An Attempt to Date
Christmas
G.D.O'Bradovich III
December 24, 2014
PART THE FIRST: ADVENT
The Oxford English Dictionary has been consulted for the following citations. Secondary sources are in red. We presume a priori that Christmas is a well established Holy Day and have not included citations after the year 1800.
Part the First: Advent
1. Christian Church Chiefly with capital initial. The ecclesiastical season immediately preceding Christmas. In the Western Church now the period including the four Sundays before Christmas; in the Orthodox Church, a longer period beginning in the middle of November.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 963,
Þe arcebiscop of Cantwarbyrig..him gehalgod to biscop on þe fyrste Sunnondæg of Aduent, þet wæs on iii kalendas Decembris.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1120,
Se cyng Henrig..toforan Aduent hider to lande for.
a1225 (1200) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 3 (MED),
We..ben on þesse þre wuken þe ben cleped aduent, þat is seggen on englis, ure louerd ihesu cristes tocume.
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1813 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 158 (MED),
Þene þridde day of þe Aduent bi-fore cristemasse it was.
a1400 Ancrene Riwle (Pepys) (1976) 199
In þe aduent ne schull ȝe nouȝth..ete twies.
1483 tr. Adam of Eynsham Reuelation xxi. f. 24,
Y fastyd the dayes of aduent.
a1500 Rule Minoresses in W. W. Seton Two 15th Cent. Franciscan Rules (1914) 86 (MED),
Þe sustris..schul resseyue..þe ful holi bodi of owre lorde..eche sonday in lentyn & in þe Auent.
1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 40
Nowell..is that tyme whiche is properlye called the Aduente.
1688 H. Wharton tr. G. Dellon Hist. Inquisition Goa xxiii. 41
The Auto dafe, or Act of Faith was ordinarily performed the first Sunday in Advent.
a1773 A. Butler Moveable Feasts Catholic Church (1839) ii. i. 59
In the Gelasian liturgy..only five Sundays occur in Advent.
2. In Christian Theology: the coming of Christ to the world; the Incarnation. Hence: Christ's expected return to earth on Judgement Day (freq. in second advent: see second adj. and n.2 Special uses 1). Also: the coming to earth of the Holy Spirit, as at Pentecost.
a1425 Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 5 (MED),
Joon Baptiste tolde of Cristis advent.
a1500 (1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) 97 (MED),
Men þat were afore þe advent of Criste.
1582 Bible (Rheims) 1 Thess. iv. 15
We which liue, which are remaining in the aduent [other versions coming] of our Lord.
1664 Bp. J. Taylor Χρισις Τελειωτικη §3. 72
The perfective Unction of Chrism gives to him the advent of the Holy Spirit.
1736 Gentleman's Mag. June 347/2
But all,..who hope And love his second advent, will receive The same reward.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 866
Who, could they see The dawn of thy last advent, long desir'd, Would creep into the bowels of the hills.
1. Christian Church Chiefly with capital initial. The ecclesiastical season immediately preceding Christmas. In the Western Church now the period including the four Sundays before Christmas; in the Orthodox Church, a longer period beginning in the middle of November.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough interpolation) anno 963,
Þe arcebiscop of Cantwarbyrig..him gehalgod to biscop on þe fyrste Sunnondæg of Aduent, þet wæs on iii kalendas Decembris.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1120,
Se cyng Henrig..toforan Aduent hider to lande for.
a1225 (1200) MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 3 (MED),
We..ben on þesse þre wuken þe ben cleped aduent, þat is seggen on englis, ure louerd ihesu cristes tocume.
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) l. 1813 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 158 (MED),
Þene þridde day of þe Aduent bi-fore cristemasse it was.
a1400 Ancrene Riwle (Pepys) (1976) 199
In þe aduent ne schull ȝe nouȝth..ete twies.
1483 tr. Adam of Eynsham Reuelation xxi. f. 24,
Y fastyd the dayes of aduent.
a1500 Rule Minoresses in W. W. Seton Two 15th Cent. Franciscan Rules (1914) 86 (MED),
Þe sustris..schul resseyue..þe ful holi bodi of owre lorde..eche sonday in lentyn & in þe Auent.
1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 40
Nowell..is that tyme whiche is properlye called the Aduente.
1688 H. Wharton tr. G. Dellon Hist. Inquisition Goa xxiii. 41
The Auto dafe, or Act of Faith was ordinarily performed the first Sunday in Advent.
a1773 A. Butler Moveable Feasts Catholic Church (1839) ii. i. 59
In the Gelasian liturgy..only five Sundays occur in Advent.
2. In Christian Theology: the coming of Christ to the world; the Incarnation. Hence: Christ's expected return to earth on Judgement Day (freq. in second advent: see second adj. and n.2 Special uses 1). Also: the coming to earth of the Holy Spirit, as at Pentecost.
a1425 Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 5 (MED),
Joon Baptiste tolde of Cristis advent.
a1500 (1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) 97 (MED),
Men þat were afore þe advent of Criste.
1582 Bible (Rheims) 1 Thess. iv. 15
We which liue, which are remaining in the aduent [other versions coming] of our Lord.
1664 Bp. J. Taylor Χρισις Τελειωτικη §3. 72
The perfective Unction of Chrism gives to him the advent of the Holy Spirit.
1736 Gentleman's Mag. June 347/2
But all,..who hope And love his second advent, will receive The same reward.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 866
Who, could they see The dawn of thy last advent, long desir'd, Would creep into the bowels of the hills.
Part the Second: Incarnation
Etymology:
< French incarnation, in 12th cent. Norman French incarnaciun (Phil. de Thaun),
< late Latin incarnātiōn-em (in Hilary, Jerome, Ambrose, etc.), noun. of action
< incarnāre.
1. The action of incarnating or fact of being incarnated or ‘made flesh’; a becoming incarnate; investiture or embodiment in flesh; assumption of, or existence in, a bodily (esp. human) form.
a. spec. of Christ, or of God in Christ. Often absol. the Incarnation. (The earliest and still the prevalent sense. In early use often in reference to the Christian era: the date of the incarnation or birth of Christ.)
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 197
Þe vifþe [age] was fram dauid to þe transmigracion Of babiloyne and þe sixþe to þe incarnacion, Þat was vorte god was ibore.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Isa. Gen. Prol.,
The principal entent of the profetis is to declare the mysterie of Cristis incarnacioun, passioun, resurreccioun, ascensioun, and the comyng to the general doom.
?a1400 Arthur 626
Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, Vyf hundred fourty & two.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxii. 146
Þai trowe wele þe incarnacioun of Criste.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 62,
He was borne after the Incarnacion of oure lord .ij. C. yeres.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. Clxxixv,
The preemynence of his moost gracyous incarnacyon.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. li. 107
Taking..our flesh, and by his incarnation making it his owne flesh.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 13
Angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §12. 251
We are to take notice, that Dionysius called Exiguus, was the Author of this Æra above five hundred Years after Christ, from which time they began to reckon from the Nativity or Incarnation of Christ.
Etymology:
< French incarnation, in 12th cent. Norman French incarnaciun (Phil. de Thaun),
< late Latin incarnātiōn-em (in Hilary, Jerome, Ambrose, etc.), noun. of action
< incarnāre.
1. The action of incarnating or fact of being incarnated or ‘made flesh’; a becoming incarnate; investiture or embodiment in flesh; assumption of, or existence in, a bodily (esp. human) form.
a. spec. of Christ, or of God in Christ. Often absol. the Incarnation. (The earliest and still the prevalent sense. In early use often in reference to the Christian era: the date of the incarnation or birth of Christ.)
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 197
Þe vifþe [age] was fram dauid to þe transmigracion Of babiloyne and þe sixþe to þe incarnacion, Þat was vorte god was ibore.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Isa. Gen. Prol.,
The principal entent of the profetis is to declare the mysterie of Cristis incarnacioun, passioun, resurreccioun, ascensioun, and the comyng to the general doom.
?a1400 Arthur 626
Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, Vyf hundred fourty & two.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxxii. 146
Þai trowe wele þe incarnacioun of Criste.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 62,
He was borne after the Incarnacion of oure lord .ij. C. yeres.
a1530 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfeccyon (1531) iii. f. Clxxixv,
The preemynence of his moost gracyous incarnacyon.
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. li. 107
Taking..our flesh, and by his incarnation making it his owne flesh.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler i. 13
Angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §12. 251
We are to take notice, that Dionysius called Exiguus, was the Author of this Æra above five hundred Years after Christ, from which time they began to reckon from the Nativity or Incarnation of Christ.
Part the Third: Christmas
a. The festival of the nativity of Christ, kept on the 25th of December. Usually extended more or less vaguely to the season immediately preceding and following this day, commonly observed as a time of festivity and rejoicing.
a1123 OE. Chron. anno 1101,
Her on þisum geare to Xp̃es. mæssan heold se cyng Heanrig his hired on Westmynstre.
a1134 OE. Chron. anno 1127,
Ðis gear heald se kyng Heanri his hird æt Cristes mæsse on Windlesoure.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 213
Ine zuyche festes ase at cristesmesse.
c1400 (▸?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 471
Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse.
1489 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) Introd. 114
The King..beganne Crysmas at Westmynster.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 83
At crystmasse and at ester, men ought to go vysit and see his good frende.
1495 Act 2 Hen. VII c. 2 §5
Noon apprentice..[shall] pley..at the Tenys..in no wise out of Cristmas.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 54
He went to Windsore, where he..kept his Christmas
.
1614 W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 305
Christmas commeth but once a yeare.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi v. §2. 161
They also say, that a hot Christmas makes a fat Church-yard
.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 509. ⁋3
The Beadles and Officers have the Impudence at Christmas to ask for their Box.
1748 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 26 Dec.,
Here am I come down to what you call Keep my Christmas.
†b. transf. to any similar festivity or revelry.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iii. 56
Privateers, who resort hither in the aforesaid months [sc. May-Aug], purposely to keep a Christmas as they call it.
C1. General attrib., as Christmas brand, Christmas carol (see carol n. 3b), Christmas dinner, Christmas game, Christmas-hamper, Christmas-keeper, Christmas morning,Christmas night, Christmas party, Christmas time, etc.
a1500 Songs & Carols 15th C. (1847) 22 (Mätz.)
Yt sprong up on cristmes nyȝt.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. ii. sig. F.iij,
I shrew their best Christmasse chekes both togetherward.
1579 Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 26
To..gather nuttes to make me Christmas game.
1591 R. Greene Maidens Dreame xxxiii,
He kept no Christmas-house for once a year.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 462
Lik a Christmas Comedie.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) Prol. 4
Its a Christmas toy indeede.
a1616 Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Intr. ii. 134
A Christmas gambold, or a tumbling tricke.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 501
The best, and most bountiful Christmasse-keepers..that euer I saw in the Christian World.
1636 W. Prynne Unbishoping of Timothy & Titus To Rdr. 8
Playing the part of a Bishop, as a Christmas game-player doth of a King.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. Z,
Kindle the Christmas Brand and then Till Sunne-set, let it burne.
1721 R. Palmer Let. 15 Apr. in M. M. Verney Verney Lett. (1930) II. xxiv. 86
In the Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun holidays, our penny post comes but once a day.
1799 R. Southey Sonn. xv,
Watching the children at their Christmas mirth.
C2. Special combs. See also Christmas-box n., Christmas-tree n.
Christmas book
n. †(a) ‘a book in which people were accustomed to keep an account of the Christmas presents they received’ (Nares); (b) a book published at Christmas, and intended to be in some respect suitable to the season.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) ii. 65 Looke in my Christmas booke who brought me a present.
Christmas candle
n. a large candle formerly burnt at Christmas (see Brand Pop. Antiq.(1870) I. 253).
1653 J. Collinges Responsoria ad Erratica Piscatoris xxvii. sig. Q4v,
Like our Christmas candles.
1703 Country Farmer's Catech. in Brand's Pop. Antiq. Great Brit. (1870) I. 287
My daughter don't look with sickly pale looks, like an unlit Chritmas Candle.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 168
It looks like an Apple-Tree or like a Christmas-Candlestick twisted into several Branches.
Christmas-day
n. the 25th of December.
138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 236
On Cristemasse day.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 470 King Henry..did in the honour of Christes birth on Christmas day refreshe all the pore people with victuall.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1655 (1955) III. 164
There was no more notice taken of Christmas day in Churches.
Christmas-eve
n. the evening before Christmas-day.
138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 311 (title) ,
Þis is þe gospel þat is rad on Cristemasse Evyn.
c1400 (▸?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 734
Þus..Bi contray cayreȝ þis knyȝt tyl kryst-masse euen.
a1613 T. Overbury Characters: Franklin,
The wakefull ketches on Christmas Eve.
Christmas flower
n. (a) the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger; (b) the Winter Aconite,Eranthis hyemalis (Britten & Holland).
1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole lxxxi. 344 The true blacke Hellebor, or Christmas flower.
† Christmas King
n. Obs. = Christmas Lord n.
1537 in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 279
In a letter of 1537 the Curate of St. Margaret's, Lothbury..says, that the people made no more of God than if he had been ‘a Christmas King.’
† Christmas-log
n. Obs. a large clump of wood customarily burnt at Christmas, a yule-logn. at yule n. Compounds 2.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. X3, Bring..The Christmas Log to the firing.
† Christmas Lord
n. Obs. the ‘Lord of Misrule’, formerly elected to lead the revels about Christmas-time.
1566 T. Churchyard Lament. Freyndshypp 1/2
Jestes and boordes, That Christmas Lordes were wonte to speke.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 273
In Merton College..the Fellows annually elected, about St. Edmund's Day, in November, a Christmas Lord, or Lord of Misrule.
Christmas-pie
n. a pie eaten at Christmas, esp. a mince pie n. 1b.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) v. ii. 66
A black Iack of Beere, and a Christmas Pye.
1643 E. Bowles Plaine Eng. 25
As easie to win a Towne..as to make a breach in the wals of a Christmas Pie.
1661 Relig. Hypocritical Presbyterians in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 294
Three Christmass or Minc'd Pies.
1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 11
The Coffin of our Christmas Pies in shape long, is in imitation of the Cratch.
1699 B. E. New Dict.
Canting Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc'd, or Christmas-Pies, so Nick-nam'd by the Puritans, or Precisians.
1725 H. Carey Namby-Pamby 1/2
Jacky Horner Sitting in the Chimney-Corner, Eating of a Christmas-Pie.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery viii. 73
A Yorkshire Christmas-Pye.
1798 Anti-Jacobin 16 Apr. 182/1
Youthful Horner..Cull'd the dark plum from out his Christmas pye.
Christmas-pride
n. the plant Ruellia paniculata of Jamaica.
1756 P. Browne Civil & Nat. Hist. Jamaica ii. ii. 267
Christmas Pride. This plant..generally blows in the months of December and January.
† Christmas Prince
n. Obs. = Christmas Lord n.
1598 E. Guilpin Skialetheia iii. sig. C8v,
A player to a Christmas prince.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 273
The Christmas Prince of St. John's College [Oxford], whom the Juniors have annually..elected.
Christmas-rose
n. a species of Hellebore ( Helleborus niger) with large white flowers, commonly cultivated in gardens, in bloom from December to February.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 104/1
Hellebor, or Christmas Flower..some call..the Christmas or New-Years Rose.
Christmas-tide
n. the season of Christmas, Christmas-time.
1626 W. Roper Life Sir T. More 3 in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 274
[Sir Thomas More]..would..at Christmas tyd sodenly sometymes stepp in among the Players.
Christmas present
n. a gift given at Christmas; also fig.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 23 Feb. (1971) IV. 57,
I was told that my Lady Castlemaine had all the King's Christmas presents made him by the Peeres given to her.
1788 World 20 Dec.,
The Friends of Mr. Tierney at Colchester, have sent him as a Christmas present, a small Barrel of Oysters—that will not open.
Christmas cake
n. chiefly Brit. and Irish English (rare before late 18th cent.) a cake baked specially to be eaten at Christmas; esp. a rich fruitcake, typically flavoured with brandy, whisky, or another spirit, and covered in marzipan and icing.In quot. 1533 = Twelfth-cake n.
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere viii. p. cccccv,
What a ioye he maketh, as he were euyn made a kynge by the fyndynge of a bene in a chrystmas cake.
1771 J. Brown Gen. Hist. Christian Church I. ii. iv. 177
The seventy-ninth [canon of the Quinisext Council] discharges the making or giving of Christmas cakes [Gk. σεμίδαλῖν], in representation of the Virgin's lying in of our Saviour.
1787 S. Hoole Edward i. xxiv. 14
Together had they shared their Christmas cake, Their weekly stipend spent, and conned the self-same book.
a. The festival of the nativity of Christ, kept on the 25th of December. Usually extended more or less vaguely to the season immediately preceding and following this day, commonly observed as a time of festivity and rejoicing.
a1123 OE. Chron. anno 1101,
Her on þisum geare to Xp̃es. mæssan heold se cyng Heanrig his hired on Westmynstre.
a1134 OE. Chron. anno 1127,
Ðis gear heald se kyng Heanri his hird æt Cristes mæsse on Windlesoure.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 213
Ine zuyche festes ase at cristesmesse.
c1400 (▸?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 471
Wel by-commes such craft vpon cristmasse.
1489 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) Introd. 114
The King..beganne Crysmas at Westmynster.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) iii. 83
At crystmasse and at ester, men ought to go vysit and see his good frende.
1495 Act 2 Hen. VII c. 2 §5
Noon apprentice..[shall] pley..at the Tenys..in no wise out of Cristmas.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 54
He went to Windsore, where he..kept his Christmas
.
1614 W. Camden Remaines (rev. ed.) 305
Christmas commeth but once a yeare.
1635 J. Swan Speculum Mundi v. §2. 161
They also say, that a hot Christmas makes a fat Church-yard
.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 509. ⁋3
The Beadles and Officers have the Impudence at Christmas to ask for their Box.
1748 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 26 Dec.,
Here am I come down to what you call Keep my Christmas.
†b. transf. to any similar festivity or revelry.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World iii. 56
Privateers, who resort hither in the aforesaid months [sc. May-Aug], purposely to keep a Christmas as they call it.
C1. General attrib., as Christmas brand, Christmas carol (see carol n. 3b), Christmas dinner, Christmas game, Christmas-hamper, Christmas-keeper, Christmas morning,Christmas night, Christmas party, Christmas time, etc.
a1500 Songs & Carols 15th C. (1847) 22 (Mätz.)
Yt sprong up on cristmes nyȝt.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. ii. sig. F.iij,
I shrew their best Christmasse chekes both togetherward.
1579 Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 26
To..gather nuttes to make me Christmas game.
1591 R. Greene Maidens Dreame xxxiii,
He kept no Christmas-house for once a year.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 462
Lik a Christmas Comedie.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) Prol. 4
Its a Christmas toy indeede.
a1616 Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) Intr. ii. 134
A Christmas gambold, or a tumbling tricke.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 501
The best, and most bountiful Christmasse-keepers..that euer I saw in the Christian World.
1636 W. Prynne Unbishoping of Timothy & Titus To Rdr. 8
Playing the part of a Bishop, as a Christmas game-player doth of a King.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. Z,
Kindle the Christmas Brand and then Till Sunne-set, let it burne.
1721 R. Palmer Let. 15 Apr. in M. M. Verney Verney Lett. (1930) II. xxiv. 86
In the Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun holidays, our penny post comes but once a day.
1799 R. Southey Sonn. xv,
Watching the children at their Christmas mirth.
C2. Special combs. See also Christmas-box n., Christmas-tree n.
Christmas book
n. †(a) ‘a book in which people were accustomed to keep an account of the Christmas presents they received’ (Nares); (b) a book published at Christmas, and intended to be in some respect suitable to the season.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) ii. 65 Looke in my Christmas booke who brought me a present.
Christmas candle
n. a large candle formerly burnt at Christmas (see Brand Pop. Antiq.(1870) I. 253).
1653 J. Collinges Responsoria ad Erratica Piscatoris xxvii. sig. Q4v,
Like our Christmas candles.
1703 Country Farmer's Catech. in Brand's Pop. Antiq. Great Brit. (1870) I. 287
My daughter don't look with sickly pale looks, like an unlit Chritmas Candle.
1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 168
It looks like an Apple-Tree or like a Christmas-Candlestick twisted into several Branches.
Christmas-day
n. the 25th of December.
138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 236
On Cristemasse day.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 470 King Henry..did in the honour of Christes birth on Christmas day refreshe all the pore people with victuall.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1655 (1955) III. 164
There was no more notice taken of Christmas day in Churches.
Christmas-eve
n. the evening before Christmas-day.
138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 311 (title) ,
Þis is þe gospel þat is rad on Cristemasse Evyn.
c1400 (▸?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 734
Þus..Bi contray cayreȝ þis knyȝt tyl kryst-masse euen.
a1613 T. Overbury Characters: Franklin,
The wakefull ketches on Christmas Eve.
