Holy Land (The)

(1) Christians call Palestine the Holy Land, because it was the site of Christ’s birth, minstry, and death.

(2) Mahometans call Mecca the Holy Land, because Mahomet was born there.

(3) The Chinese Buddhists call India the Holy Land, because it was the native land of Sakya-muni, the Buddha (q.v.)

(4) The Greek considered Elis as Holy Land, from the temple of Olympian Zeus and the sacred festival held there every four years.

(5) In America each of the strange politico-religious sects calls its own settlement pretty much the same thing. (See Holy City.)

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.