Whats the meaning of the word Christmas?

Whats the meaning of the word Christmas?

The word Christmas comes from Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes from Old English Cristes-messe, literally meaning Christ’s Mass. Of course, we are not talking about the physical mass of Christ’s body. The origin of mass, in the Christian sense of the word, is not entirely clear.

What is the Old English for Christmas?

In Old English, Gēola (Yule) referred to the period corresponding to December and January, which was eventually equated with Christian Christmas.

Is Christmastide a word?

Christmastide is the period from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. It can also refer to the period that extends from Christmas Eve to the feast of the Epiphany or Twelfth Day on January 6. This sense of the word is especially used in the U.K.

What is the etymology of Yule?

It comes from Old English geōl, meaning “Christmas day” or “Christmastide” (a word for the period from Christmas Eve to related feast days in early January). This term is related to the Old Norse jōl, the name of the Pagan winter feast lasting 12 days whose name was later applied to Christmas.

What is the root of the word Christmas?

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the word Christmas originates from the phrase “Cristes Maesse”, first recorded in 1038, which means the Mass of Christ or Christ’s Mass.

How do you celebrate Christmastide?

The Twelve Days of Christmas terminate with Epiphany Eve or Twelfth Night (the evening of 5 January). Customs of the Christmas season include carol singing, gift giving, attending Nativity plays, and church services, and eating special food, such as Christmas cake.

Is Christmas Really pagan?

Now, as Christmas applies to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is decidedly not pagan. However, there are some differences of opinion when it comes to the selection of day of celebration. On the Roman calendar, December 25 was the date of the winter solstice (December 21 on the modern calendar).

Why is Christmastide 12 days?

History. In 567, the Council of Tours “proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast.” Christopher Hill, as well as William J.

What is Catholic Christmastide?

Christmastide is the name given to the Christmas season in the liturgical calendar. It begins on Christmas Eve and ends on the Sunday celebrating the Baptism of the Lord. This usually gives us a Christmas season of around 20 days or so.

Why Christmas is a pagan holiday?

Though December 25 is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the date itself and several of the customs we’ve come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice. “Christmas is really about bringing out your inner pagan,” historian Kenneth C.

What does the Bible say about putting up a Christmas tree?

Deuteronomy 16:21 says: Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Although this verse doesn’t speak directly to christmas trees, it does make a point to mention trees near the altar of the lord.

Does the Bible say Jesus was born on December 25?

Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus’s birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem. The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth.