Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day beforeChristmas, the festival commemoratingthe birth ofJesus.[4] Christmas Day isobserved around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations inChristendom andWestern society.
Christmas celebrations in thedenominations ofWestern Christianity have long begun on Christmas Eve, due in part to the Christian liturgical day starting at sunset,[5] a practice inherited from Jewish tradition,[6] and based on thestory of Creation in theBook of Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."[7] Many churches still ring theirchurch bells and holdprayers in the evening; for example, the NordicLutheran churches.[8] Since tradition holds thatJesus was born at night (based in Luke 2:6-8),Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth.[9] The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to asHeilige Nacht (Holy Night) in German,Nochebuena (the Good Night) in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song"Silent Night, Holy Night".
Many other varying culturaltraditions and experiences are also associated with Christmas Eve around the world, including the gathering of family and friends, the singing ofChristmas carols, the illumination and enjoyment ofChristmas lights, trees, and other decorations, the wrapping, exchange and opening of gifts, and general preparation for Christmas Day. Legendary Christmas gift-bearing figures includingSanta Claus,Father Christmas,Christkind, andSaint Nicholas are also often said to depart for their annual journey to deliver presents to children around the world on Christmas Eve, although until theProtestant introduction of Christkind in 16th-century Europe,[10] such figures were said to instead deliver presents on the eve ofSaint Nicholas' feast day (6 December).
Midnight Mass is held in many churches toward the end of Christmas Eve, often with dim lighting and traditional decorative accents such as greenery.
Western churches have traditionally observed Christmas Eve (properly the Vigil of the Nativity) as a liturgical observance distinct from the masses of Christmas Day, with the proper Gospel at the Mass for the Vigil of the Nativity being that of the Annunciation to Joseph inMatthew 1. The Vigil of the Nativity is not so much the first day of Christmas as it is the last day ofAdvent, and so it traditionally retains theliturgical color of violet. In traditional western liturgical practice, when the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve occur on the same day, the Sunday mass is of Christmas Eve and the Fourth Sunday of Advent is only commemorated.
The festivities of Christmas Day have, however, extended farther and farther back into Christmas Eve. WhileRoman Catholics,Lutherans, and someAnglicans traditionally celebrateMidnight Mass, the first mass of Christmas, either at or nearmidnight on Christmas Eve, some churches have in recent decades scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7 pm in an effort to better accommodate young children, whose choral singing has become a popular feature in some traditions.
Midnight Mass is held in churches throughout the world and celebrates the birth of Christ, which is believed to have occurred at night. Midnight Mass is popular in Poland (pasterka) and Lithuania (piemenėlių mišios). InLatin America and theIberian Peninsula, the Midnight Mass is also referred to as "Rooster's Mass" (Misa de Gallo in Spanish,Missa do Galo in Portuguese andMissa del Gall in Catalan). In thePhilippines, the custom has expanded into the nine-daySimbang Gabi, when Filipinos attend dawn Masses (traditionally beginning around 04:00 to 05:00PST) from 16 December, continuing daily until Christmas Eve. In 2009Vatican officials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at 10 pm so that the 82-year-oldPope Benedict XVI would not have too late a night.[11]
Anativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors, and is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger, Mary, and Joseph.[12] Other figures in the scene may includeangels,shepherds, and various animals. The figures may be made of any material,[13] and arranged in a stable or grotto. TheMagi may also appear, and are sometimes not placed in the scene until the week following Christmas to account for their travel time toBethlehem. While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter, nativity scenes in churches usually remain on display until the feast of theBaptism of the Lord.[13]
Throughout congregations of the various denominations of Christianity, on Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle in the center of theAdvent wreath is traditionally lit in manychurch services. In candlelight services, while singingSilent Night, each member of the congregation receives a candle and passes along their flame which is first received from the Christ Candle.
Advent wreath, lighting the candle
Lutherans traditionally practice Christmas EveEucharistic traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia. "Krippenspiele" (Nativity plays), special festive music for organ, vocal and brasschoirs and candlelight services make Christmas Eve one of the most beloved days in the Lutheran Church calendar. ChristmasVespers is popular in the early evening, andMidnight Masses are also widespread in regions which are predominantly Lutheran. The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil in the early morning hours ofChristmas Day (Christmette) can still be found in some regions. In eastern andmiddle Germany, congregations still continue the tradition of "Quempas singing": separate groups dispersed in various parts of the church sing verses of the song "He whom shepherds once came Praising" (Quem pastores laudavere) responsively.
