**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?
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" f0 q/ \% l B+ X Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"( B1 R0 O8 ^! K7 N: a: {
Christ = Jesus Christ' Q7 ?: s7 w- u1 ]
"Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".; _' e, q3 L7 n. F0 B/ {) }
7 B. ]+ b: P% H( b 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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** 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.
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* a: M0 C0 k, ~2 m$ [' [ 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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** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?
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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.8 X+ t! S6 ~. i: a7 } D d
! {' n+ q; p# V2 F5 w ** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?5 F( G* L$ y9 V. x
* ?$ V0 g$ L5 ? A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus./ L+ P& t6 d7 a& j5 p/ r
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** What are the Christmas songs called?7 m6 w/ ]* T3 R* A' t. S/ X) a$ A
1 N( C8 G% w4 i7 e Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |