A FULL List of -Mas's...

Naturally when I was a child I wasn’t too impressed by the word “Christmas”. It was an acceptable word, if not too creative. Then when I got into high school we read a Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles IIRC. And they mentioned the holiday Michaelmas (pronounced “mik’l-mus” [short “I”]), Sep. 29, for the Archangel Michael. This peaked my interest a little, because after all, I thought Christmas was the only “-mas”. I now knew there were more. But I didn’t make any conscious effort to uncover them. But they did come up here and there, in books, with random searches in dictionaries, etc.

So far this is the comprehensive list of all the “-mas’s” I have uncovered (I hope I don’t forget any, because I am saying from memory): Candlemas (Feb. 2), Lammas (Aug. 1, in England esp.), Michaelmas (Sept. 29), Hallowmas (an old name for All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1), Martinmas (Nov. 11, the patron saint of reformed drunks interestingly), Christmas (duh), and Childermas (Holy Innocents’ Day, Dec. 28–an “old-fashioned” name). I also once read in a book by an British author “Roodmas”. No further explanation was given. Now the “rood” was another name for the cross of Jesus. But I have no idea when this date is or what exactly it is for–does anyone else know (esp. from Britain):)?

Well, that is my comprehensive list to-date. Did I miss anything? And please tell me if you find this subject interesting too. I find it hard to believe I am the only person fascinated by words–esp. when they are variations on a theme.

Thank you in advance to all who reply:)

I’d say 14 September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

I’ve also seen the term Marymass used for the feast of the Assumption of the BVM (15 August).

Just an update on Marymas, from my Catholic Encyclopedia:

You forgot the infamous “No Mas! No Mas!”

I hope it’s acceptable to post a follow up to this thread.

I came across another one yesterday: Crouchmas, the feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross on 3 May.

So when’s Fishmas? :wink:

Here’s a few more:

abomas
aceldamas
adenocarcinomas
adenomas
aerenchymas
agamas
agmas
almas
amas
analemmas
anathemas
angiomas
animas
antepenultimas
arapaimas
aromas
asramas
asthmas
astrocytomas
atheromas
atmas
bemas
bimas
blastemas
blastomas
brahmas
caeomas
camas
carcinomas
carcinosarcomas
chacmas
chiasmas
chlorenchymas
choriocarcinomas
chromas
cinemas
collenchymas
comas
commas
condylomas
curcumas
cycloramas
cymas
dermas
dharmas
digammas
dilemmas
dioramas
diplomas
docudramas
dogmas
dolmas
doumas
drachmas
dramas
dumas
eczemas
edemas
emphysemas
empyemas
endotheliomas
enemas
enigmas
ependymas
epitheliomas
erythemas
exanthemas
fibromas
fibrosarcomas
gamas
gammas
glaucomas
glioblastomas
gliomas
gramas
grandmas
granulomas
gummas
halmas
hemangiomas
hematomas
hepatomas
hybridomas
intimas
jicamas
karmas
keratomas
kerygmas
kinemas
lamas
lemmas
leucomas
leukomas
limas
lipomas
llamas
lordomas
lymphogranulomas
lymphomas
lymphosarcomas
magmas
mahatmas
malaromas
mamas
mammas
mas
mazumas
medulloblastomas
melanomas
melismas
melodramas
meningiomas
mesotheliomas
miasmas
mommas
monodramas
mycetomas
mycoplasmas
myelomas
myomas
myxedemas
myxomas
nemas
neurilemmas
neuroblastomas
neurofibromas
neuromas
nomas
oedemas
osteomas
osteosarcomas
pajamas
panamas
panoramas
papillomas
parenchymas
penultimas
pheochromocytomas
pimas
plasmalemmas
plasmas
plasmodesmas
pneumas
polyomas
primas
prosomas
pseudoparenchymas
psychodramas
pumas
pyjamas
pyodermas
retinoblastomas
rhabdomyosarcomas
sarcolemmas
sarcomas
satsumas
schemas
sclerenchymas
sclerodermas
scleromas
scoliomas
scotomas
scyphistomas
semicomas
seriemas
shamas
shammas
sigmas
simas
smegmas
somas
stemmas
sterigmas
stigmas
stomas
strumas
summas
syntagmas
taramas
teratocarcinomas
teratomas
tokonomas
toxoplasmas
trachomas
traumas
treponemas
tritomas
ulamas
ulemas
ultimas
xanthomas
zeugmas
zygomas

I think the OP was specifically asking about holidays.

Well, then, don’t overlook Zweibelmas, celebrated every September 21st.

I’ve often heard of Dogmas, the blessing of the pets. :wink:

By far, most of those are merely plurals of words ending in “ma”, hardly the sort of thing this thread is really about.

In case the OP is unaware, the “-mas” in these names comes from “mass”, as in the celebration of the Eucharist, in turn deriving from the service’s (at one time) concluding words “Ite, missa est” sending people off, with the meaning of “missa” being as described by Cunctator.

Not at all intending to resurrect a zombie thread. But I was kind of taken aback by this site.

As you can see, it has many more examples than just the ones I included. Good.

But one example I have been a little confused by is “Andermas”, the alleged feast of St. Andrew.

I have been doing internet searches. And I have even checked my own unabridged dictionary (which otherwise has just about every English word in existence in it).

What on earth is Andermas? I suspect the author of this website just misspelled the actual word. Does anyone know what he is referring to? Or is there really such a feast day as “Andermas”?

I deliberately started this thread as a complete reference of “-mases”. If there is one I am missing, I would really like to know.

:slight_smile:

Andrewsmass is a thing, esp. in Scotland and areas where Scots settled.

BTW today is Michaelmas as I write this. I felt compelled to add that for some reason.

And BTW, how exactly do you spell and pronounce Andrewsmas? I know it’s just one S at the end. Other than that I just don’t know.

:slight_smile:

I think it’s quite possible that different spellings (within reason) would all be accepted - regional variations etc. Including having or not having the possessive “s” in the middle. I’d pronounce the name section as you usually pronounce that name, possessive-ized or not as the case may be, and end with “mas” as in Christmas.

I like the ‘beckmas’… (my birthday):wink:

Unless it is an older name for St. Andrew’s Day, it is remarkably un-noticed, even in St. Andrews.

Unfortunately, unless the church has started officially celebrating it, it’s probably not a mas. Actually, I’m certain; no más. :slight_smile:

You can probably get yourself a -fest just by unilaterally declaring one though. :slight_smile:

(And if you hang around the opera enough, you may eventually get a Beckmesser as well.)