December 2005		Word of the Month - December		Mark Merlino - Home page
Christmas  - The word Christmas is derived from the Old English name "Cristes Maesse" the name for the Christian feast celebrating Christ's birth on December 25th. It is a fusion of the Greek word Christos, a translation of the Hebrew word Meshiah, meaning annointed. And the Latin Messa, used to describe the Eucharistic service. Messa literally means dismissal and is derived from the concluding words in the Latin service, "Ite Missa est." = "Go it (the prayer) is sent."