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A day (December 28) observed by mass or festival in commemoration of the children slain by Herod at Bethlehem; -- called also Holy Innocent's Day.

An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and hospitality. Christmas box. (a) A box in which presents are deposited at Christmas. (b) A present or small gratuity giv…

A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the dedication of a church), at which much ale was used. Wright. Nares.

hemispheries. See Brain. -- Corpus Christi (kr Etym: [L., body of Christ] (R. C. Ch.), a festival in honor of the eucharist, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. -- Corpus Christi cloth. Same as Pyx cloth, under Pyx. -- Corpus delicti (d Etym: [L., the body of the crime] (Law), the substantial and fundamen…

Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian god Dionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.

Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, a Dionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.

An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pasha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of pascha, pasque, pâque, or pask.

eece, or to secret rites in honor of Ceres, there celebrated; as, Eleusinian mysteries or festivals.

A festival commemorative of the founding of a city or the consecration of a church; also, the ceremonies (as at Oxford and Cambridge, England) commemorative of founders or benefactors.

is to be discovered or guessed. A custom was among the ancients of proposing an enigma at festivals. Pope.

A church festival celebrated on the 6th of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the visit of the Magi of the East to Bethlehem, to see and worship the child Jesus; or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi, symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentl…

A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair.

The Roman calendar, which gave the days for festivals, courts, etc., corresponding to a modern almanac.

A festival; a holiday; a solemn, or more commonly, a joyous, anniversary. The seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. Ex. xiii. 6. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. Luke ii. 41.

A week day, esp. a day which is neither a festival nor a fast. Shipley.

Belonging to any week day, esp. to a day that is neither a festival nor a fast.

sting or celebration; an anniversary day of joy, civil or religious. The morning trumpets festival proclaimed. Milton.

A festival; a festive celebration. Sir T. Browne.

A garland or wreath hanging in a depending curve, used in decoration for festivals, etc.; anything arranged in this way.

A festival. Fête champêtre ( Etym: [F.], a festival or entertainment in the open air; a rural festival.