Holy Innocents' Day

American

noun

December 28, a day of religious observance commemorating the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem by Herod's order.

Holy Innocents' Day British

noun

Dec 28, a day commemorating the massacre of male children at Bethlehem by Herod's order (Matthew 2:16); Childermas

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The most important of the three feasts was that of the boys on Holy Innocents’ Day, a theoretically appropriate date.

From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Miles, Clement A.

The collect for Holy Innocents' Day in our Prayer-book formed part of the service.

From Old English Sports, Pastimes and Customs by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)

The devil's passing-bell tolls on Christmas Eve from the church tower at Dewsbury, and a muffled peal bewails the slaughter of the children on Holy Innocents' Day.

From Vanishing England by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)

The youthful bishop was elected by the choir-boys, and exercised his functions until Holy Innocents' Day.

From Old English Sports, Pastimes and Customs by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)

And when I said: "What do you mean, it seems to me you must have gone dotty this morning," she laughed like anything and said: "Don't you see, December 27th, Holy Innocents' Day!"

From A Young Girl's Diary by Paul, Eden

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023