Healthy Lifestyle & Wellbeing Tips

What is Twixmas?

Gilly Ferguson,-Contributing Editor

Learn to embrace that time off between Christmas and New Year – Betwixtmas is made for total relaxation

Twixmas. Twixtmas. Betwixtmas. Chances are a variation of this phrase has popped up in a Whatsapp chat or two. You may have unknowingly dipped your toe into it over Christmases past, but are now wondering what is Twixmas? What does Twixtmas mean? When – and why – did it become such a thing?

What is Twixmas?

Twixmas – or Twixtmas, depending on who you ask – is the name coined for that weird nothing-y period between Christmas and New Year’s Day (26-31 December).

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Why is it called Twixmas?

Is ’Twixmas’ a real word? In short: no. It’s a portmanteau – a blend of two words (and their meanings) that makes a new word. In this case, its roots are in ‘Betwixt’ (an old English word that means ‘between’) and ‘Christmas’. And it doesn’t appear to be a fading concept, as Collins Dictionary currently has Twixmas on its list of ‘words to watch’.

When did Twixmas become a thing?

No one actually knows who came up with the word ’Twixmas’, although it’s possible it was created by travel companies to sell minibreaks and holidays between Christmas and New Year. That said, history shows that the concept is one that has, like the 12 Days of Christmas, endured for centuries.

In medieval times, land workers took time to rest and reflect with loved ones after Christmas, with their break often lasting for several days.
In the 1800s the week post-Christmas was far more sociable, with aristocrats keeping the celebrations going with all manner of festive parties.
Today, ‘betwixtmas’ is more of a feeling: an opportunity to pause, relax and reset, before the New Year.

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What does Twixmas mean for me?

Longing to feel rested? Then Twixmas should be right up your street. Something of a state of mind, essentially Twixmas is an acceptably anti-social smorgasbord of great TV, turkey sandwiches, books, friends, family, fresh air… and more TV.

It’s the time between Christmas and New Year when you need to do nothing more than hibernate, hunker down and cosy up – with John Lewis’ guide to Twixmassing, like a (pyjama-clad) pro.