Quempas

(from Lat. Quem pastores laudavere: ‘He whom the shepherds praised’).

The abbreviated title of a Christmas song popular in Germany in the 16th century, used as a generic term for Christmas songs. The custom, performed by the students of Lateinschulen, of earning alms by singing carols from house to house was known as Quempas singen. A Quempasheft was a collection of Christmas songs that each student copied for his own use.