Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE)
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Western Churches
In the Western Christian Churches, the Christmas season liturgically begins on Christmas Eve, and is preceded by a four-week fast called Advent. Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the The Mass of the Vigil is said in the late afternoon or early evening hours of December 24. Mass is a fundamental concept in Physics, roughly corresponding to the Intuitive idea of how much Matter there is in an object Pettie The Vigiljpg|right|thumb|200px|"A Knight's Vigil" by John Pettie]] A vigil (from the Latin vigilia, meaning wakefulness) is Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes The Christmastide season continues through until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday following the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the Liturgical year of most Christian churches The Baptism of the Lord (or the Baptism of Christ) is the name of a Feast day commemorating the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by A Solemnity of the Roman Catholic Church is a principal Holy day in the Liturgical calendar, usually commemorating an event in the life of Jesus Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of
Many Roman Catholics and Anglicans traditionally celebrate a midnight Mass (Eucharist) which begins sometime before midnight on Christmas Day; this ceremony, which is held in churches throughout the world, marks the beginning of Christmas Day. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those A popular joke is to ask what time Midnight Mass starts, but in recent years some churches have scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7 p. m. In Spanish-speaking areas, the Midnight Mass is sometimes referred to as Misa del Gallo ("Rooster's Mass"). Misa de Gallo is the Spanish phrase for Midnight mass, more literally translated as "Rooster's Mass " In the Philippines, this custom lasts for nine days, starting on December 16 and continuing daily up to December 24, during which Filipinos attend dawn masses, usually starting at around 4:00-5:00 a. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP m.
Lutheran parishes often carry on Christmas Eve traditions typical for Germany and Scandinavia. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther "Krippenspiele" (nativity plays), special festive music for organ, vocal and brass choirs and candlelight services make Christmas Eve one of the highlights in the Lutheran Church calendar. Christmas Vespers are popular in the early evening, and midnight services are also widespread in regions which are predominately Lutheran. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil in the early morning hours of the 25th of December (Christmette) can still be found in some regions of Germany. In eastern and middle Germany many 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) responsively.
Other churches also hold a candlelight service, which is also typically held earlier in the evening; these often feature dramatizations of the Nativity. For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. Similar worship services are held in many Protestant churches on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. In the Protestant denominations of Christianity, a service of worship is a meeting whose primary purpose is the Worship of God. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.
In the early evening, many Methodists come to their church to celebrate Holy Communion with their families. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those The mood is very solemn, and often the only visible light is the Advent Wreath, and the candles upon the Lord's Table. Advent wreaths are a tradition used by Christians to mark the passage of the 4 weeks of Advent. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those
The Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast annually from King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve has established itself as one of the signs that Christmas has begun in the United Kingdom. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a format for a service of Christian Worship celebrating the birth of Jesus which is traditionally followed King's College Cambridge is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located It is broadcast to many parts of the world via the BBC World Service.
Eastern Churches
A number of Eastern Christian churches follow the traditional Julian Calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the modern Gregorian Calendar; thus Christmas Day (December 25) on the Julian Calendar falls on January 7 of the Gregorian Calendar. Families of churches Eastern Christians have a shared tradition but they became divided ( Schism) during the early centuries of Christianity in disputes about The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today Some Orthodox Churches have adopted a Revised Julian Calendar, which uses the Gregorian Calendar for the fixed feasts of the liturgical year. The Revised Julian calendar or less formally New Calendar, is a Calendar scheme originated in 1923 which effectively discontinued the 340 years of divergence between The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches which determines when
In the Eastern Orthodox Church Christmas is called "The Nativity, According to the Flesh, of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ," and is considered one of the Great Feasts of the church year. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus, called Pascha (Easter is the greatest of the feasts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It ranks fourth in importance among the Great Feasts, after Pascha (Easter), Pentecost and Theophany (Epiphany). Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of The feast is preceded by a forty-day fast called the Nativity Fast. The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation Christmas Eve is referred to as the "Eve of the Nativity", and is observed as a strict fast day, called Paramony (Greek: παραμονή, Slavonic: navechérie, "preparation", or "vigil"). A Fast Day is a day of religious Fasting observed at various periods by different religious groups Jewish Christian and other sometimes with the authority of government Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Church Slavonic (also Church Slavic, Old Bulgarian) is the Liturgical language of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Macedonian Orthodox Those faithful who are physically able to do so, eat no solid food on this day until the first star is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy that day). Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. If Paramony falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast, but a less restricted fasting meal at which wine and oil are allowed (but no meat, fish or dairy products) is served after the Divine Liturgy that morning. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy.