Christmas flower
n. (a) the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger; (b) the Winter Aconite,Eranthis hyemalis (Britten & Holland).
1629 J. Parkinson Paradisi in Sole lxxxi. 344 The true blacke Hellebor, or Christmas flower.
† Christmas King
n. Obs. = Christmas Lord n.
1537 in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 279
In a letter of 1537 the Curate of St. Margaret's, Lothbury..says, that the people made no more of God than if he had been ‘a Christmas King.’
† Christmas-log
n. Obs. a large clump of wood customarily burnt at Christmas, a yule-logn. at yule n. Compounds 2.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. X3, Bring..The Christmas Log to the firing.
† Christmas Lord
n. Obs. the ‘Lord of Misrule’, formerly elected to lead the revels about Christmas-time.
1566 T. Churchyard Lament. Freyndshypp 1/2
Jestes and boordes, That Christmas Lordes were wonte to speke.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 273
In Merton College..the Fellows annually elected, about St. Edmund's Day, in November, a Christmas Lord, or Lord of Misrule.
Christmas-pie
n. a pie eaten at Christmas, esp. a mince pie n. 1b.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne from Pernassus (Arb.) v. ii. 66
A black Iack of Beere, and a Christmas Pye.
1643 E. Bowles Plaine Eng. 25
As easie to win a Towne..as to make a breach in the wals of a Christmas Pie.
1661 Relig. Hypocritical Presbyterians in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 294
Three Christmass or Minc'd Pies.
1689 R. Milward Selden's Table-talk 11
The Coffin of our Christmas Pies in shape long, is in imitation of the Cratch.
1699 B. E. New Dict.
Canting Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc'd, or Christmas-Pies, so Nick-nam'd by the Puritans, or Precisians.
1725 H. Carey Namby-Pamby 1/2
Jacky Horner Sitting in the Chimney-Corner, Eating of a Christmas-Pie.
1747 H. Glasse Art of Cookery viii. 73
A Yorkshire Christmas-Pye.
1798 Anti-Jacobin 16 Apr. 182/1
Youthful Horner..Cull'd the dark plum from out his Christmas pye.
Christmas-pride
n. the plant Ruellia paniculata of Jamaica.
1756 P. Browne Civil & Nat. Hist. Jamaica ii. ii. 267
Christmas Pride. This plant..generally blows in the months of December and January.
† Christmas Prince
n. Obs. = Christmas Lord n.
1598 E. Guilpin Skialetheia iii. sig. C8v,
A player to a Christmas prince.
1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 273
The Christmas Prince of St. John's College [Oxford], whom the Juniors have annually..elected.
Christmas-rose
n. a species of Hellebore ( Helleborus niger) with large white flowers, commonly cultivated in gardens, in bloom from December to February.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 104/1
Hellebor, or Christmas Flower..some call..the Christmas or New-Years Rose.
Christmas-tide
n. the season of Christmas, Christmas-time.
1626 W. Roper Life Sir T. More 3 in J. Brand Pop. Antiq. I. 274
[Sir Thomas More]..would..at Christmas tyd sodenly sometymes stepp in among the Players.
Christmas present
n. a gift given at Christmas; also fig.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 23 Feb. (1971) IV. 57,
I was told that my Lady Castlemaine had all the King's Christmas presents made him by the Peeres given to her.
1788 World 20 Dec.,
The Friends of Mr. Tierney at Colchester, have sent him as a Christmas present, a small Barrel of Oysters—that will not open.
Christmas cake
n. chiefly Brit. and Irish English (rare before late 18th cent.) a cake baked specially to be eaten at Christmas; esp. a rich fruitcake, typically flavoured with brandy, whisky, or another spirit, and covered in marzipan and icing.In quot. 1533 = Twelfth-cake n.
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere viii. p. cccccv,
What a ioye he maketh, as he were euyn made a kynge by the fyndynge of a bene in a chrystmas cake.
1771 J. Brown Gen. Hist. Christian Church I. ii. iv. 177
The seventy-ninth [canon of the Quinisext Council] discharges the making or giving of Christmas cakes [Gk. σεμίδαλῖν], in representation of the Virgin's lying in of our Saviour.
1787 S. Hoole Edward i. xxiv. 14
Together had they shared their Christmas cake, Their weekly stipend spent, and conned the self-same book.
Part the Fourth: Nativity
Forms:
lOE natiuiteð, ME natiuitee, ME natiuytee, ME nativitee, ME natyuite, ME–15 natiuite, ME–15 natiuyte, ME–15 nativyte, ME–15 natyuyte, ME–15 natyvyte, ME–15 natyvytie, ME–16 natiuitie, ME–16 nativite, 15 nateuitie, 15 natiuitye, 15 nativetie, 15 natyvete, 15 natyvety, 15–16 natiuity, 15–16 nativitie, 15–16 nativitye, 15– nativity; Sc. pre-17 natevite, pre-17 natiuite, pre-17 natiuitee, pre-17 natiuitie, pre-17 natiuyte, pre-17 nativintie (prob. transmission error), pre-17 nativite, pre-17 nativitee, pre-17 nativitie, pre-17 nativyte, pre-17 natiwite, pre-17 natyvite, pre-17 natyvitie, pre-17 natyvyte, pre-17 natywite, pre-17 natywyte, pre-17 17– nativity.
Etymology:
< Anglo-Norman and Old French nativited, nativite, nativete, Middle French nativite (French nativité ) feast of the birth of Jesus (early 12th cent.), the birth of Jesus (early 12th cent.), birth, birthday (late 12th cent.), horoscope (14th cent.), day on which one celebrates the birth of a saint (late 14th cent.) and its etymon classical Latin nātīvitāt-, nātīvitās birth, origin (late 2nd cent. a.d.), in post-classical Latin also horoscope (3rd cent.), the birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or John the Baptist, and the feasts relating to these (6th cent.; frequently from 11th to 15th centuries in British sources), status of birth (a1109 in a British source), the condition of being born into servitude (from the late 12th cent. in British sources; also in forms naivitas , naevitas , etc.: compare naifty n.), birthplace (c1218 in a British source), birthday (1337 in a British source) < nātīvus native adj. + -tās (see -ty suffix1; compare -ity suffix).
Compare Spanish navidad (first half of the 13th cent.; 1205 as nadvidad ), Italian nativita (a1306), Portuguese natividade (15th cent.).
The Latin word is also attested early in an English context (in sense 1):
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1125,
Siððon he heold his concilie on Lundene fulle þreo dagas on natiuitas sc̃ę Marię on Septemb.
1. Christian Church.
The feast of the birth of Jesus (celebrated on 25 December); Christmas Day. Also (with modifying phrase): the feast of the birth of the Virgin Mary (celebrated on 8 September), or that of the birth of John the Baptist (celebrated on 24 June).
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1105,
On þisum geare to Natiuiteð heold se cyng Heanrig his hired aet Windlesoran.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 301
Þe Natiuite. Seinte Michales dei.
c1330 (▸?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 466
On a day bifor þe natiuite Of seyn Ion... Togider fouȝt þo barouns boþe.
1389 in T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 14
Þe sunday aftir þe natiuite of oure lady.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 13186 (MED),
Wod men at his natiuite [a1400 Fairf. atte saint Iones tide] To kirk be draun wit semble.
1465 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 302
The Munday next affter our Lady day the Natyvyte.
1509 Newbattle Coll. MSS (Edinb. Reg. House) ,
At our lade day in herwist callit the natiuite.
1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 104
The 25. day, being the day of the natiuitie of Christ.
a1600 (▸1472) Rec. Bluemantle Pursuivant (Julius) in C. L. Kingsford Eng. Hist. Lit. 15th Cent. (1913) 381
On our Lady day the natyvete..he had word yat the Duc forward was to yen in Normandy.
1617 in T. Thomson Acts & Proc. Kirk of Scotl. (1845) III. 1141
Anent preaching upon the dayes of the nativity, passion [etc.]..of our lord.
1659 H. L'Estrange Alliance Divine Offices 136
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was now at hand.
1704 R. Nelson Compan. Festivals & Fasts i. xxiv. 253
Advent Sundays..The four Sundays that precede the great Festival of our Saviour's Nativity.
1765 C. Smart Psalms of David 174 (heading) Hymn XIX.
The nativity of St. John the Baptist.
2. a. The birth of Jesus. Also (usually with modifying phrase): the birth of the Virgin Mary or of John the Baptist.
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 72
Þe Natiuite of oure lorde, þe passioun, þe resureccioun, & þe ascensioun.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 11383 (MED),
Þis kinges thre þar wai þai tok A tuelmoth ar þe natiuite.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 43
Þare schewed þe aungell þe natiuitee of sayn Iohn Baptist.
c1485 (▸1456) G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 1
Before the natiuitee of Criste.
a1500 (▸c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) 507
Lord, this natiuite of the maydyn is thi werk.
1526 Pylgrimage of Perfection (de Worde) f. 25v,
To do honour and homage to his grace in his blessed natiuite.
1530 Mirror Our Lady 212
How men oughte to worshyp her natyuyte in erthe.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xiv. 253
At the time of his natiuitie..there was peace amongst all nations.
1656 H. Vaughan Nativity in Thalia Rediviva,
Poor Galile, thou canst not be The place for His nativity.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 290
The pupetry in the Church of the Minerva, representing the nativity.
1719 D. Waterland Vindic. Christ's Divinity 158
The perfect Nativity..of the Word: who had been, as it were, quiescent or un-operating from all Eternity, till [etc.].
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. 421
The basso-relievo representing the nativity of Christ.
b. A work of art representing the birth of Jesus; the scene of the birth of Jesus represented in, or as part of, a work of art.
1646 J. Gregory Notes & Observ. xxii. 108
So the Tradition, and so the Masters describe the Night-peice of this Nativity.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 235,
2 famous Pieces of Bassano, the one a Vulcan, the other a Nativity.
1785 H. Walpole Let. 6 Oct.,
Sir Joshua's washy Virtues make the Nativity a dark spot from the darkness of the Shepherds.
Part the Fifth: The citations for Advent, the Incarnation, Christmas and Nativity in chronological order. Secondary sources are omitted.
lOE anno 963,... of Aduent,... on iii kalendas Decembris.
lOE On þisum geare to Natiuiteð heold se cyng Heanrig his...
lOE anno 1120, Se cyng Henrig..toforan Aduent hider to lande for.
lOE anno 1125, ... þreo dagas on natiuitas sc̃ę Marię on Septemb.
