Etymology
"Christmas" is a compound word originating in the term "
Christ's
Mass". It is derived from the
Middle English Cristemasse, which is from
Old English Crīstesmæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.
[6] Crīst (
genitive Crīstes) is from
Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of
Hebrew Māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "
Messiah"; and
mæsse is from Latin
missa, the celebration of the
Eucharist. The form "Christenmas" was also historically used, but is now considered archaic and dialectal;
[25] it derives from Middle English
Cristenmasse, literally "Christian mass".
[26] "
Xmas" is an abbreviation of
Christmas found particularly in print, based on the initial letter
chi (Χ) in Greek
Khrīstos (Χριστός), "Christ", though numerous
style guides discourage its use;
[27] it has precedent in Middle English
Χρ̄es masse (where "Χρ̄" is an abbreviation for Χριστός).
[26]
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