With respect toPresbyterianism, theChurch of Scotland has a service beginning just before midnight, in whichcarols are sung. These services are very popular.
Methodists celebrate the evening in different ways. Some, in the early evening, come to their church to celebrateHoly Communion with their families. The mood is very solemn, and the only visible light is theAdvent Wreath, and the candles upon theLord's Table. Others celebrate the evening with services of light, which include singing the songSilent Night as a variety of candles (including personal candles) are lit. Other churches have late evening services perhaps at 11 pm, so that the church can celebrate Christmas Day together with the ringing of bells at midnight. Others offer Christmas Day services as well.
The annual "Nine Lessons and Carols", broadcast fromKing's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve, has established itself a Christmas custom in the United Kingdom, where Anglican Christianity is the traditional faith.[14] It is broadcast outside the UK via theBBC World Service, and is also bought by broadcasters around the world.[14]
Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
In theByzantine Rite, Christmas Eve is referred to asParamony ("preparation"). It is the concluding day of theNativity Fast and is observed as a day of strictfasting by those devout Byzantine Christians who are physically capable of doing so. In some traditions, nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky, in commemoration of theStar of Bethlehem. Theliturgical celebration begins earlier in the day with the celebration of theRoyal Hours, followed by theDivine Liturgy combined with the celebration ofVespers, during which a large number of passages from theOld Testament are chanted, recounting the history of salvation. After thedismissal at the end of the service, a new candle is brought out into the center of the church and lit, and all gather round and sing theTroparion andKontakion of the Feast.
The services of Christmas Eve are also similar to those of the Eve ofTheophany (Epiphany), and the twoGreat Feasts are considered one celebration.
In someOrthodox cultures, after the Vesperal Liturgy the family returns home to a festive meal, but one at whichOrthodox fasting rules are still observed: no meat or dairy products (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) are consumed (see below for variations according to nationality). Then they return to the church for the All-Night Vigil.
The next morning, Christmas Day, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated again, but with special features that occur only on Great Feasts of the Lord. After thedismissal of this Liturgy, the faithful customarily greet each other with thekiss of peace and the words: "Christ is Born!", to which the one being greeted responds: "Glorify Him!" (the opening words of theCanon of the Nativity that was chanted the night before during the Vigil). This greeting, together with many of thehymns of the feast, continue to be used until theleave-taking of the feast on 31 December.
The first three days of the feast are particularly solemn. The second day is known as theSynaxis of theTheotokos, and commemorates the role of theVirgin Mary in theNativity of Jesus. The third day is referred to simply as "the Third Day of the Nativity". The Saturday and Sunday following 25 December have specialEpistle andGospel readings assigned to them. 29 December celebrates theHoly Innocents.
Byzantine Christians observe a festal period oftwelve days, during which no one in the Church fasts, even on Wednesdays and Fridays, which are normal fasting days throughout the rest of the year. During this time one feast leads into another: 25–31 December is theafterfeast of the Nativity; 2–5 January is theforefeast of theEpiphany.
Seven traditional Christmas Eve dishes from Bulgaria (2014)
In Bulgaria, the meal consists of anodd number of lenten dishes in compliance with the rules of fasting. They are usually the traditionalsarma,bob chorba (bean soup), fortunekravai (pastry with a fortune in it; also calledbogovitsa,vechernik,kolednik),stuffed peppers,nuts, dried fruit, boiled wheat.[15] The meal is often accompanied with wine or Bulgaria's traditionalalcoholic beveragerakia, in the pastolovina (a type of homemade rye beer). The meals used to be put on top of hay, directly on the floor, together with aploughshare or acoulter.[16]
In Cuba, roasted pig (lechón) is often the center of Christmas Eve (Nochebuena).[17] It is believed that the tradition dates back to the 15th century when Caribbean colonists hunted down pigs and roasted them with a powerful flame.[18]
In Cuban and Cuban-American tradition, the pig is sometimes cooked in aCaja China, a large box where an entire pig is placed below hot coals.[19] The dinner features many side dishes and desserts, and often games ofdominoes are played. The tradition is continued by Cuban families in Florida and the United States.[20] The dinner on the Christmas Eve is the center of the celebration.
Christmas Eve dinner is generally not served at a set time, though it is typically eaten as a family. It is expected that the entire family will be at the table to start tasting thefrijoles negros dormidos (sleeping black beans) and thearroz blanco desgranado y reluciente (shredded white rice), theyuca con mojo (a Cuban side dish made by marinatingcassava in garlic, sour orange, and olive oil), the roasted pork or the stuffed or unfilledguanajo, along with homemade desserts, such as Christmas fritters, and a wide range of sweets in syrup and Spanish nougat.
The visit to the archipelago ofPopeJohn Paul II, in 1998, prompted the Cuban government, in a gesture of goodwill, to declare 25 December again as a holiday, which it had not been for several decades.[citation needed]
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, fasting on the day of Christmas Eve (or only eating meatless food) is a medieval tradition. The belief is that if one lasted until Christmas dinner, they would see a golden pig, which is a symbol of luck. A typical Christmas breakfast is a sweet braided breadvánočka. Christmas Eve dinner traditionally consists of a carp (baked or fried) and a potato salad.[21]
During the Christmas period, theWeihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) becomes a feature of almost every city, town, or village in the German-speaking countries, where visitors enjoy stalls, entertainment, and savour food andGlühwein (mulled wine). Traditional Christmastime treats includeLebkuchen (gingerbread),Stollen (fruit cake),Speculaas andmarzipan (almond confectionery often made into sweets). Perhaps the most famed of these markets is theChristkindlesmarkt held inNuremberg, which attracts millions of visitors every year.
The Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas tree) is usually put up in the afternoon of 24 December. The trees can be bought at special traders' sites, but some families may still go into the forest and cut one themselves. TheChristkind brings the presents on the evening of Christmas eve.
Traditionally, onHeiligabend (Christmas Eve) in Germany, a simple meal will be prepared and served before or after theBescherung ("time for exchanging gifts"), in contrast to the big meal on Christmas Day. Various polls repeatedly declare (Eintopf) or sausages (Würstchen) with potato salad to be Germany's favourite meal onHeiligabend. Further typical meals may includecarp,fondue orraclette. On Christmas Day, the most common dishes areroast goose or duck.
Christmas in Italy is one of thecountry's major holidays and begins on 8 December, with theFeast of the Immaculate Conception, the day on which traditionally theChristmas tree is mounted and ends on 6 January, of the following year with theEpiphany.[23] According to tradition, the Christmas Eve dinner must not contain meat. It is quite common to attendMidnight Mass on Christmas Eve and practice the old custom of abstinence from meat on the day (but not fasting, which is observed by theEastern Orthodox Church). Traditions regarding the exchanging of gifts vary from region to region, as this may take place either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. On 24 December, Christmas Eve, the Christmas night mass, also calledMidnight Mass, is celebrated.
While other Christian families throughout the world celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with various meats, Italians (especially Sicilians) celebrate the traditionalCatholic "Feast of the Seven Fishes" which was historically served after a 24-hour fasting period. Although Christmas fasting is no longer a popular custom, someItalian-Americans still enjoy a meatless Christmas Eve feast[24] and attend the Midnight Mass. In various cultures, a festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance, when the first star (usuallySirius) appears in the sky.
Lithuanian Christmas Eve blends pagan and Christian traditions, as initially it was a celebration of the winter solstice.[25] Traditionally, Lithuanians believed that animals could talk on that night, and it was possible to predict the future with charms and various games.[26]Kūčios ("Holy Meal") is the most important event of the year and family reunion. Dead relatives are remembered with an empty plate set at the table.[27] The feast starts after the rise of the evening star.[28][unreliable source?] No products made from meat, milk and alcohol are allowed during the Kūčios.[29][unreliable source?] In all, 12 dishes are served, all of them rustic, made from grains, fish, dried fruit or mushrooms includingkūčiukai. Small biscuits soaked inpoppy seed milk are served.[citation needed] After the dinner is over the table is left uncleared overnight for the feast ofvėlės (spirits or soul).[30][unreliable source?][31]
A tradition similar to Italy (Wigilia, or 'Christmas Vigil') exists in Poland. The number of dishes is traditionally 12, but has been an odd number in the past.[39] According to theSłownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language) byAleksander Brückner, the number of dishes was traditionally related to social class: the peasants' vigil consisted of 5 or 7 dishes, the gentry usually had 9, and the aristocracy, 11 dishes, but the even number 12 is also found today to remember theTwelve Apostles. It is obligatory to try a portion of all of them. Some traditions specify that the number of guests cannot be odd.[40][41]
In Poland, gifts are unwrapped on Christmas Eve, as opposed to Christmas Day. It comes from fusing the traditions of Saint Nicholas Day (6 December) and Christmas. In the past, gifts were opened on the morning of Saint Nicholas Day.[citation needed]
Rozhdenstvenskiy sochelnik (Russian:Рождественский сочельник) was a common Eastern Orthodox tradition in theRussian Empire, but during the era of the Soviet Union it was greatly discouraged as a result of the officialatheism of the former regime.
