Holy Innocents' Day

American  

noun

1. December 28, a day of religious observance commemorating the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem by Herod's order.

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Holy Innocents' Day British  

noun

1. Dec 28, a day commemorating the massacre of male children at Bethlehem by Herod's order (Matthew 2:16); Childermas

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Example Sentences

The Confessor's Church as you will remember was consecrated on Childermas, the Holy Innocents' Day.

From The Children of Westminster Abbey Studies in English History by Kingsley, Rose Georgina

The most important of the three feasts was that of the boys on Holy Innocents’ Day, a theoretically appropriate date.

From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Miles, Clement A.

The youthful bishop was elected by the choir-boys, and exercised his functions until Holy Innocents' Day.

From Old English Sports, Pastimes and Customs by Ditchfield, P. H. (Peter Hampson)

Specimens of the sermons preached on Holy Innocents' Day have come down to us from the reigns of Henry VIII. and Mary, and are of extreme interest.

From The Customs of Old England by Snell, F. J. (Frederick John)

And when I said: "What do you mean, it seems to me you must have gone dotty this morning," she laughed like anything and said: "Don't you see, December 27th, Holy Innocents' Day!"

From A Young Girl's Diary by Paul, Eden