On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated in the morning. The Royal Hours are a particularly solemn celebration of the Little Hours in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Some of the hymns are similar to those of Theophany and Good Friday, thus tying the symbolism of Jesus' Nativity to his earthly ministry and his death on the Cross. Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. Within the body of Christian beliefs the resurrection of Jesus is a core event on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend The Royal Hours are followed by the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with the Divine Liturgy. The Liturgy of Saint Basil or more formally the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, is a term for several Eastern Christian celebrations of the Divine Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. During the Vespers, eight Old Testament lections ("parables") which prefigure or prophesy the Incarnation of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. A lection is a reading in this context from Scripture The custom of reading the books of Moses in the synagogues on the Sabbath day was a very ancient one in the Jewish Incarnation which literally means embodied in flesh, refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature (generally a human who is the This article is about the musical term See Antiphon (person the orator of ancient Greece If the Feast of the Nativity falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Royal Hours are chanted on the previous Friday (which is always a fast day), and on the Paramony the Vesperal Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated in the morning. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy.
The All-Night Vigil on the night of December 24 consists of Great Compline, Matins and the First Hour. For the musical setting by Rachmaninoff, see All-Night Vigil (Rachmaninoff The All-night vigil is a service of the Eastern Orthodox Compline (ˈkɒmplɪn also Complin, Night Prayer, Prayers at the End of the Day) is the final church service (or Office) of the day in the Matins (also known as Orthros or Oútrenya in Eastern Churches) is the early morning or night Prayer service in the Roman Catholic Prime, or the First Hour, is a fixed time of prayer of the traditional Divine Office (Canonical Hours said at the first hour of daylight (approximately 600 a One of the highlights of Great Compline is the exultant chanting of "God is with us!" interspersed between selected verses from the prophesy of Isaiah 8:9-18, foretelling the triumph of the Kingdom of God, and 9:2-7, foretelling the birth of the Messiah ("For unto us a child is born. Prophecy, generally describes the disclosing of Information that is not known to the Prophet by any ordinary means Isaiah (; Greek:, Ēsaiās; Arabic: اشعیاء, Ash-ee-yaa; "Salvation of/is YHWH " is This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions . . and he shall be called. . . the Mighty God. . . . "). The Orthodox do not normally serve a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve; rather, the Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ is celebrated the next morning. The term Midnight Mass or midnight mass can refer to A Church service that happens at midnight A Christmas Eve church However, in those monasteries which continue to celebrate the All-Night Vigil in its long form—where it literally lasts throughout the night—the conclusion of the Vigil at dawn on Christmas morning will often lead directly into the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. This article concerns the buildings occupied by monastics. For the life inside monasteries and its historical roots see Monasticism. When the Vigil is separate from the Divine Liturgy, the Lenten fast continues even after the Vigil, until the end of the Liturgy the next morning. In the afternoon of Christmas Day, Great Vespers is celebrated. Vespers is the evening Prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Eastern (Byzantine Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, liturgies of the During the service a special prokeimenon, called the "Great Prokeimenon" is chanted by the deacon and choir. In the liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church, a Prokeimenon ( Greek Προκειμενον plural prokeimena; sometimes prokimenon / Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers
Meals
Large meals are common, often with turkey or ham as the main item. The domesticated turkey is a large Poultry Bird raised for food Ham is the Thigh and Rump of Pork, cut from the Haunch of a Pig or Boar. In traditional Orthodox and Catholic countries, Christmas Eve continues to be observed as a fast day, and the meal, though fasting has developed a rich symbolism. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A Fast Day is a day of religious Fasting observed at various periods by different religious groups Jewish Christian and other sometimes with the authority of government The Christmas Eve supper is usually held in candle light, in the evening after the first star appears in the sky. The star symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian tradition. Sometimes the meal takes place outside under the starts. Hay may be spread on the floor to recreate the experience of that first Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. Foods are often chosen for their symbolic meaning.