In modern-day Russia,the church has aservice on that day, but the celebration itself has not yet regained its popularity among the people. Instead of the Christmas Eve,New Year's Eve is considered to be a traditional family celebration featuring theNew Year tree.
In accordance with theChristmas traditions of the Serbs, their festive meal has a copious and diverse selection of foods, although it is prepared according to the rules of fasting.
As well as a round,unleavened loaf of bread and salt, which are necessary, this meal may comprise roast fish, cooked beans,sauerkraut, noodles with ground walnuts, honey, and wine.
Families in some Slavic countries leave an empty place at the table for guests (alluding toMary andJoseph looking for shelter inBethlehem).
In Ukraine,Sviatyi Vechir (Ukrainian:Святий Вечір, Holy Evening) is traditionally celebrated with a meatlesstwelve-dish Christmas Eve supper, or the Holy Supper (Ukrainian:Свята Вечеря, Sviata Vecheria). The main attributes of the Holy Supper in Ukraine arekutia, a poppy seed, honey and wheat dish, anduzvar, a drink made from reconstituted dried fruits. Other typical dishes areborscht,varenyky, and dishes made offish,phaseolus andcabbage.
The twelve dishes symbolize theTwelve Apostles. Just as in Poland, it is obligatory to try a portion of all of the dishes. The table is spread with a white cloth symbolic of theswaddling clothes theChild Jesus was wrapped in, and a large white candle stands in the center of the table symbolizingChrist the Light of the World. Next to it is a round loaf of bread symbolizing ChristBread of Life.Hay is often displayed either on the table or as a decoration in the room, reminiscent of themanger inBethlehem.
InVenezuela,hallacas are normally the staple dish for Noche Buena alongside of either ham or pork leg known as "pernil",panettone,rum and "Ponche Crema" (a form of alcoholiceggnog). The night is usually accompanied by traditional Christmas music known as "aguinaldos"; in Venezuela, the traditional music is known asjoropo.[45]
In Christianity, the giving of gifts during Christmastide is traced to theMagi who brought gifts for theChrist child in themanger. During theReformation in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child orChristkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from 6 December to Christmas Eve.[46] It is the night whenSanta Claus makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children.
In Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, whereSaint Nicholas (sv. Mikuláš/szent Mikulás) gives gifts on 6 December, the Christmas gift-giver is theChild Jesus (Ježíšek inCzech, Jézuska in Hungarian, Ježiško inSlovak and Isusek inCroatian).[47]
In Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland, presents are traditionally exchanged on the evening of 24 December. Children are commonly told that presents were brought either by theChristkind (German for Christ child),[48] or by theWeihnachtsmann. Both leave the gifts, but are in most families not seen doing so. In Germany, the gifts are also brought on 6 December by "theNikolaus" with his helperKnecht Ruprecht.
In Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Quebec (French Canada), Romania, Uruguay, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th—following German tradition, this is also the practice among theBritish Royal Family since it was introduced byQueen Victoria andAlbert, Prince Consort[51][52]—while in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Malta, English Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, this occurs mostly on the morning of Christmas Day.
Some countries do their gift-giving in a different date, connected to the tradition eitherEpiphany (in Spain, the morning of 6 January)[53] orSinterklaas (Belgium and the Netherlands, on the evening of 5 December).[54]
Christmas Eve is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. Elements common to many areas of the world include the attendance of special religious observances such as a midnight Mass or Vespers and the giving and receiving of presents. Along with Easter, Christmastime is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar, and is often closely connected to other holidays at this time of year, such as Advent, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, St. Nicholas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's, and the Feast of the Epiphany.
