christmas n Cp EDD ~ sb 1, sb 3 Co for senses 1, 2; for combs. in sense 4: EDD sb 4 ~ block D, OED sb 4 ~ log obs (1648), DC ~ tree (1882-).
   1 The twelve days of Christmas, 25 Dec to 6 Jan; the Christmas season.
   [(1770] 1792 CARTWRIGHT i, 74 At sun-set the people ushered in Christmas, according to the Newfoundland custom. In the first place, they built up a prodigious large fire in their house; all hands then assembled before the door, and one of them fired a gun, loaded with powder only; afterwards each of them drank a dram of rum; concluding the ceremony with three cheers. These formalities being performed with great solemnity, they retired into their house, got drunk as fast as they could, and spent the whole night in drinking, quarrelling, and fighting.] [1888] 1936 SMITH 45 We moored the schooner in winter quarters and had a few holidays during Christmas enjoying ourselves ... mummering and dancing. 1901 Christmas Bells 11 During the days of Christmas, the 'boys' assembled on the pond or in the meadow for a game of football, or a game of 'cat.' T 172-65 I had to have wood enough sawed off that I wouldn't have to saw no wood in Christmas. I'd have it bulked in the porch. Q 67-51 A saying during summer when fish are scarce: 'Poor Christmas, boys.' 1976 HOLLETT 14 Would not escape, every night of Christmas, twelve nights.
   2 Food and drink served to visitors at Christmas.
   C 67-16 What would a bit of Christmas consist of? It was a glass of syrup, a piece of dark cake, sometimes a piece of light cake, and a piece of cheese. 1969 Christmas Mumming in Nfld 133 After the mummers are identified and have unmasked, a 'lunch' or 'some Christmas' is served. This usually consists of pastries, cakes, cookies, pies, and tea. Drinks are then offered, chiefly to the men. 1972 MURRAY 230 No visitor could leave the house without a 'bit of Christmas'—a sampling of the Christmas cake ... and a drink.
   3 Phr blow the christmas pudding: to celebrate with gun-fire the lifting of the Christmas pudding.
   C 67-16 On Christmas Day I was astonished to hear so many gun shots and ran quickly about to see what was wrong. There they have a fashion of blowin' the Christmas puddin' out of the pot. As the wife or woman of the house is lifting the pudding from the pot, the husband or man of the house is standing outside the back door with the gun. As soon as the pudding rises out, the shot is fired into the air.
   4 Attrib, comb christmas apple: variety of Canadian apple, Red Delicious, imported esp for the Christmas season (P 245-75).
   christmas back-junk: see JUNK.
   christmas block: Yule log.
   [See 1770 quot in sense 1.] 1819 ANSPACH 475 The ancient British custom of the Yule, or Christmas log or block, is universally observed by the inhabitants of Newfoundland. On Christmas-eve, at sun-set, an immense block ... is laid across on the back of the fireplace, to be left there till it is entirely consumed: the ceremony of lighting it is announced by the firing of muskets or seal guns before the door of each dwelling house. This, among them, is the prelude to a season of joy and merriment.
   christmas box: see CHRISTMAS-BOX.
   christmas fish: dried and salted cod-fish eaten on St Stephen's Day, 26 Dec.
   1957 Atlantic Advocate Dec, p. 23 It is said that no family with any pretensions to 'quality,' or with deep-rooted religious convictions, would eat any kind of meat on St Stephen's Day. Fish was required eating, especially salt codfish, and elaborate recipes were in existence for the preparation of the so-called 'Christmas Fish.'
   christmas log: see christmas block.
   [See 1819 quot at christmas block]. C 70-27 Birch wood was always used in open fireplaces during Christmas. Those smooth white logs were called Christmas logs.
   christmas masque: mummers' play.
   [1952] 1969 Christmas Mumming in Nfld 184 [She] reported that 'A Christmas Masque' used to be performed at Herring Neck.
   christmas time: communal gathering with refreshments, dancing, etc; TIME.
   1950 Newfoundlander Jan, p. 15 There's no play today can come up to the old-fashioned mumming play, because at Christmas times everyone is into it. 1969 Christmas Mumming in Nfld 154 Well, your Christmas times... Some people they rig up.
   christmas tree: communal Christmas party.
   1891 Holly Branch 4 The goat sprang through the window, and landed on the shoulders of Mr O'Grady's eldest boy, who was coming home from a Christmas Tree. 1971 CASEY 100 On St Stephen's night (December 26) a concert. . usually was performed by the school children. The following night a community social gathering with supper and dancing known as 'the Christmas tree' was held in the parish hall.

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