* Yule: This word comes from the Old English word "geol" or "giul", which referred to a pre-Christian Germanic festival celebrating the winter solstice. This festival was associated with feasting, merriment, and the return of the sun.
* Tide: This word is an old English term meaning "time" or "season."
Therefore, Yuletide literally means "Yule time" or "Yule season." It's a word that has been used to refer to the Christmas season for centuries, even though its origins predate Christianity.