'Die Völker: Gold Edition - 'Weihnachten''
[PC] [GERMANY] [MAGAZINE] [2000]
"From Middle High German wÄ«henahten (âChristmasâ), from a dative plural ze den wÄ«hen nahten (âin the holy nightsâ). Compare modern weihen (âto hallowâ) and Nacht. The oldest form (1170) is a singular diu wÄ«he naht (âthe Holy Nightâ); the somewhat later plural is used to refer to the Christmas days and nights collectively. A relation with earlier heathen festivals is not endorsed by the etymological standard sources, though the possibility is admitted. The term is a cognate with Low German Wiehnachten." ~Wiktionary
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Source: PC Action, February 2000 || KultMags














