It's obvious there's the Christ but where did the mas come from?
2007-12-02 18:33:11 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
The word Christmas is a short cut for the "mass" for "Christ."
Literally from the Middle English "Cristes Maesse," or "Christ's festival." [Yes, the modern word "mass" originally meant "festival."]
2007-12-02 18:38:41 · answer #1 · answered by Ash 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christ's Mass. Or Christmas meaning the feast of Christ. Mas representing the feast day of Christ or the saints.
2007-12-03 02:48:36 · answer #2 · answered by knight1192a 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "Christmas" is a contraction of two words "Christ's mass" and is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038. In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ (ΧÏιÏÏÏÏ). Since the mid-16th century Χ, or the similar Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ. Thus, Xmas is an abbreviation for Christmas.
2007-12-03 02:40:42 · answer #3 · answered by Binu Thomas 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Mass" is what many Christians call their church service. Christmas is simply the Mass of Christ, the church service and day to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Christ + Mass = Christmas
2007-12-03 03:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Erica 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a misspelling of Christ-mess through the centuries. It originated from the mess it caused the church when they had Christ B-day,and all the saints got stinking drunk on wine.
2007-12-03 03:41:44 · answer #5 · answered by Cotton Candy Lady 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Catholics call church 'mass' and christmas use to be spelled christmass with 2 ss'!
hope i helped!
2007-12-03 02:43:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