In Czech Republic and Slovakia, the meal features a fish soup and breaded roasted carp with potato salad. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million Carp is a common name for various Freshwater Fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large Potato salad is a dish made from Potatoes and varies throughout different regions and countries of the world Italian Catholics eat seven types of seafood. Southern Italians around the world celebrate Christmas Eve with a Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as La Vigilia (Italian "the vigil" In some parts of Eastern Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Supper is served before opening gifts. Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Cubans, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans serve roast pig (pernil). Cubans (Cubanos are people inhabiting or originating from Cuba. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with A Puerto Rican ('puertorriqueño' ( Taíno term boricua) is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.
A symbolic Christmas Eve meal used to be a common Eastern Orthodox tradition in the Russian Empire, but today it has become virtually extinct in Russia as a result of the official atheism of the former Soviet Union; though it continues to be popular in Ukraine. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Atheism The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe.
In France and some other French-speaking areas, a long family dinner, called a réveillon, is held on Christmas Eve. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places In France and some other French-speaking places a réveillon is a long dinner and possibly party held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day The name of this dinner is based on the word réveil (meaning "waking"), because participation involves staying awake until midnight and beyond. The food consumed at réveillons is generally of an exceptional or luxurious nature. For instance, appetizers may include lobster, oysters, escargots or foie gras, etc. ApetitizerShpjpg|thumb|Swiss cuisine ( Schynige Platte)]] Hors d'œuvre ( French literally 'outside the work' English ɔrˈdɝv or appetizers are Clawed lobsters compose a family ( Nephropidae, sometimes also Homaridae) of large marine Crustaceans Lobsters are economically important as The common name oyster is used for a number of different groups of Bivalve Mollusks most of which live in marine habitats or Brackish water. Escargot is a dish of cooked land Snails usually served as an appetizer. One traditional dish is turkey with chestnuts. The domesticated turkey is a large Poultry Bird raised for food Chestnut ( Castanea) (including some chinkapin or Chinquapin) is a Genus of eight or nine Species of Deciduous Réveillons in Québec will often include some variety of tourtière. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk A tourtière is a Meat pie originating from Quebec, usually made with ground Pork and/or Veal, or Beef. Dessert may consist of a bûche de Noël. Bûche de Noël (" Yule log " is a traditional dessert served during the Christmas holidays in France and Quebec. In Provence, the tradition of the 13 desserts is followed: 13 desserts are served, almost invariably including: pompe à l'huile (a flavoured bread), dates, etc. Provence ( Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm is a region of southeastern France The Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, extensively cultivated for its edible Fruit. Quality wine is usually consumed a such dinners, often with champagne or similar sparkling wines as a conclusion. Champagne is a Sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle Secondary fermentation of Wine to effect Carbonation.
In Germany traditions vary from region to region. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Carp is eaten in many parts of the country. Carp is a common name for various Freshwater Fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large Potato salad with frankfurter or wiener sausages is popular in some families. Potato salad is a dish made from Potatoes and varies throughout different regions and countries of the world A sausage is a prepared Food, usually made from Ground meat, animal fat salt and Spices (sometimes with other ingredients such as herbs typically packed Another simple meal which some families favour, especially in regions where Christmas Eve still has the character of a fast day, is vegetable or pea soup. A Fast Day is a day of religious Fasting observed at various periods by different religious groups Jewish Christian and other sometimes with the authority of government Soup is a Food that is made by combining ingredients such as Meat and Vegetables in stock or hot/boiling Water, until the flavor In some regions, especially in Schleswig-Holstein where Danish influence is noticeable, a roasted duck or goose filled with plums, apples and raisins is family tradition. is the northernmost of the 16 ''Bundesländer'' in Germany. The former English name was Sleswick-Holsatia the Danish name is For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. Goose (plural geese) is the English name for a considerable number of Birds belonging to the family Anatidae. A plum or gage is a stone fruit Tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. Raisins are dried Grapes They are produced in many regions of the world such as the United States, Australia, Chile, In other regions, especially in Mecklenburg and Pomerania, many families prefer kale with boiled potatoes, special sausages and ham. Mecklenburg ( Low German: Mekelnborg) is a region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Kale or Borecole is a form of Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea Acephala Group) green in color in which the central leaves do not Ham is the Thigh and Rump of Pork, cut from the Haunch of a Pig or Boar. Many families have developed new traditions for themselves and eat such meals as meat fondue or raclette. Fondue is a Swiss communal dish shared at the table in an Earthenware pot ( Caquelon) over a small burner ( rechaud) Raclette (raˡklɛt is both a type of Cheese and informally a dish featuring the cheese In almost all families in all parts of Germany you find a wide variety of Christmas cookies baked according to recipes typical for the family and the region. Christmas cookies are traditionally sugar Cookies (though other flavors may be used based on family traditions and individual preferences cut into various shapes related to
