**Where does the word "Christmas" come from?
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- {- P6 D+ D) H. _( [& U. X" _ Christmas = Christ - Mass = "The Mass of Christ"
) b$ z8 y9 x1 E- s# g; {6 z* w Christ = Jesus Christ
5 j2 W7 U6 B3 \6 r9 j9 @, y "Mass" = Roman Catholic religious Church service of "mass".
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5 v. |4 X5 J9 [: j& D3 w8 C' v 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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2 X0 l3 I; O( X# m5 G. w ** Why is December 24th called "Christmas Eve"?3 c+ e! e& W0 o
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In old times, days started at sunset. So the evening of the day, the "eve" happened first.1 x3 B, ^. a3 d ~& H- g! }
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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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** What does the phrase "Boxing Day" mean?
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( k Z; `% {* K; F8 i7 a 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. f- Z9 ~( M& t2 J
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** Why does the word "Bethlehem" refer to?. S' v( I" w" E( u
& @9 k7 n8 d! L. ] A small town in Judea near Jerusalem, where King David was born and the birthplace of Jesus.
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8 V" R& j) z! l& s ** What are the Christmas songs called?! o: G' h% ?$ c, G! |( l
- b' D. G- w8 k- W4 y Christmas Carols - Carols, song used in celebrations and dances, written for and sung at Christmas. |