Among Christians, as well as non-Christians who celebrate Christmas, the significant amount of vacation travel, and travel back to family homes, that takes place in the lead-up to Christmas means that Christmas Eve is also frequently a time of social events and parties, worldwide.[55][56][57][58][59]
Further information on Christmas Eve traditions around the world:Christmas worldwide
With Christmas Day being awork holiday and Christmas Eve often being a partial work holiday throughout the United States, there is a space of unfilled free time during which much of American commerce and society is not functioning, and which can give rise to a sense of loneliness or alienation for American Jews.[60][61][62][63][64]
Jews also typically do not engage in the family gathering and religious worship activities that are central to Christmas Eve for Christians.[65]
Typical contemporary activities have usually been limited to "Chinese and a movie"[66][67][68]—consuming a meal at aChinese restaurant, which tend to be open for business on the Christmas holiday, and watching a movie at the theater or at home, stereotypically a rerun of the 1946 filmIt's a Wonderful Life.[64][69][70][71]
Since the 1980s a variety of social events for young Jews have sprung up, and become popular, on Christmas Eve.[72] These include theMatzo Ball,The Ball, and a number of local events organized by Jewish communities andlocal Jewish Federations in North America.[61]
Further information on Christmas Eve social events for young Jews in North America:Matzo Ball
In Mandarin, Christmas Eve is calledPíng'ān yè (平安夜, "peaceful night", etymologically from the Chinese title of the Christmas carolSilent Night). People exchange apples, because the word for "apple" (苹果) is a rhyming wordplay with "peace" (平安).[73]
A cross, left nearYpres in Belgium in 1999, to commemorate the site of the 1914 Christmas Truce. The text reads1914—The Khaki Chum's Christmas Truce—85 Years—Lest We Forget.
A number of historical events have been influenced by the occurrence of Christmas Eve.
DuringWorld War I in 1914 and 1915 there was an unofficialChristmas truce, particularly betweenBritish andGerman troops. The truce began on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1914, whenGerman troops began decorating the area around theirtrenches in the region ofYpres, Belgium, for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singingChristmas carols, most notablyStille Nacht ("Silent Night"). TheBritish troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The two sides shouted Christmas greetings to each other. Soon there were calls for visits across the "No man's land" when small gifts were exchanged. The truce also allowed a breathing space during which recently killed soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Funerals took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage fromPsalm 23. The truce occurred in spite of opposition at higher levels of the military command. Earlier in the autumn, a call byPope Benedict XV for an official truce between the warring governments had been ignored.
On 24 December 1968, in what was the most watched television broadcast to that date, theApollo 8 astronautsBill Anders,Jim Lovell andFrank Borman surprised the world with a reading of the Creation from theBook of Genesis as they orbited the Moon.[77]
^"Christian Calendar". Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations. Archived fromthe original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved29 December 2010.
^Kessler, Edward; Neil Wenborn (2005).A dictionary of Jewish-Christian relations. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom: Cambridge university Press. p. 274.
^"Feast of Seven Fishes – A Sicilian Christmas Eve Tradition". Rachael Ray Digital LLC. 2014. Archived fromthe original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved14 November 2014.Sicilians traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve with a "Feast of Seven Fishes" which was historically served after a 24-hour fasting period. Although pre-Christmas fasting is not a popular custom still practiced by Italian-Americans, many still enjoy a meatless Christmas Eve feast.
^Kubilius, Kerry (2017)."Lithuania Christmas Traditions".tripsavvy.com. Retrieved22 December 2018.In pagan Lithuania, the Christmas celebration as we know it today was actually the celebration of the winter solstice.
^"Lithuania, Christmas in". Retrieved22 December 2018.Hundreds of little Christmas Eve formulas and charms offer Lithuanians ways in which to use the events of this evening to predict the future.
^Grinevičiūtė, Monika (December 2018)."Magical Christmas Eve in Lithuania - Kūčios". Retrieved22 December 2018.One more important thing - it is believed that during the Christmas Eve all family members are coming together to have dinner. It means the deceased relatives as well, so for that reason on the table one more, additional plate, is always placed.
^"Lithuanian customs and traditions".thelithuanians.com. Archived fromthe original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved22 December 2018.The ritual supper is not eaten until the evening star appears in the sky. Until then, the bathhouse is heated, people bathe and dress up in festive clothes. The floor was strewn with juniper by the mistress and the master placed handfuls of hay on the table, covered it with a white linen tablecloth.
^"Lithuanian customs and traditions".thelithuanians.com. Archived fromthe original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved22 December 2018.Most often the "Kūčia" table was not cleared away, for it was believed that when the family is asleep the souls of the dead come in to eat.
^Vaicekauskas, Arūnas (2014)."Ancient Lithuanian Calendar Festivals"(PDF). Vytautas Magnus University. p. 31. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 22 July 2017. Retrieved22 December 2018.The cult of the dead is well noticed in the custom when, after Christmas Eve supper the table is not cleared but left overnight. It was believed that the souls of the dead would come and serve themselves at night.
.jpg)
.jpg)
