Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night, Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight. In the Philippines, the custom has expanded into the nine-day Simbang Gabi, when Filipinos attend dawn Masses from 16 December, continuing daily until Christmas Eve.
About Christmas Eve in brief
Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening; for example, the Nordic Lutheran churches. Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night, Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth. A nativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors, and is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger, Mary, and Joseph. In the Philippines, the custom has expanded into the nine-day Simbang Gabi, when Filipinos attend dawn Masses from 16 December, continuing daily until Christmas Eve. The Christmas Eve Services are still very popular. In candlelight services, while singing Silent Night, each member of the congregation receives a candle and passes along their flame which is first received from the Christ Candle. Lutherans traditionally practice Christmas Eve Eucharistic services typical of Germany and Scandinavia. Christmas Vespers are popular in the early evening, and midnight and midnight services are also widespread in regions of the Lutheran Church. The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil can still be found in some regions of Germany. Some Methodists celebrate the early morning with their Holy Communion in the church early in the morning to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In Germany, middle congregations still continue the tradition of \”Quempas singing\”: separate groups dispersed in various parts of the church sing the verses of the song hepherds once came to whom shepherds came once came.
The Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath is traditionally lit in many church services. In recent years some churches have scheduled their Midnight Mass as early as 7 pm. In 2009 Vatican officials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at 10 pm so that the 82-year-old Pope Benedict XVI would not have too late a night. In Spanish-speaking areas, the midnight Mass is sometimes referred to as Misa de Gallo, or Missa do Galo in Portuguese. The custom of a dawn Mass is popular in Philippines, and has been extended to nine days, starting on 16 December and ending on December 25. The tradition has expanded to the nine day SimbangGabi, which has been held in the Philippines from 16 December and ends on December 26 and 28 and also in the UK and the U.S. The Church of Scotland no longer holds Hogmanay services on New Year’s Eve, but the Christmas Eve services are stillVery popular. The idea of Jesus being born in the middle of the night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to in German, Nochebuena in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song \”Silent Night, Holy Night\”. Many other cultural traditions and experiences are also associated with Christmas Eve around theWorld, including the singing of Christmas carols, the illumination and enjoyment of Christmas lights, trees, and other decorations.
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This page is based on the article Christmas Eve published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 25, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