1123a anno 1101, Her on þisum geare to Xp̃es. mæssan heold se cyng Heanrig ...
1134a. anno 1127, Ðis gear heald se kyng Heanri his hird æt Cristes mæsse on Windlesoure.
1297 Þe vifþe [age] ... Of babiloyne and þe sixþe to þe incarnacion,...
1400?a Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, Vyf hundred fourty & two.
1400c Þai trowe wele þe incarnacioun of Criste.
1483 Y fastyd the dayes of aduent.
1495 Noon apprentice..[shall] pley..at the Tenys..in no wise out of Cristmas.
Wycliffe is a secondary source as the standard texts date from the 19th century. There are 11 primary citations before the 1500 and of those six are either from two sources (Anglo-Saxon Chron. and Chron.).
1509 At our lade day in herwist callit the natiuite.
1526, To do honour and homage to his grace in his blessed natiuite.
1530 How men oughte to worshyp her natyuyte in erthe.
1533 ... the fyndynge of a bene in a chrystmas cake.
1537 In a letter of 1537 the Curate of St. Margaret's, Lothbury..... ‘a Christmas King.’
There are five primary citations from the years 1501-1550.
1566 Jestes and boordes, That Christmas Lordes were wonte to speke.
1569 King Henry..did in the honour of Christes birth on Christmas day refreshe ...
1569 He went to Windsore, where he..kept his Christmas.
1579 To..gather nuttes to make me Christmas game.
1582 We which liue, which are remaining in the aduent...
1585 At the time of his natiuitie..there was peace amongst all nations.
1589 The 25. day, being the day of the natiuitie of Christ.
1591 He kept no Christmas-house for once a year.
1597 Taking..our flesh, and by his incarnation making it his owne flesh.
1598 A player to a Christmas prince.
1598 Lik a Christmas Comedie.
There are 11 primary citations from the years 1551-1600.
1602 Looke in my Christmas booke who brought me a present.
1602 Its a Christmas toy indeede.
1602 A black Iack of Beere, and a Christmas Pye.
1613a The wakefull ketches on Christmas Eve.
1614 Christmas commeth but once a yeare.
1626 [Sir Thomas More]..would..at Christmas...
1629 The true blacke Hellebor, or Christmas flower.
1632 The best, and most bountiful Christmasse-keepers...
1635 They also say, that a hot Christmas makes a fat Church-yard.
1636 To Rdr. 8 Playing the part of a Bishop, as a Christmas game-....
1643 As easie to win a Towne..as to make a breach in the wals of a Christmas Pie.
1646 ... describe the Night-peice of this Nativity.
1648 Bring..The Christmas Log to the firing.
1648 Kindle the Christmas Brand and then Till Sunne-set, let it burne.
There are 14 primary citations from the years 1601 to 1650.
1653 Angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour.
1653 Like our Christmas candles.
1656 Poor Galile, thou canst not be The place for His nativity.
1659 The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was now at hand.
1661 Three Christmass or Minc'd Pies.
1664 ... Unction of Chrism gives to him the advent of the Holy Spirit.
1688 The Auto dafe,...first Sunday in Advent.
1688 Hellebor, or Christmas Flower..some call..the Christmas or New-Years Rose.
1689 The Coffin of our Christmas Pies in shape long, is in imitation of the Cratch.
1691 .., a Christmas Lord, or Lord of Misrule.
1691 The Christmas Prince of St. John's College ...
1697 Privateers, ... to keep a Christmas as they call it.
1699 Canting Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc'd, or Christmas-Pies,...
There are 13 primary citations from the years 1651 to 1700.
1704 Advent Sundays... our Saviour's Nativity.
1712 ... Christmas-Candlestick twisted ...
1712 ... at Christmas to ask for their Box.
1715 We are to take notice, that Dionysius called Exiguus, was the Author of this Æra above five hundred Years after Christ, from which time they began to reckon from the Nativity or Incarnation of Christ.
1719 The perfect Nativity..of the Word: ...
1725 Jacky Horner Sitting in the Chimney-Corner, Eating of a Christmas-Pie.
1736 But all,..who hope And love his second advent, will receive The same reward.
1747 A Yorkshire Christmas-Pye.
1748 Dec., Here am I come down to what you call Keep my Christmas.
There 9 primary citations from the years 1701 to 1750.
1756 Christmas Pride. This plant...
1757 The basso-relievo representing the nativity of Christ.
1765 . The nativity of St. John the Baptist.
1771 ... giving of Christmas cakes [Gk. σεμίδαλῖν],...
1785 , Sir Joshua's washy Virtues make the Nativity a dark spot ...
1785 Who, could they see The dawn of thy last advent, long desir'd, ...
1787 Together had they shared their Christmas cake, ...
1788 , The Friends of Mr. Tierney at Colchester, have sent him as a Christmas present, ...
1798 Youthful Horner..Cull'd the dark plum from out his Christmas pye.
1799 Watching the children at their Christmas mirth.
There are ten primary cations from the year 1751 to 1800.
lOE anno 963,... of Aduent,... on iii kalendas Decembris.
lOE On þisum geare to Natiuiteð heold se cyng Heanrig his...
lOE anno 1120, Se cyng Henrig..toforan Aduent hider to lande for.
lOE anno 1125, ... þreo dagas on natiuitas sc̃ę Marię on Septemb.
