**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?( ^9 @0 i. a7 U( Y( K9 `1 [5 z9 F
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Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"6 B; w* h; m5 ^' ]
Christ = Jesus Christ$ h3 C. y; [% c: _
"Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".& d8 m1 z+ O9 c+ p
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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"
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1 \. u5 I- e. p9 e5 J ** Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?
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In old times, days started at sunset. So the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first.4 G6 R& t9 X: h# i4 o7 O5 L3 [# t0 ?
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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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% A R) N# }' u6 o( s+ I& x ** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?8 i6 E* j4 w" A0 Q W; R6 Y$ U
5 N q% B3 ?* A7 O" ?" e The day after Christmas day when presents are given to extended family and friends.
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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.9 u' d g. u2 v5 w
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** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?. f( ^5 G3 j% U% N% v
( r# M# F7 T {% q A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus.- j V7 M* Z" y) O) V2 w/ M
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** What are the Christmas songs called?8 T* \3 v) a" N4 K
; z3 u9 o" v) I Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |