Christmas Eve
Every major feast in the Liturgical Year is preceded by a vigil and of course Christmas is no exception. While the Advent season continues until Midnight (when the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and Christmas Day officially begins) the joy and expectant longing for the Messiah reaches its peak on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus will begin his magical journey and the universe will abound with mystery and miracles as creation rejoices in the arrival of the Messiah (see folklore below). Today, the housework is at last completed to welcome Christ and gifts for the animals (like seeds and anything safe for them to eat) are placed outside in the trees for their share in the celebration of the Nativity. Tonight is the night to watch movies about Santa as well as movies about the Nativity. A Christmas Carol also takes place on Christmas Eve as does Elf, The Polar Express and countless other Christmas Classics. Finally, Click here to track Santa and here to virtually visit the North Pole. Google also has their own fun Christmas Eve resource here. It’s most important to recall that the preparation of the heart and soul (with Confession and pious resolutions) is what’s most important as the first Christmas was marked by the Holy Family’s trust in God’s will and welcoming with open hearts for the Christ Child. Christmas begins this afternoon (at the 4pm Vigil Mass). At Masses of Christmas, take a piece of straw from the Manger after Mass to remind you of Christ’s humble and perfect love and for legends that say it brings financial luck to place manger straw in your wallet. For those consecrated to Mary on this day can gain an indulgence for renewing their consecration and praying for Pope Francis after going to Confession and Communion.
It is so much easier said than done but Christmas Eve is a day of renewal and peace. Your house doesn’t need to be spotless, you don’t have to buy extravagant gifts and you don’t have to worry about a single thing. Your family may not be together in person, some of us may be sick, some passed on from this life and some of us are suffering mentally so that it doesn’t feel like Christmas at all. Regardless of how “put together” everything is or not, entrust yourself and your plans to God just as Mary and Joseph did that first Christmas journey to Bethlehem and do the best you can. Take a deep breath, stay present, remind yourself what matters and reach out for help! I also have resources on this blog for those who experience anxiety, depression and OCD and for the queer community and for social justice to help ease some worries during this festive season. It's fitting to remember the rejection Mary and Joseph received in Bethlehem and to recall the marginalized who experience the same this Christmas. Let’s also remember kindness to all the animals as we remember Christ being born in their midst.
The mysteries of Christmas Eve are countless. Folklore that is often celebrated with other holidays of the year are commemorated in common on Christmas Eve when the God of Creation became Man. All corners of the globe and all creation rejoices in the Birth of Jesus. Animals talk at Midnight, cattle in the stables and deer in the forest are said to kneel, bees hum, birds sing, rivers flow with wine and reveal their treasures, witches and demons are unarmed, trees and plants bow toward Bethlehem, natural waters are blessed by God with healing, mystical bells toll and the darkest and most abandoned caverns and mines display beautiful lights. At Midnight Heaven’s gates open and those who die in that hour enter immediately. Also, babies born on Christmas Night have the supernatural gift of seeing spirits. A legend states the Blessed Virgin sends angels to various children that as they sleep are brought to Heaven to sing a hymn to the Christ Child before they return home.
The Feast of Our First Parents, Adam and Eve:
Immediately after the Fall of Man, God the Father promised to send the Redeemer. This is known as the Protoevangelium and can be found in Genesis 3:15 (see photo interpretation below). To recall why a Savior was needed Christmas Eve was set aside as Adam and Eve Day. To honor this commemoration reenactments would be presented to recall the promise of God which would be fulfilled the following day. These plays are the reason for Christmas trees because the tree of knowledge of good and evil decorated with apples evolved to our modern Christmas Tree. As all the Saints who died after Christ’s birth were saved, so too were those who died before the Messiah’s birth. For this reason Adam and Eve are looked at as Saints in the same way other Patriarchs and Matriarchs are. Although responsible for Original Sin, their repentance and longing for the Messiah is why they are counted among the redeemed.
(The spot where Jesus is buried is called Golgatha which translated means “the place of the skull” because of ancient belief Adam was buried there, according to Church approved revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Eve is buried with Adam. The Blood of Jesus from Calvary literally washes all of humanity and to recall Jesus’ unimaginable love is why we rejoice in His approaching nativity!)
*Commemoration of the Marriage of Mary and Joseph:
"Celebration of the virginal marriage of Our Lady and St. Joseph, kept as a festival for a long time at Sense and several churches of France. (Saussey, Martyrologium Gallicum.)"
The celebration of the virginal marriage of Our Lady to Saint Joseph has been kept for a long time as a festival in Sens and in other counties of France in particular.
Their marriage took place on Mount Sion. Mary wore a beautiful blue wedding dress which had been prepared for her by her relatives. Saint Joseph in utter simplicity wore a long cloak and a robe of grey material. Many friends were at the wedding feast; also some of Mary’s Temple teachers and school companions.
When the celebration was over, Mary and Joseph left for their home in Nazareth; this home had been given to Mary by her parents as a part of her inheritance. Those who had not been able to attend the feast welcomed the new couple home.
When these had departed, Mary was for the first time alone with Joseph. In deep humility Joseph spoke to Mary, somewhat like this:
“My dear spouse, although I am unworthy of you, I thank God that he has chosen me for your betrothed husband. Consider me your servant; tell me what you want and I will do it.”
To this Mary may have said,
“My master I am fortunate that God has given me you as a husband, but I must tell you what is in my heart.”
Joseph urged Mary to speak freely so she did.
“Our Creator has manifested His mercy in planning that we serve Him together. I beg you, Joseph, help me fulfill the vow of chastity which I made to God. In all other things I will be your servant. Make a similar resolution, so God will give us the eternal rewards for which we yearn.”
With a look of joy, Joseph listened to Mary’s words; for unknown to her, he, too, had promised God to live chastely; then he also spoke freely:
“Mary, my heart is glad to hear your feelings on this subject. When I was twelve years old, I made a like promise to God to serve Him in perpetual virginity. With His grace, I will be your faithful companion; I beg you to consider me a brother, chaste and pure.”
Then, filled with joy, Mary and Joseph dedicated their lives to God, their supreme Master, and discussed earthly important matters. Ann and Joachim had left Mary an inheritance, which had been in the custody of the Temple until then, but after the wedding it belonged to her. She and Joseph planned – they assigned 1/3 to their needs, 1/3 to the Temple, and the last third to the poor. Then turning to Mary, Joseph asked:
“Is it your wish, my lady, that I continue my work as a carpenter?”
Mary answered: “Yes, Joseph; this is God’s desire, too, that we be humble people. I will obey you, Joseph… Let us ever live in accordance with the wishes of God.”
Joseph replied: “May God’s will be done by us, Mary, my beloved, in whatever we do or say.”
Each year Mary and Joseph renewed these promises and spent the anniversary day in prayer and recollection as much as they could. What a commemoration it must have been on the twenty-fourth of December, the eve of Christ’s birth! Only Mary and Joseph could personally tell us of this, and they will certainly do so when we see them in Heaven.
Paintings of the ceremony, from the ABC Gallery website's Virgin Mary page: Fra Angelico Annunciation. The Wedding of the Virgin. Giotto The Marriage Procession of the Virgin. Marriage of the Virgin; El Greco Marriage of the Virgin; Pietro Perugino Marriage of the Virgin; Nicolas Poussin. The Marriage of the Virgin, The Marriage of the Virgin. Stained glass of the wedding ceremony, and essay thereon. Essay on the marriage. Fulton Sheen on the marriage.
CHRISTMAS EVE AROUND THE WORLD
Bethlehem: Cloaks and blankets are draped over people as they peer into a well during the day, the pure of heart can see the Star of Bethlehem move across the water.
Germany: It is a custom to leave candles on the graves of loved ones and to feed the animals before lighting the Christmas tree because they are the ones who first beheld the Christ Child.
Ghana: Children go about shouting "Christ is coming, He is near!" Fireworks will also be set off on Christmas Eve in celebration and to ward off evil.
Ireland: The custom of lighting a candle and placing it in the window on Christmas Eve came during the times of persecution was used to symbolize a welcome place for a Priest to celebrate Mass. If someone with suspicion asked they were told it was as a welcome to the Holy Family. At Epiphany, three candles were lit for the wise men.
Lithuania: Straw is strewn across the table under a white tablecloth to recall the manger where Christ was born, later the family will draw pieces of straw to tell their fortunes. The meal doesn’t begin until the family spots the first evening star. A place is set at the table for those who are unable to come and the same is set with a candle for the deceased and after dinner they leave food for the departed to enjoy before returning to Heaven. They have a Christmas wafer tradition that is shared with the family and resembles the Eucharist. A similar custom is done with apples to recall our first parents and Mary’s contrasting obedience as Christmas Eve is Adam and Eve day in many cultures . The meal on Christmas Eve is typically vegan and there are 12 dishes to wish for 12 months of luck. The weather on Christmas Eve determines the weather for the year.
Come Midnight on Christmas Eve click here for when Christmas Day officially begins.
*Copied from Roman-Catholic-Saints.com, The Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Father Francis Weiser and marylinks.com Link Disclaimer
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