A Merry Xmas"? Some people prefer the full form, feeling 'Xmas' is lazy and/or inappropriate for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Why are the articles capitalized (while "and" - not)?
In titles, headings and greetings the 'little words', prepositions and determiners, are rarely capitalised.

Really, these holidays seem to me like known definitive specific events
Can I say:
"The Merry Christmas and The Happy New Year"? N0

5

[opa6x57]

I'll look at these:

What are the differences in meaning of:
-"On the Christmas Eve"
- "On a Christmas Eve"
- "On Christmas Eve"
?

Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas.
"The Christmas Eve" would most likely be a part of a longer sentence. "Do you remember the Christmas Eve when the car crashed into the tree in the front yard?" (The speaker is referring to a SPECIFIC Christmas Eve.)

There is little difference in meaning between "A Christmas Eve" and "Christmas Eve" - it would really depend on the context of the phrase.

"It happened last year, on Christmas Eve..."
"On a Christmas Eve, many years ago ... "



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Not a teacher. American/53 years old.