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Home , Christmas, Christmastide, Christmas carol, Epiphany (holiday), Ordinary Time, Solemnity

DECEMBER 21, 2012 • HAWAII CATHOLIC HERALD 3

Christmastide Don’t put away the nativity set yet. The ‘12 Days of Christmas’ come after Dec. 25 and continue even beyond that By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz 13, a symbolic transition back into under.” () the high society of . She had been Hawaii Catholic Herald Time. Angered by the prophecy that he would married to wealthy William Seton, who later “The end of actually marks lose his throne to the newborn , King died of tuberculosis after the couple moved Merry Christmas! a new beginning,” she said. Herod, then the Roman-appointed King of to . St. Elizabeth moved back to the U.S., The big day is finally here. All the ribbon- To enrich your Christmastide experience, the Jews, mandated a -killing of all in- converted to Catholicism, and later founded a cutting and present-wrapping, the long shop- here’s a quick look at the special days of the fant boys in Jesus’ home town. The deaths of Catholic school and religious community. ping days and the -filled nights culmi- season and some of the notable ’ feast these Innocents are commemorated on a day of St. John Neumann, Jan. 5 nate on Dec. 25. are opened, dinner is days therein. called “Childermas.” served, carols are sung, and then ... Christmas St. John Neumann was born in Bohemia is over. Feast of St. Stephen, Dec. 26 Feast of the , Dec. 30 in 1811. He was ordained in New York, and Correct? “ looked out, on the Feast Celebrated on the after Christmas, eventually would become a of Phila- No. of Stephen, the Feast of the Holy Family honors Jesus, delphia. He was noted for establishing a di- Keep that creche set up, dear Catholics, When the snow lay round about, deep and Mary and . Devotion to the Holy Fam- ocesan Catholic school system and fostering and don’t stow away the celebrations just yet. crisp and even ...” ily became more widespread in the universal Catholic education. He is the same Neumann who formed several Franciscan religious con- Dec. 25 is just the beginning of “Christmas.” The feast in the famous re- church under the reign of Pope Leo XIII, after gregations of women (one of which produced There’s a whole liturgical season instituted by fers to that of the first Christian martyr. He was having been previously just a regional devo- St. Marianne) which recently merged as the the church to keep the joyousness of ’s a through whom God worked many tion. Promoting this feast day was a way to Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Com- birth going well into the new year. miracles. While his wisdom and eloquence counter the breakdown of families that oc- “When a beloved child is born, we are in a in preaching inspired many, his enemies had curred during Pope Leo XIII’s time. munities. celebratory mood not only on the day of his been furious with his success in conversions. of the of the Lord, or her birth but in the days that follow,” said Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Stephen was eventually stoned to death Jan. 6 Jayne Mondoy, director of the diocesan Office the Mother of God, Jan. 1 by the Jewish council. He is the patron A major day of celebration for many cul- of Religious Education. of and stonemasons. The first Marian feast day of the year, on Christmastide, as the season is called, “is the first day of the year, celebrates the role tures around the world, the Solemnity of the more commonly known as the ‘12 days of Feast of St. John, Apostle and that Mary played as “,” or “God Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Christ Christmas,’” said Mondoy. It’s the festive pe- Evangelist, Dec. 27 bearer.” It used to be a . to the whole world. Some cultures honor the riod noted in the famous song from , Five books in the are at- Catholics are still encouraged to attend Mass on this day, the Wise Men who came to which often is mistakenly thought to com- tributed to the authorship of this evangelist: on this day. adore Jesus and spread the word of his memorate the 12 days before Christmas, not the of John, three and the birth. Memorials of Sts. Basil the Great and after the . Book of Revelation. He is said to be the son of Feast of the of the Lord, Jan. 13 Catholics celebrate these 12 days of Christ- Salome, the younger sister of the blessed Vir- Gregory Nazianzen, Jan. 2 “After all the people had been baptized mastide from Dec. 25 until Jan. 6, the Solem- gin Mary, making him Jesus’ cousin as well. These two saints were in the 4th and Jesus also had been baptized and was nity of the Epiphany of the Lord. St. John was one of the three apostles who century and were later named Doctors of praying, heaven was opened and the Holy “The Christmastide allows us time to truly witnessed the Transfiguration. He is the pa- the Church. They were accomplished schol- Spirit descended upon him in bodily form celebrate Jesus’ birth by reflecting on how we tron saint of authors, burn victims, scholars ars who helped shape . St. like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, are to be Christ to others and courageously and theologians. Basil was one of the early supporters of the share His message with the world,” Mondoy . ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well said. Feast of the Holy Innocents, Dec. 28 pleased.’” (Luke 3) According to Mondoy, the church actually “When Herod realized that he had been Memorial of St. , The feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks extends the Christmas season beyond the 12 deceived by the Magi, he became furious. Jan. 4 the last day of Christmas. The liturgical cal- days of Christmastide. It officially ends with He ordered the massacre of all the boys in The first native born American to be can- endar goes back to afterward the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. and its vicinity two years old and onized, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton grew up in until .

Christmas hugs and Christmas The diocesan Prison Ministry’s annual “Star Light, Star Bright” event brought women inmates and their children together Dec. 15 for a Christmas party on the grounds of the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua. The day before, several inmates were surprised with a trip to St. Stephen Diocesan Center (left) where they were greeted by family members who flew in from the neighbor is- lands. The main Star Light, Star Bright party included games and a visit from Santa.