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Home , Celebrating Christmas, Christmas traditions

P108_05Christmas 7/28/05 3:10 PM Page 1

t The Solemnity of the , traditionally DID YOU KNOW? observed on January 6, is transferred to a Sunday in the How to Celebrate The birthplace of United States. “Epiphany” means “manifestation,” and — — means it’s the celebration of Jesus’ manifesting to all of the as a Catholic “house of bread.” Many world his glory as Savior to all nations, symbolically ancient commentators through the . Epiphany is also a day to share interpreted this as pre- in many cultures, as well as a day to feast. Place the figuring the Eucharist. Magi in the Nativity set and read their story from the Jesus came to earth in Gospel of Matthew. the “house of bread” and comes to us in the form k of Living Bread every time we receive him in t Epiphany is traditionally a day to bless homes. the Blessed Sacrament. Part of this blessing involves bracketing the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar — with Comstock Comstock the year above your door, usually in chalk, like this: 20+C+M+B+06. (Another tradition claims the initials DID YOU KNOW? Catholics around the world treasure a rich Inc. stand for “Christus mansionem benedicat,” meaning Catholics have traditionally celebrated great feasts variety of : “May Christ bless this home.”) for an “octave” — a period of eight days afterward. • The posada is a traditional Mexican procession. On The Octave of Christmas includes many important each of nine nights, beginning on December 16, partici- dates: St. Stephen (December 26), St. John the pants play the parts of the Holy Family, villagers, and Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents innkeepers, and process to a home seeking shelter. Each (December 28), the Holy Family (Sunday after Only.Visitor, procession is followed by a party, the greatest celebra- Christmas), and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God tion being the last one on . The parties (January 1). Praying with the Scripture readings for are customarily preceded by prayer. these feasts is a good way to keep focused on God’s • In Poland, it is customary to share an oplatek on love even after December 25. Christmas Eve. An oplatek is a wafer into which a scene ReviewSunday of the Nativity is pressed. It is blessed, and pieces are shared by the family. For • In the Philippines, many erect parols, or star-shaped Carlo Maratta • Erich Lessing/Artby Resource, NY Our lanterns, along roadways and in front of houses as a sign of welcome and hope for .

1 THE CHRISTMAS SEASON 2 Also see “Madonna and Child” www.osv.com for additional Catholic resources For Catholics, December 25 is only the beginning. or to order bulk copies of this pamphlet. Copyright Our celebration continues as other feasts shed their own unique light on the of Jesus.

t January 1 is both the “The Baptism of Christ” Andrea del Verrocchio,photo OSV file del Andrea of Christ” “The Baptism 200 Noll Plaza • Huntington, IN 46750 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of 1-800-348-2440 • Fax: 1-800-498-6709 • www.osv.com God, and a day of prayer for t The Baptism of the Lord commemorates the final world peace. We can deepen our “Christmas” feast, when the Father reveals the divinity of ISBN: 1-59276-169-0 • Inventory Number: P220 celebration of the New Year by Jesus at his baptism through the in the By Amy Welborn our prayer that our families and Jordan River. It is a good day to celebrate our own bap- Copyright © 2005 by Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. our world be open to the peace tism, our “new birth” in Christ and inclusion in his body, Jesus offers. the Church. The Scripture citations used in this work are taken from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (RSV), copyright © 1965 and 1966 by the Division of Christian 0905 Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. “Praying Virgin” Corel photo Virgin” Corel “Praying For Review Only. Copyright Our SundayUsed by permission. All rightsVisitor, reserved. Inc. P108_05Christmas 7/28/05 3:10 PM Page 2

