Literal translation
good Christmas!
Meaning
merry Christmas!
Explanation
A seasonal wishing formula built on the adjective bon and the noun Nouvè, denoting the feast of Christmas, and by extension, in some uses, the traditional log-shaped cake or meal of that feast. The construction exactly mirrors the French pattern bon Noël, adjective plus the feast's name, making it a wish directly transposable between the two languages, without any figurative detour. It is said in every register around or on the day of the feast, within families as in more formal exchanges, greeting cards, or public announcements. The word Nouvè carries in Provence a particular cultural weight, tied to the traditions of the crib, the santons figurines, and the great supper, so that even this brief wish immediately evokes a whole set of regional customs specific to the Provençal celebration of Christmas.