Research topic:Christmas

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Christmas

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Christmas the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on 25 December (one of the quarter days in England, Wales, and Ireland); the name is recorded from Old English, in form Crīstes ‘Christ's’ mæsse ‘Mass’.
Christmas box originally a box, usually of earthenware, in which contributions of money were collected at Christmas by apprentices; the box being broken when full and the money shared. Later, a present or gratuity given at Christmas to tradespeople or those held to have performed a regular service (such as delivering post) for a person without direct payment from them. The practice gave rise to the name Boxing Day for the day on which such presents were generally given.
Christmas card a decorative greetings card sent at Christmas; the custom began in England in the 1860s. The term may be used to refer to a conventionally pretty scene reminiscent of such a card.
Christmas Day the day on which the festival of Christmas is celebrated, 25 December.
Christmas stocking a real or ornamental stocking hung up by children on Christmas Eve for Father Christmas to fill with presents.
Christmas tree an evergreen (especially spruce) or artificial tree set up and decorated with lights, tinsel, and other ornaments as part of Christmas celebrations. The custom was originally German, but spread to England after its introduction into the royal household in the early years of the reign of Queen Victoria.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Christmas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Christmas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 26, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Christmas.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Christmas." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Christmas.html

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