1123a anno 1101, Her on þisum geare to Xp̃es. mæssan heold se cyng Heanrig ...
1134a. anno 1127, Ðis gear heald se kyng Heanri his hird æt Cristes mæsse on Windlesoure.
1297 Þe vifþe [age] ... Of babiloyne and þe sixþe to þe incarnacion,...
1400?a Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, Vyf hundred fourty & two.
1400c Þai trowe wele þe incarnacioun of Criste.
1483 Y fastyd the dayes of aduent.
1495 Noon apprentice..[shall] pley..at the Tenys..in no wise out of Cristmas.
Wycliffe is a secondary source as the standard texts date from the 19th century. There are 11 primary citations before the 1500 and of those six are either from two sources (Anglo-Saxon Chron. and Chron.).
1509 At our lade day in herwist callit the natiuite.
1526, To do honour and homage to his grace in his blessed natiuite.
1530 How men oughte to worshyp her natyuyte in erthe.
1533 ... the fyndynge of a bene in a chrystmas cake.
1537 In a letter of 1537 the Curate of St. Margaret's, Lothbury..... ‘a Christmas King.’
There are five primary citations from the years 1501-1550.
1566 Jestes and boordes, That Christmas Lordes were wonte to speke.
1569 King Henry..did in the honour of Christes birth on Christmas day refreshe ...
1569 He went to Windsore, where he..kept his Christmas.
1579 To..gather nuttes to make me Christmas game.
1582 We which liue, which are remaining in the aduent...
1585 At the time of his natiuitie..there was peace amongst all nations.
1589 The 25. day, being the day of the natiuitie of Christ.
1591 He kept no Christmas-house for once a year.
1597 Taking..our flesh, and by his incarnation making it his owne flesh.
1598 A player to a Christmas prince.
1598 Lik a Christmas Comedie.
There are 11 primary citations from the years 1551-1600.
1602 Looke in my Christmas booke who brought me a present.
1602 Its a Christmas toy indeede.
1602 A black Iack of Beere, and a Christmas Pye.
1613a The wakefull ketches on Christmas Eve.
1614 Christmas commeth but once a yeare.
1626 [Sir Thomas More]..would..at Christmas...
1629 The true blacke Hellebor, or Christmas flower.
1632 The best, and most bountiful Christmasse-keepers...
1635 They also say, that a hot Christmas makes a fat Church-yard.
1636 To Rdr. 8 Playing the part of a Bishop, as a Christmas game-....
1643 As easie to win a Towne..as to make a breach in the wals of a Christmas Pie.
1646 ... describe the Night-peice of this Nativity.
1648 Bring..The Christmas Log to the firing.
1648 Kindle the Christmas Brand and then Till Sunne-set, let it burne.
There are 14 primary citations from the years 1601 to 1650.
1653 Angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour.
1653 Like our Christmas candles.
1656 Poor Galile, thou canst not be The place for His nativity.
1659 The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was now at hand.
1661 Three Christmass or Minc'd Pies.
1664 ... Unction of Chrism gives to him the advent of the Holy Spirit.
1688 The Auto dafe,...first Sunday in Advent.
1688 Hellebor, or Christmas Flower..some call..the Christmas or New-Years Rose.
1689 The Coffin of our Christmas Pies in shape long, is in imitation of the Cratch.
1691 .., a Christmas Lord, or Lord of Misrule.
1691 The Christmas Prince of St. John's College ...
1697 Privateers, ... to keep a Christmas as they call it.
1699 Canting Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc'd, or Christmas-Pies,...
There are 13 primary citations from the years 1651 to 1700.
1704 Advent Sundays... our Saviour's Nativity.
1712 ... Christmas-Candlestick twisted ...
1712 ... at Christmas to ask for their Box.
1715 We are to take notice, that Dionysius called Exiguus, was the Author of this Æra above five hundred Years after Christ, from which time they began to reckon from the Nativity or Incarnation of Christ.
1719 The perfect Nativity..of the Word: ...
1725 Jacky Horner Sitting in the Chimney-Corner, Eating of a Christmas-Pie.
1736 But all,..who hope And love his second advent, will receive The same reward.
1747 A Yorkshire Christmas-Pye.
1748 Dec., Here am I come down to what you call Keep my Christmas.
There 9 primary citations from the years 1701 to 1750.
1756 Christmas Pride. This plant...
1757 The basso-relievo representing the nativity of Christ.
1765 . The nativity of St. John the Baptist.
1771 ... giving of Christmas cakes [Gk. σεμίδαλῖν],...
1785 , Sir Joshua's washy Virtues make the Nativity a dark spot ...
1785 Who, could they see The dawn of thy last advent, long desir'd, ...
1787 Together had they shared their Christmas cake, ...
1788 , The Friends of Mr. Tierney at Colchester, have sent him as a Christmas present, ...
1798 Youthful Horner..Cull'd the dark plum from out his Christmas pye.
1799 Watching the children at their Christmas mirth.
There are ten primary cations from the year 1751 to 1800.
Conclusion
As it turns out, our assumption that Christmas is an ancient Holy Day is well founded.
Primary Citations
11 5 11 14 13 9 10 |
Years
before 1500 1501-1550 1551-1600 1601-1650 1651-1700 1701-1750 1751-1800 |