**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?
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Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"- o C: K$ Q' x1 F, H% Z4 Q
Christ = Jesus Christ5 M7 t) a" G' ]- @# w) x0 q
"Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".
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: q; u) P; }# I) t2 o 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"
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& L3 Q$ Q5 P' n4 _# C ** Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?" Z' N1 ~ L" k7 u' I
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In old times, days started at sunset. So the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first.7 r" I4 g, p) l+ v! O
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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.
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9 A3 J& U" J0 g ** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?
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% r9 N4 F7 E$ G$ r2 o; Z5 z The day after Christmas day when presents are given to extended family and friends. * S8 w# l6 w; Z! _9 K
# x; l$ d- k# v# D Possibly dating from the Middle Ages when the householder would givepresents to the servants and tradesmen. It is a public holiday in someCommonwealth countries.; N5 ~2 s2 X- @( R- x! i7 Q
5 `; R1 M, J7 P. _/ O ** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?
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A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus.1 b, g0 H& B- G) b
6 ]7 @/ S$ U/ P A. Z; `8 @ ** What are the Christmas songs called?7 e7 f0 F1 K6 I5 m z) o
# i/ @, k; z$ T9 } Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |