Learn-A-Word Wednesday: yuletide

yule-tide

n. the Christmas season
n. period extending from December 24 to January 6

Origin: 1425-75, late Middle English

Okay, so all of that was already obvious. But what the heck is a yule? And what does it have to do with tides?

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, there is more to yuletide that meets the eye.

[Yule] was the Anglo-Saxons' name for a two-month midwinter season corresponding to Roman December and January, a time of important feasts but not itself a festival. After conversion to Christianity it narrowed to mean "the 12-day feast of the Nativity" (which begins Dec. 25), but was replaced by Christmas by the 11th century, except in the northeast (areas of Danish settlement), where it remained the usual word. Revived in the 19th century by writers to mean "the Christmas of 'Merrie England.'"

Now for the other half of yuletide.

-tide

n. a season or period in the course of the year, day, etc (now used chiefly in combination)
i.e. eventide, wintertide

So there it is. When you sing about "yuletide carols being sung by a choir," you will know what you're singing about!