Gift giving
It is also seen as the night when Santa Claus or his international variants make their rounds giving gifts to good children. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the In the Czech Republic and Hungary, where St. Nicholas (sveti Mikuláš) gives his sweet gifts on December 6th, the Christmas gift-giver is the Child Jesus (Ježíšek in Czech and Jézuska in Hungarian), also known to most as Christkind. The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint The Child Jesus, or Divine Infant, represents the infant Jesus until to the age of twelve Ježíšek (the Child Jesus) is a Christmas gift-giving figure used in the Czech Republic. The Christkind ( German "Christ Child" pronounced /kristkint/ is the traditional Christmas giftbringer in regions of Austria, the Czech In Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Iceland, Argentina, Poland, Portugal and Quebec, Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th, while in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, English Canada, South Africa, and Australia mostly on the morning of Christmas Day. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. English Canada is a term used to describe one of the following English Canadians a term usually meaning English-speaking Canadians as opposed to The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In Finland Joulupukki personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Joulupukki is the Finnish name for Santa Claus or Father Christmas. In most parts of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Christmas presents are opened in the evening of December 24th ('Bescherung') and are brought by Christkind or Christchild, who leaves the gifts but is never seen doing so. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The Christkind ( German "Christ Child" pronounced /kristkint/ is the traditional Christmas giftbringer in regions of Austria, the Czech In Spain gifts are traditionally opened on the morning of January 6, Epiphany day ("Día de Los Tres Reyes Magos"), though in some other countries, like Argentina and Uruguay people received presents both around Christmas and on the morning of Epiphany day; there are also some countries, like the rest of Latin America, where people stay awake until midnight, when they open the presents. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of
Regional traditions
South America
In South America Christmas Eve, known as La Noche Buena (English - The Good Night), is celebrated by staying up until midnight. The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the world varying by country and region South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Midnight is literally "the middle of the night" In most systems it is when one day ends and the next begins when the date changes At midnight, gifts and presents are opened. Fireworks are also shot off. Fireworks are the main focus of the celebration. It is not a silent night, with families coming together exchanging presents and going to church. After Christmas the children often play with their new presents or go to church with their parents and grandparents.
Spain
As in South America, Christmas Eve is also known as Nochebuena in Spain. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. There are two important traditions: attending Christmas Mass and enjoying a meal with friends and family.
There is a wide variety of typical foods one might find on plates across Spain on this particular night, and each region has its own distinct specialties. Local food (also regional food or food patriotism) or the local food movement is a "collaborative effort to build more locally based self-reliant It is particularly common, however, to start the meal with a seafood dish such as prawns or salmon, followed by a bowl of hot, homemade soup. The main meal will commonly consist of roast lamb, or seafood, such as cod or shellfish. Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget For dessert, there is quite a spread of delicacies, among them are turrón, a dessert made of honey, egg and almonds that is Arabic in origin. Turrón ( Spanish) torró ( Catalan) or torrone ( Italian) is a Nougat confection typically made of Honey, sugar
Iceland and Norway
In Iceland and Norway, Yule starts on the night of December 24th, at 6:00 p. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Yule is a winter festival historically celebrated primarily in northern Europe but now celebrated in many other countries in various forms m. and 5:00 p. m. respectively. Church bells ring at that time and people either sit down for holiday dinner at home or with closest family. A church bell is a bell which is rung in a (especially Christian) church either to signify the Hour or the time for worshippers to go to After that they open gifts and spend the evening together.
Slavic countries
In many cultures, a festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance, when the first star (usually Sirius) arrives on the sky. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky with a visual Apparent magnitude of &minus1 In Slavic countries, it is known as Wygilia (Eve), and being invited to attend a Wygilia dinner with a family is considered a high honour. Unless attendance is impossible or otherwise too impractical, or if the person has made other plans already, turning down such an invitation, or not showing up can be considered extremely rude. Families in some Slavic countries leave one extra place setting for lost visitor (alluding to St. Mary and St. Joseph looking for shelter).
