We celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24
A festive meal is prepared for the occasion. The Eve contributes to the magical time that Christmas is for children.
It is also at this time that Christians make their way to church for the traditional midnight mass; when all is dark, they celebrate the coming of the light. The celebration itself often starts as a vigil in church where the nativity scene is displayed and a statue of the Baby Jesus is brought to the crib by way of procession. The proclamation of the gospel often ends with singing the hymn of Gloria.
According to a tradition dating back to the seventh century, midnight mass would be a succession of three masses. The faithful came to call the first mass the “Angels’ Mass”, the second the “Shepherds’ Mass” and the third the “Mass of the Divine Word”. The masses are better known under the names of Midnight Mass, Dawn Mass and Christmas Day Mass. It was only during the nineteenth century that it became a common practice to consecutively hold the three masses on Christmas Eve.
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