Childermas

C3H4I1L1D2E1R1M3A1S1
/ˈt͡ʃɪldə(ɹ)ˌmæs/

proper noun

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.

Similar
Holy Innocents' DayInnocents' Day
OriginMiddle English Childermasse day ← Old English Ċildamæsse dæg →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

proper nounChildermas (plural Childermases)

plural Childermases · alternative Childermas-Day

  1. ChristianityA 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

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounA 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.

Similar
Holy Innocents' DayInnocents' Day
Also see
holy innocents' dayinnocents' day

Origin

  1. Old EnglishĊildamæsse dæg
  2. Middle EnglishChildermasse day
  3. EnglishChildermas

From Childermas-Day, from Middle English Childermasse day, from Old English Ċildamæsse dæg, from ċilda (“children's”) + mæsse (“mass, religious service”) + dæġ (“day”), equivalent to childer + -mas.

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch Onnozele Kinderen
  • Onnozele Kinderenday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Esperanto masakro de la Senpekuloj
  • masakro de la Senpekulojday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
French massacre des Innocents
  • massacre des Innocentsday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Hungarian aprószentek
  • aprószentekday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Russian День Невинноубиенных младенцев
  • День Невинноубиенных младенцев (d'en' n'evínnoubijennyχ mlad'éncev)day commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Spanish Día de los Santos Inocentes, Día de los Inocentes
  • Día de los Santos Inocentesday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
  • Día de los Inocentesday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Swedish värnlösa barns dag, menlösa barns dag
  • värnlösa barns dagday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
  • menlösa barns dagday commemorating the Massacre of the Innocents
Cite this entry
APA

Childermas. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Childermas

MLA

“Childermas.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Childermas. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Childermas,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Childermas.

Source: Childermas on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.