Christ's Mass Eve

I’m getting ready (mentally) for tonight’s 7pm Christmas (Christ‘s Mass) Eve service at FAPC.

“Christmas (n.)
late Old English Cristes mæsse, from Christ (but retaining the original vowel sound) + mass (n.2). Written as one word from mid-14c. Father Christmas first attested in a carol attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtree (Devon) from 1435-77. Christmas tree in modern sense first attested 1835 in American English, from German Weihnachtsbaum. Christmas cards first designed 1843, popular by 1860s. Christmastide is from 1620s. Christmas Eve is Middle English Cristenmesse Even.”

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Christmas&allowed_in_frame=0

“Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jol or the Anglo-Saxon geol, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice.”

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/115686/Christmas

As usual, I think too much for my own good. Just go to church, sing the carols and celebrate the coming of the Christ.

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