Christmastide

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Liturgical year
Western
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Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the liturgical year of most Christian churches. It tends to be defined (with slight variations) as the period from Christmas Day to the evening of 5 January, the day before the start of the octave of Epiphany.[1][2] This period is also commonly known as the Twelve Days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol of the same name, or Yuletide, as in "Deck the Halls". During the season various festivities are traditionally enjoyed and buildings decorated. In some countries, by superstition it is bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night.

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[edit] Western Christianity

In the Roman Catholic Church, Christmastide begins at the Christmas Vigil Mass[3] and runs until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after Epiphany (on 13 January in the pre-Vatican II calendar) and, in some more traditional Catholic circles, the Christmas season was formerly extended as far as February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary ("Candlemas"). The Octave of Christmas begins on the Evening of December 24 and continues for eight days to the first of January inclusive. In the Church of England, the Christmas season begins at Evening Prayer on Christmas Eve and ends before Evening Prayer on the Eve of the Epiphany (which may be celebrated on 6 January or on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January).

[edit] Eastern Christianity

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Forefeast of the Nativity begins on December 20. Starting on that day many of the hymns chanted during the Divine Services are of the Great Feast of the Nativity, and the hangings and vestments in the church are changed to the festive color. However, the Nativity Fast (Advent) becomes somewhat more strict, and fish is not allowed, even on Saturdays, Sundays or feast days.

Christmas Eve (Paramony) is observed as a strict fast, with those faithful who are physically able abstaining from all food until the first star is observed in the evening (in commemoration of the Star of Bethlehem). In the morning of December 24, the Royal Hours are chanted, after which a Vesperal Liturgy is celebrated (combining the service of Vespers with the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil). The actual Feast of the Nativity begins at the Little Entrance at this service. During the service, eight readings from the Old Testament are chanted, which recount the prophesies, types and prefigurations of the Incarnation. After the first star that evening, a meal may be taken with wine and oil (but still no meat, dairy products or fish). Sometimes this meal may be very elaborate and symbolic.

The All-Night Vigil (composed of Great Compline, Matins and the First Hour) is served on the night of December 24, and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated on the morning of December 25th. The Afterfeast continues through December 31, which is the Apodosis ("leave-taking") of the Feast. The next day, January 1 is a combination of the Feast of the Circumcision and the feast day of Saint Basil the Great. January 1 is also the beginning of the Forefeast of the Theophany (Epiphany), which continues through January 5, which is the Eve of the Theophany.

The period from December 25 through January 4 is a fast-free period, on which fasting is not required, even on the normal fast days of Wednesday and Friday. The Sunday After Nativity is a feast day commemorating King David, Saint Joseph (who is called "Joseph the Betrothed" by the Orthodox), and James the Brother of the Lord. If there is no Sunday between December 25 and January 1, this feast is moved to December 26, where it is combined with the Synaxis of the Theotokos. The Sunday Before Theophany is marked with special Epistle and Gospel readings at the Divine Liturgy.

The Eve of Theophany, January 5, is a day of strict fasting and prayer in preparation for the Feast of the Theophany on January 6. Theophany has an Afterfeast of eight days, commencing with the Apodosis of the Theophany on January 14. The Sunday After Theophany is also marked with special Epistle and Gospel readings.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Christmastide. Holy Trinity (German) Catholic Church.
  2. ^ The Schema of Christmastide. Holy Trinity (German) Catholic Church.
  3. ^ c.t.iannuzzo. The Liturgical Year. Le Poulet Gauche.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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