Before eating everyone exchanges Christmas greetings with each other by giving a piece of Christmas wafer (Oplatki), usually stamped with a religious image, such as the Nativity scene. Christmas wafer (opłatek plural pl ''opłatki'' kalėdaitis is an Eastern European Roman Catholic Christmas tradition celebrated in Polish A nativity scene may be used to describe any depiction of the Nativity of Jesus in art, but in the sense covered here also called a crib or manger in the There is a tradition of having at least 12 (or its multiple) Lenten (meatless) dishes. One has to try every single dish to avoid bad luck next year. Dishes are usually fish based, with carp being very important e. g. , in Poland. Wigilia (pronounced /viˈɡiʎa/ or vee-GHEE-lee-uh depending on which region of Poland one comes from is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland
After the dinner children unpack presents from under the Christmas Tree. Later people attend Midnight Mass to solemnly celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The term Midnight Mass or midnight mass can refer to A Church service that happens at midnight A Christmas Eve church
North America
Most families circulate wrapped gifts in the two weeks before Christmas Day. In North America, gifts are most commonly opened on Christmas morning; however, families may also choose to open all or some of their presents on Christmas Eve, depending on evolving family traditions, logistics, and the age of the children involved. E. g. , minor children might open their presents on Christmas Eve and the adults their presents on Christmas morning, or everyone might open their gifts on Christmas morning. In Quebec and among many francophone families living in other provinces, the Réveillon is held on Christmas Eve with traditional food such as tourtière, attendance at church, and the opening of gifts. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk The adjective francophone (alternately Francophone) means French -speaking typically as primary language whether referring to individuals groups or places In France and some other French-speaking places a réveillon is a long dinner and possibly party held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day
It is also common tradition throughout North America for children to leave milk and cookies for Santa the night before on a plate before the fireplace.
Philippines
- Further information: Christmas in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the predominantly Roman Catholic Christian country in Asia, Christmas Eve is usually celebrated by attending the "Rooster's Mass or Misa del Gallo which is celebrated hours before the clock ticks 12 A. Christmas in the Philippines, one of two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia, is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Misa de Gallo is the Spanish phrase for Midnight mass, more literally translated as "Rooster's Mass " M. signifying the arrival of Christmas Day. After attending church, Filipino families usually hold a feast named Noche Buena to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Noche Buena, often translated as "Good Night" is a Spanish word referring to the night of Christmas Eve. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) A great variety of food is eaten during this feast, an event that usually is done with great preparation. For the coarsely ground flour see Flour. A meal is an instance of Eating, specifically one that takes place at a specific time and includes Foods being prepared include the famous lechón, quezo de bola, jamón (Christmas ham), roast chicken (turkey did not gain much popularity in the Philippines), barbecued meats, pancit, among many others. Lechón ( Tagalog: Litson and Cebuano: Inasal) is the Spanish word for Suckling pig. Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Ham is the Thigh and Rump of Pork, cut from the Haunch of a Pig or Boar. The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from The domesticated turkey is a large Poultry Bird raised for food barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. Pancit or '"Pansit"' is a Stir-fried Noodle dish common in the Philippines. Despite the fact that some families are poor, they still find a way to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ through eating, family time and merry-making.
Finland
Most of the traditions, such as Christmas dinner and gift giving are observed on this day. Santa Claus visits homes in person, played by an older family member or a rent-a-Santa. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the
Declaration of Christmas Peace has been a tradition in Finland from the Middle Ages every year, except in 1939 due to the Winter War. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The Winter War (Talvisota Советско-финляндская война - official Зимняя война - unofficial Vinterkriget began when the The declaration takes place on the Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City and former capital, at noon on Christmas Eve. Turku, in Swedish Åbo ( pronounced,) is a city and the original capital of Finland on the southwest coast of Finland at the It is broadcast on Finnish radio (since 1935) and television and nowadays also in some foreign countries.
The declaration ceremony begins with the hymn Jumala ompi linnamme (Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) and continues with the Declaration of Christmas Peace read from a parchment roll:
- "Tomorrow, God willing, marks the most gracious feast of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, and therefore a general Christmas peace is hereby declared, and all persons are directed to observe this holiday with due reverence and otherwise quietly and peacefully to conduct themselves, for whosoever breaks this peace and disturbs the Christmas holiday by any unlawful or improper conduct shall be liable, under aggravating circumstances, to whatever penalty is prescribed by law and decree for each particular offence or misdemeanour. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer " A Mighty Fortress Is Our God " (German Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott) is the best known of Martin Luther 's Hymns Luther wrote Finally, all citizens are wished a joyous Christmas holiday. "
The Ceremony ends with trumpets playing the Finnish national anthem Maamme and Porilaisten marssi, with the crowd usually singing when the band plays Maamme.