Ways to Prepare for 3. Raise the n our culture, the observance of Christmas begins in 1 2 CHRISTMAS The Christmas tree — especially a real one — is an mid-October or even earlier, as stores put out their I Christ’s Coming evergreen, symbolic of God’s eternal love as well as the holiday displays. 5 After we’ve spent four weeks contemplating our great tree in the Garden of Eden, the beginning of the bro- But the calendar Catholics live and celebrate by is need for God, the reality that meets us at Christmas is kenness that Jesus came to heal. A prayer different from the secular world’s.When we let our Use an an indescribable gift: The Father has answered our around the tree helps bring this faith and the ancient wisdom and tradition of the The circular wreath with four candles prayers, sending his Son as one like ourselves, immers- meaning to life. Waiting to put Church center us as we plan, schedule, and organize reminds us of God’s eternal nature and ing himself in human life and speaking words we can up the tree until a week or so our time, we’re celebrating Christmas as Catholics. 1the light Christ brings into our lives. understand. before Christmas and leav- You can say a prayer and light the No wonder we say “Merry Christmas!” ing it up until the end of candles before dinner each night or It’s good to remember the medieval origins of this the Christmas season 1 2 at some other consistent time. ADVENT very word: “Christ’s Mass,” where we begin our cele- reminds us of this, too. bration of this season that lasts until the Feast of the Many other plants can Make a Jesse Tree As Catholics, we prepare for Christmas by celebrating Baptism of the Lord. have a role in Christmas Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah the season of Advent in the four weeks preceding celebrations: , would come from the line of King Christmas. We hear John the Baptist, echoing the words DID YOU KNOW ? , rosemary, Star of David, son of Jesse. The Jesse Tree is a of the prophets of Israel, call us to prepare the way for “X-mas” isn’t really an attempt to “X” Christ out of Bethlehem, and the Christmas way of remembering Jesus’ roots in the coming of the Lord in our own lives now, and to 2 Rose all have rich symbolic and Christmas. In Greek,“X” is the letter “chi,” the first Israel. Hang from the branches each look for the fulfillment of his kingdom in the future. letter of “Christ” and a commonly abbreviated way the legendary connections with the day a symbol of an important point early Christians referred to Christ. Nativity that any family would enjoy exploring. DID YOU KNOW ? in Israel’s history: Noah’s ark, Jacob’s We celebrate two great feasts of Mary ladder, David’s harp, and so on. during Advent. On the Solemnity of the x 4. Let Lights Shine Immaculate Conception (December 8), Count Down to Christmas with How to Celebrate On Christmas Eve, we read we celebrate the truth that Mary was an from the first chapter of John’s conceived without sin. (This feast Advent calendars begin on December 1, with a door to Christmas Gospel about the light that does not celebrate the conception of 3be opened each day. Behind each door is a Scripture “shines in the darkness.” Our Jesus, as many mistakenly believe.) verse or small picture of a biblical scene. A calendar is 1. Go to Mass celebrations of Christmas are On the Feast of Our Lady of great for keeping our focus (especially children’s) on At Christmas, we celebrate marked by all kinds of lights: Guadalupe (December 12), we cel- the coming of Christ. God’s gift of Jesus to the world. lights on our houses and trees, ebrate Mary’s appearance to the When we celebrate “Christ’s in our churches, a white poor Indian peasant St. Juan Diego Celebrate God’s Mercy Mass,” this gift is offered to us Christmas candle in the middle of in Mexico in 1531. During Advent, we prepare our hearts for the Word through Jesus’ Real Presence in our , all announcing the Good who brought light into darkness. It is a particularly fit- the Eucharist. Receiving Jesus News that we are now “children of the light.” 4ting time to welcome the light of God’s forgiveness into in the Eucharist on Christmas, a The the dark places of our sinful lives by celebrating the , is the 5. Exchange Gifts O Antiphons Sacrament of Reconciliation. moment toward which all of our Our gift-giving echoes God’s gift of his Son to us. As Christmas draws near, the preparations have brought us. The story of King Wenceslas bringing gifts to the poor Church traditionally prays these verses Discover the History of Santa on the and Matthew’s narrative of the Magi traveling far to highlighting the ways Jesus fulfills Old Feast of St. Nicholas 2. Set Up a bring their finest to the newborn king can give perspec- tive and new direction to our gift-giving, as can a prayer Testament prophecy. We begin December 17 St. Nicholas of ’s feast on December 6 is The Nativity scene, or crechè said over our gifts for those who will receive them. with “O Wisdom on High” and end December 5celebrated in many European countries as a (“crib” in French) was popularized day to share gifts — often candy, and often by St. in the thir- 23 with “O Emmanuel.” The full texts of these placed in shoes. As Europeans immigrated teenth century. Many families put 6. Share a Feast verses can be found in any missalette. You to the United States, various St. Nicholas out most of the Nativity scene Christians throughout history have used food as a might pray them before a meal or in the traditions combined and emerged as Santa before Christmas, but wait until way to express their joy in the gift of Jesus. The feast we evening, perhaps around the Advent Claus. Sharing the story of St. Nicholas can December 25 to place Baby Jesus in share with family, friends, and with the poor is a sym- wreath in the eight days leading help us emulate the generosity of his faith- the manger, and until the Feast of bol of our communion as children of God. up to Christmas. filled life and reclaim this Christian saint. the Epiphany to arrange the Magi.

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