Childermas

English

Alternative forms

• Childermas-Day (archaic)

Etymology

From Childermas-Day, from Middle English Childermasse day, from childer (“children”) +‎ masse (“mass, religious service”).

Proper noun

Childermas (plural Childermases)

1. (Christianity) A religious service and holiday commemorating the supposed Massacre of the Innocents in Judea around the time of the birth of Christ, typically observed on 28 December in Western Christianity and 29 December in Eastern Christianity; in Spanish and Latin American contexts, the day is frequently filled with light-hearted pranks similar to April Fools' Day.

Synonyms

• Holy Innocents' Day
• Innocents' Day

Translations

day commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents

• Dutch: Onnozele Kinderen
• Esperanto: masakro de la Senpekuloj
• French: massacre des Innocents (fr) m
• Hungarian: aprószentek (hu)
• Middle English: Childermasse day
• Russian: День Невинноубиенных младенцев (d'en' n'evínnoubijennyχ mlad'éncev) m
• Spanish: Día de los Santos Inocentes m, Día de los Inocentes m
• Swedish: värnlösa barns dag c, menlösa barns dag c

See also

• Massacre of the Innocents