Recently, there is also a declaration of Christmas peace for forest animals in many cities and municipalities, so there is no hunting during Christmas.
In Finland people usually take a Christmas sauna. A sauna (ˈsɔːnə or as Finnish) is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary The tradition is very old. Unlike on normal days, when going to sauna is in the evening, on Christmas eve it is before sunset. This tradition has is based on a pre-20th century belief that the spirits of the dead return and have a sauna on the usual sauna hours.
Sweden
- Further information: Swedish festivities#Christmas
In Sweden, most Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve, including Santa Claus' s distribution of Christmas presents. Life of Swedish people Over 80% of Swedes belong to the Lutheran Church of Sweden, but seldom go to church Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the giFT Internet File Transfer ( giFT) is a computer software daemon that allows several File sharing protocols to be used with a simple client having a
Denmark
In Denmark, Christmas Eve is when the main celebrations are carried out; this includes Christmas dinner and the opening of presents.
Historical events
A number of historical events have been influenced by the occurrence of Christmas Eve.
Christmas truce
During World War I in 1914 and 1915 an unofficial Christmas truce took place. The " Christmas Truce " is a term used to describe several brief unofficial cessations of hostilities that occurred on Christmas Eve or World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The " Christmas Truce " is a term used to describe several brief unofficial cessations of hostilities that occurred on Christmas Eve or The truce began on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1914, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1914 ( MCMXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The German Army (Deutsches Heer heɐ) is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static Ypres ( French, generally used in English French ipʁ English ˈiːprə Ieper (official name in Dutch, pronounced /ˈiːpər/ or Ypern The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols, most notably Stille Nacht (Silent Night). A Christmas carol (also called a Noël) is a carol ( Song or Hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter " Silent Night " (" Stille Nacht " is a popular Christmas carol. The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The two sides shouted Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "No man's land" where small gifts were exchanged. No man's land is a term for land that is not occupied or more specifically land that is under dispute between countries or areas that will not occupy it because of fear or uncertainty The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen 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 from Psalm 23. The theme of the 23rd Psalm ( Greek numbering Psalm 22) in the Bible casts God in the role of protector and provider The truce occurred in spite of opposition at higher levels of the military command. Earlier in the autumn, a call by Pope Benedict XV for an official truce between the warring governments had been ignored. Pope Benedict XV ( Latin: Benedictus PP XV) (Benedetto XV ( November 21 1854 &ndash January 22 1922 born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa
Apollo 8 reading from Genesis
On December 24, 1968, in what was the most watched television broadcast to date, the astronauts William Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman of Apollo 8 surprised the world with a reading of the creation myth from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained William Alison Anders (born October 17, 1933) is a former United States Air Force officer and NASA Astronaut. James "Jim" Arthur Lovell Jr, (born March 25, 1928) is a former NASA Astronaut, most famous as the commander of Apollo 13 Frank Frederick Borman II (born March 14, 1928) is a retired NASA Astronaut, best remembered as the Commander of Apollo 8, the A creation myth is a supernatural mytho-[[religion religious]] story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, Earth, life, and Madalyn Murray O'Hair, an atheist activist, filed a lawsuit under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Madalyn Murray O'Hair ( April 13 1919 – September 29 1995) was an American atheist and activist Atheism The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment refers to the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, stating that " The suit was dismissed by the US Supreme Court due to lack of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary.
In 1969, the US Postal Service issued a stamp (Scott # 1371) commemorating the Apollo 8 flight around the moon. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Scott catalogue of Postage stamps published by Scott Publishing Co a subsidiary of Amos Press, is updated annually and lists all the stamps of the entire The stamp featured a detail of the famous photograph of the Earthrise over the moon (NASA image AS8-14-2383HR) taken by Anders on Christmas Eve, and the words, "In the beginning God. For the upcoming MMORPG see Earthrise (video game. For other uses see Earthrise (disambiguation. . . "
See also
Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the Kūčios (ˈkuːtʃoʊs is the traditional Christmas Eve dinner in Lithuania, held on the twenty fourth of December In France and some other French-speaking places a réveillon is a long dinner and possibly party held on the evenings preceding Christmas Day Wigilia (pronounced /viˈɡiʎa/ or vee-GHEE-lee-uh depending on which region of Poland one comes from is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day.Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic