**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?
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/ i+ s5 z+ B0 P0 M9 x Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"
2 H0 U; F, `4 V L2 x" Z Christ = Jesus Christ
; h# {, P8 Q% X0 W+ Y3 [ "Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".% \2 C& I2 u- V0 g. H3 Z5 h7 F% [4 c
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The word "mass" probably comes from the last words of the service of"mass", which are "you are dismissed" = "missa est" in Latin. From theLatin word "missa" comes the English word "mass", c, |0 }% j7 X0 v8 o; X$ l
8 R0 {. o1 I+ x6 L0 I. ` ** Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?
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; f3 o/ _+ r+ M2 ] In old times, days started at sunset. So the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first. o+ _+ w6 F* M
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Then we changed to days starting at midnight. Now the "eve" is eveningof the previous day. So "Christmas Eve" is the day before Christmas. 4 j- d4 o: S* O. y. D
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** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?
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# B0 C3 @0 N9 [/ y The day after Christmas day when presents are given to extended family and friends. 2 y3 e- S Z1 ^2 F7 n" t
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Possibly dating from the Middle Ages when the householder would givepresents to the servants and tradesmen. It is a public holiday in someCommonwealth countries.( K, c$ S4 c8 r& D' p {5 E
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** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?# z5 d# B4 [ a; [; ]5 \9 h! O5 F
0 p3 O. R) X: W0 A A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus.
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** What are the Christmas songs called?
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1 z+ W7 [4 D) |6 t2 \ Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |
發表於 2007-12-25 08:21:11
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