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The English word Christmas is a shortened form of 'Christ's Mass'. [3] The word is recorded as Crīstesmæsse in 1038 and Cristes-messe in 1131. [4] Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from the Greek Χριστός (Khrīstos, 'Christ'), a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (Māšîaḥ, 'Messiah'), meaning 'anointed'; [5] [6] and mæsse is from the Latin missa, the celebration of the ...
"Xmas" used on a Christmas postcard, 1910. Early use of Xmas includes Bernard Ward's History of St. Edmund's college, Old Hall (originally published c. 1755). [14] An earlier version, X'temmas, dates to 1551. [14] Around 1100 the term was written as Xp̄es mæsse in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. [1] Xmas is found in a letter from George Woodward ...
The 1822 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," commonly called "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," furthered the narrative that Santa was a "right jolly old elf" who rode a sleigh to ...
Merry Christmas and a happy new year" (thus incorporating two greetings) was in an informal letter written by an English admiral in 1699. The same phrase is contained in the title of the English carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," and also appears in the first commercial Christmas card, produced by Henry Cole in England in 1843. [71]
“The Night Before Christmas” originally identified eight reindeer that lead Santa Claus’ sleigh every holiday. And while the poem gendered the reindeer as males, biology tells us that couldn ...
Louisiana was the first to declare Christmas a state holiday in 1837, and only a handful of states followed suit within the next few years. It did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Neapolitan presepio at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London, it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green". [4]
Learn about the true history of Christmas! Find out the story behind your favorite traditions, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and more. ... Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and more. Skip to main ...