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Christmas

Posted by ESC on December 27, 1999

In Reply to: Christmas posted by 254 on December 27, 1999

: Does anyone know what the 'mas' bit of 'Christmas'
: means?

From "The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology: The Origins of American English Words" by Robert K. Barnhart (a Christmas present): "Christmas. n. 1100 'Cristesmessa,' literally, Christ's festival, Christmas Day, found in Old English 'Cristes maesse' (Cristes genitive of 'Crist' Christ and 'maesse' festival, feast day..."

Thanks for asking! I got to use my new book.

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