Words for Christmas
Friday 12 December 2014
The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. In Dutch it is Kerstmis, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceding sacred vigil. The term Yule is of disputed origin. The name in Anglo-Saxon was geol, feast: geola, the name of a month. Maybe the most important words and phrases to remember are these:
Immanuel
God is with us