Childermas

[ chil-der-muh s ]
/ ˈtʃɪl dər məs /

noun Chiefly British.

Holy Innocents' Day.

Origin of Childermas

before 1000; Middle English chyldermasse, equivalent to Old English cildra (genitive plural of cild child) + mæsse Mass

Example sentences from the Web for childermas

  • A central feature of the celebration was a pompous church procession following vespers on Childermas eve.

    St. Nicholas |George H. McKnight

  • See thou fall not hastily into the like offence, else shalt thou smart from Childermas to All-hallowtide.

    Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) |John Roby

  • On Childermas day (the 28th of August) the license of the English visitors had grown to such a height, that it was.

    The Boke of Noblesse |Unknown

  • On the eve of Innocents day (Dec. 28th), the priests gave way to the choir boys, the children, for the celebration of Childermas.

    St. Nicholas |George H. McKnight

British Dictionary definitions for childermas

childermas
/ (ˈtʃɪldəˌmæs) /

noun

archaic Holy Innocents Day, Dec 28

Word Origin for childermas

Old English cylda-mæsse, from cildra, genitive plural of child, + mæsse Mass