Jolly yuletide tidings

Yule 2022 will begin on December 21 and ends on January 1, 2023.

The term "yuletide" cames from the English words "yule" and "tide" which literally means the "time" of the "yule" season.

Remember that or yule be sorry you fir-got (the tree).

That was tree-mendously funny.

How does Christmas Day end?

With the letter "y".

During the Christmas season one hears of "yuletide", as in the words to secular Christmas song "Have yourself a merry little Christmas". The first performance of note was in 1944 by Judy Garland in the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis". Here is how the original song started. You can see why it was changed.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

It may be your last. Next year we may all be living in the past.

What is a lamb’s favorite Christmas carol?

Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas.

More: Song: Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

The English word "yule" comes from the Old English "geol" where, as happened with many English words, the "g" sound changed to a "y" over time. The "geol" was a pagan feast which corresponded to the Roman Saturnalia festivals during the Winter solstice of late December and into January as part of the 12 days of Yule or, later, the 12 days of Christmas.

Some examples of Germanic "g" to English "y":

German "gelb" to English "yellow".
German "garten" to English "yard".
German "gestern" to English "yestern" (yesterday)

As with many customs and words, the Old English "geol" comes from the Norse "jol".

It appears that the Norse word "jol" might have been brought into Old French as "jolif" from which comes the French word "joli" ≈ "pretty, nice." which is the origin of the English word "jolly" (as in festive).

The area of Normandy in France (D-Day landings in World Ward) is the area of the "Norse men" or "North men".

Note: Some think the word "jolly" comes from French via the Latin word "gaudere" ≈ "rejoice".

The words may have a common PIE (Proto Indo-European) origin.

The word "Christmastide" is sometimes used around the Christmas season. The English word "tide", as in the rising and falling of the ocean over time, comes from the Old English "tid" which meant "time". So the English "time" and "tide" are related. Tide detergent is from 1946.

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, [kjv]

εν εκεινω τω καιρω ηκουσεν ηρωδης ο τετρααρχης την ακοην ιησου [gnt]

… Zeit … [lu]

… tide … [wes]

… tyme … [wy]

… tempore … [v]

… tiempo … [es]

The German word "Zeit" ≈ "time" where the "t" went to a "z" (as written in German) or "tz" (as pronounced in German).
The German word "Gezeiten" ≈ "tide".
The German word "Tide" ≈ "tide" where the ending "e" is pronounced in German.

Matthew 24:36

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KJV: But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Greek: περι δε της ημερας εκεινης και της ωρας ουδεις οιδεν ουδε οι αγγελοι των ουρανων ουδε ο υιος ει μη ο πατηρ μου μονος

Wessex: Nat man be þam daige ne be þare tide. ne forðan engles. buton faeder ane.

Luke 12:12

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KJV: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Greek: το γαρ αγιον πνευμα διδαξει υμας εν αυτη τη ωρα α δει ειπειν

Latin: Spiritus enim Sanctus docebit vos in ipsa hora quae oporteat dicere

Wessex: halig gast eow laerð on þare tide þthþing þe eow spaecan ge-byreð.

Luther: Denn der Heilige Geist wird euch zu derselbigen Stunde lehren, was ihr sagen sollt.

Russian: ибо Святый Дух научит вас в тот час, что должно говорить.

Matthew 14:1

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KJV: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

Greek: εν εκεινω τω καιρω ηκουσεν ηρωδης ο τετραρχης τετρααρχης την ακοην ιησου

Latin: in illo tempore audiit Herodes tetrarcha famam Iesu

Wessex: On þare tide ge-herde herodes se feorþan daeles rice þas haelendes hlysan.

Wycliffe: In that tyme Eroude tetrarke, prynce of the fourthe part, herde the fame of Jhesu;

Luther: Zu der Zeit kam das Gerücht von Jesu vor den Vierfürsten Herodes.

Russian: В то время Ирод четвертовластник услышал молву об Иисусе

Spanish: En aquel tiempo Herodes el tetrarca oyó de la fama de Jesús.

The word "tidings" is still sometimes used.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. [kjv]

και ειπεν αυτοις ο αγγελος μη φοβεισθε ιδου γαρ ευαγγελιζομαι υμιν χαραν μεγαλην ητις εσται παντι τω λαω [gnt]

The "good tidings" is, from the Greek , the "good news" or "good message" which is the "Gospel message", as in "evangelical".

In the Greek, the word "joy" is "favor" or, from Latin, "grace". The angel brought "good news of a great favor".

More: A joyous thank you for the grace of a gaudy favor

Note: The Wessex, Luther and Wycliffe appear to omit the "good tidings" part in their translations.

Luke 2:10

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KJV: And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Greek: και ειπεν αυτοις ο αγγελος μη φοβεισθε ιδου γαρ ευαγγελιζομαι υμιν χαραν μεγαλην ητις εσται παντι τω λαω

Latin: et dixit illis angelus nolite timere ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum quod erit omni populo

Wessex: & se engel heom to cwaeð. Nelle ge eow on-draeden. soðlice nu ich eow bodige mychele blisse syo beoð eallen folce.

Wycliffe: And the aungel seide to hem, Nyle ye drede; for lo! Y preche to you a greet ioye, that schal be to al puple.

Tyndale: But the angell sayd vnto them: Be not afrayed. For beholde I bringe you tydinges of greate ioye yt shal come to all ye people:

Gothic: jah qath du im sa aggilus: ni ogeith, unte sai, spillo izwis faheid mikila, sei wairthith allai managein,

Luther: Und der Engel sprach zu ihnen: Fürchtet euch nicht! Siehe, ich verkündige euch große Freude, die allem Volk widerfahren wird;