an archaic or literary name for Christmas (sense 3)
Christmas in British English
(ˈkrɪsməs)
noun
1.
a.
the annual commemoration by Christians of the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec 25
b. Also called: Christmas Day
Dec 25, observed as a day of secular celebrations when gifts and greetings are exchanged
c.
(as modifier)
Christmas celebrations
2. Also called: Christmas Day
(in England, Wales, and Ireland) Dec 25, one of the four quarter days
Compare Lady Day, Midsummer's Day, Michaelmas
3. Also called (archaic or literary): Christmastide
the season of Christmas extending from Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) to Jan 6 (the festival of the Epiphany or Twelfth Night)
Word origin
Old English Crīstes mæsseMass of Christ
Christmastide in American English
(ˈkrɪsməsˌtaid)
noun
1.
the festival season from Christmas to after New Year's Day
2.
the period from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, esp. in Britain
Word origin
[1620–30; christmas + tide1]This word is first recorded in the period 1620–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: clinic, hotbed, midshipman, settlement, veto