Christmas: The Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics showing a surprise meaning behind the word

When you wish someone a Merry Christmas, you are really wishing someone a ‘merry burial’ due to the origins of the word, a historian has claimed.

Fascinating analysis of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics show the word Christmas has its origins in the African country, deriving from the word ‘krst’ meaning ‘at rest’ in the sense of a burial or dead, according to historian Malcolm Hutton.

And the word ‘krst’ appears written in hieroglyphics on most coffins which contain Egyptian mummified bodies, according to Mr Hutton.

To add to the connections between Ancient Egypt and the modern-day Christmas, the Ancient Egyptians often referred to mummified bodies as ‘The Anointed’ because the body had been anointed with embalming fluid and natron – a salt mixture blended with oil and used for cleaning the body – in the 70 day mummification ritual.

Mr Hutton told Express.co.uk: “When you wish someone a merry Christmas you are telling them to have a merry burial.”

The connection between Christ and anointed was made explicit in both Hebrew and Greek.

In Hebrew, anointed translates as ‘Masiah’ (or ‘Messiah’) while in Greek it means ‘Christós’.

Mr Hutton also points to a reference in the Septuagint – a Koine Greek translation from Hebrew around 2,300 years ago by 70 Jews of Pharos Island which contains parts of what became the Hebrew Bible – which states that “Cyrus is the Christ”.

A reference also appears on a Persian cylinder which is in the British Museum.

It reads: “And the population of the land of Sumer and Akkad who had become like corpses, and took pity on them.

“He inspected and checked all the countries, seeking for the upright king of his choice.

“He took the hand of Cyrus, king of the city of Anshan, and called him by his name, proclaiming him aloud for the kingship over all of everything.

“He made the land of Guti and all the Median troops prostrate themselves at his feet, while he shepherded in justice and righteousness the black-headed people.”

Mr Hutton also explains the significance of Jesus being born in a manger – an association with the Manger of Taurus and so drawing a parallel with the Egyptian Sun God Ra.

Some Roman Catholic monstrances – used in the Benediction blessing – still have the image of Ra with a bull’s head below it.

Mr Hutton said: “It was the Church that did the hijacking, taking from the Ancient Egyptians.”