**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?
5 f2 r( {* G& Q& [# [* y1 ]
$ E3 V ]$ e9 I4 p7 Q& `; r Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"
) A w' _4 Q1 p/ J( B Christ = Jesus Christ
# H1 u8 q6 ?# L8 j, G8 B "Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".0 v. f1 G6 K( Y, V
- Q# h/ o% e7 w! V0 t c6 k8 i$ T
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"( K `5 b$ v6 T" J
$ l4 C! Z& E1 ?+ m$ q; Y; A/ L4 @% b) ? ** Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?
- P; G! ?' q% z' h O5 l 9 I- t C' t* g7 \
In old times, days started at sunset. So the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first.+ W+ d. S( e$ w2 y. a
8 U' J9 d- R8 K
Then we changed to days starting at midnight. Now the "eve" is eveningof the previous day. So "Christmas Eve" is the day before Christmas. ) ~: q( o/ {7 G+ {4 n
' X1 ~" C( e4 Z0 ]1 C
** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?: C e+ p9 ^9 _* F
* g" S1 _8 {% I8 w$ V
The day after Christmas day when presents are given to extended family and friends.
4 s# s! v2 n F, T2 s
9 C7 X( L: A+ B1 ^# Y2 P! c Possibly dating from the Middle Ages when the householder would givepresents to the servants and tradesmen. It is a public holiday in someCommonwealth countries.5 Y [, `6 j( _9 [) F
0 W( L' y$ i7 t ** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?, Q2 T" d- f- u7 P
3 v, q( R3 o( g, Z1 i- n
A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus.& q) P7 \+ u$ T! E
. A9 f& g R; |# N$ [/ c
** What are the Christmas songs called?
4 b: n% p6 B/ c& z
: a: h5 E) C; r) Z Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |