Jump To:

• Childermas
  Childermas

  noun

  Holy Innocents' Day.
• childermas
  childermas

  noun

  Holy Innocents Day, Dec 28

Childermas

American  

[chil-der-muhs] / ˈtʃɪl dər məs /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. Holy Innocents' Day.

---

childermas British  

/ ˈtʃɪldəˌmæs /

noun

1. archaic Holy Innocents Day, Dec 28

---

Etymology

Origin of Childermas

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Childermas

All these children shall every Childermas day come to Paules Church, and here the Childe-bishoppes sermon, and after be at high masse so each of them offer one peny to the childe bishoppe.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Salisbury A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the See of Sarum by White, Gleeson

If it be lowering or wet on Childermas or Innocence Day, it threatens scarcity and mortality among the weaker sort of young people; but if the day be very fair, it promiseth plenty.

From Notes and Queries, Number 231, April 1, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

To marry on Childermas Day was specially inauspicious.

From A Righte Merrie Christmasse The Story of Christ-Tide by Behrend, Arthur C.

And not only among the Romans and Jews, but also among Christians, a like custom of observing such days is used, especially Childermas or Innocent's day.

From Miscellanies Upon Various Subjects by Aubrey, John

It was to be christened Holy Innocents' Church on Childermas Day, was it not?

From Cinderella in the South Twenty-Five South African Tales by Cripps, Arthur Shearly