Christmas Eve

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Christmas Eve is is the day before Christmas Day. The term 'Christmas Eve' explains itself i.e. the evening before Christmas day. Just like the count down to New Year, it is the countdown to Christmas, one of the most celebrated festival in the world. It is widely celebrated, especially in the western world, which commemorates the birth of Jesus. Christmas Eve is also the beginning of the much anticipated holiday season at the end of the year. It is a day which people use to make arrangements for Christmas celebrations. People use this day to buy gifts for their loved one's and for themselves as well. People also decorate their homes and driveways with seasonal decorations. One of the major and the most popular decoration item is the 'Christmas Tree'. It is decorated with all kinds of glittering lights, angels, stars and other decoratives. Many go a step ahead and install outdoor light sculptures which are available in a variety of forms like trees, sleighs, reindeer, santa claus, snowmen etc. This is also a day of reunion, where family, relatives and friends get-together. These celebrations are not restricted to just homes, workplaces decorate the place with all the decorations and hold parties or celebrations to mark the day. Carol Concerts and Television Programmes are especially held to mark this day. This day is celebrated in many countries with varied customs and traditions. In Western culture, Christmas Eve is mostly celebrated on December 24. However, the Coptic, Serbian, Russian, Macedonian, and Georgian Orthodox Churches, as well as the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, use the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Christmas Eve for them, occurs on 6th January of the following year.

History

Christmas Eve celebrations dates back to the time after the birth of Jesus Christ. Jews started the tradition of Christmas eve in order to prepare for welcoming Jesus into the world. They would celebrate the day with roaring fires, story-telling, feasting, drinking, dancing, and sometimes clowning, as well. Similar events were also held by various other cultures. And soon Christmas Eve became a typical Christian Tradition.

Events

Christmas Eve Traditions, typically include:

Midnight Mass - Midnight Mass is one of the major Christmas Eve activities held world over. Midnight Mass begins either at or sometime before midnight on Christmas Eve. This ceremony is held in churches throughout the world. However, now may churches hold this church service in the late afternoon or early evening of Christmas Eve due to the cold weather. In Philippines, this tradition is observed for nine days. It starts on December 16th and continues daily up to December 24th, during which Filipinos attend dawn Masses, usually starting at around 4:00–5:00 a.m. The Mass observances are almost similar amongst Catholics and Protestants. Special services like these are often candle-lit and may be very solemn. They may include the presentation of a crib scene depicting the holy family, with statues or actors representing Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the shepherds and various animals thought to be present in the stable where Jesus was born.

Santa Clause's Gifts - Santa Clause is an essential part of Christmas Eve. As per the traditions, Santa Clause (Father Christmas) visits houses at midnight on Christmas Eve, coming down the chimney to leave presents for the kids in the stockings left by them. So, just before bedtime, many families, particularly those with children, hang up stockings on the fireplace or the end of their bed. Children expect their stocking to be filled with gifts, sweets etc. The practice of leaving pies and a glass of milk or brandy for Father Christmas to keep him warm, is also practised amongst various cultures.

Major Christmas Eve Celebrations in other parts of the world:

German Christmas Eve - In Germany, it is the last day of Advent (4 Sundays preceding Christmas) and the start of the Christmas season.

• Krippenspiele (Nativity plays), special festive music, vocal and brass choirs and candlelight services mark the Christmas Eve in Germany.
  
  
• In eastern and middle Germany, the tradition of 'Quempas Singing' is till observed. In this ceremony, separate groups in various parts of the church sing verses of the song "He whom Shepherds once came Praising".
  
  
• Christmas Vigil in the early morning hours of Christmas Day is also observed in many parts.
  
  
• It is also a tradition to eat Carp on this day. Similarly, Potato salad with frankfurter or wiener sausages are also served.
  
  
• People also exchange presents amongst themselves on this day.
  
  
• Many families prepare an Advent wreath (flower arrangement) with four candles and seasonal greenery. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two on the second Sunday, three on the third Sunday and then four on the fourth Sunday.

Russian Christmas Eve - In Russia, Christmas Eve is held on 6th January.

• Eastern Orthodox Russians hold a fast, which typically lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears.
  
  
• Meat is not eaten on this day so Kutya is prepared. Kutya is a vegetarian porridge consisting of various types of wheat and grain sweetened with honey, along with dishes as fresh fruit, beans, and potatoes.
  
  
• A traditional meatless 12-dishes supper is served on Christmas Eve before opening gifts. This meal is also known as 'Holy Meal'. Everything in the meal and the way it is laid out, have a symbolic meaning. The 12 dishes symbolize the Twelve Apostles. The table cloth is white in colour symbolic of the swaddling clothes the Child Jesus was wrapped in. A large white candle placed in the center of the table symbolises 'Christ : the Light of the World'. The round loaf of bread symbolises 'Christ : Bread of Life'. Hay displayed either on the table or as a decoration in the room, symbolises the 'Manger in Bethlehem.

Slovak Christmas Eve - In Slovakia, the 12 dish supper is known as 'Velija'.

• Slovaks also eat 'Oplatky', which is a Communion-like wafer stamped with a nativity scene, spread with honey to symbolize the unleavened bread of the Passover supper. It is customary for the husband to break the oplatky with his wife accompanied by good wishes and a kiss. This way it goes down the line of children from oldest to youngest. The head of the household dips his thumb in honey and makes the sign of the cross on everyone's forehead as a reminder to keep Christ foremost in their lives.
  
  
• After the meal, carols known as 'Kolady' are sung.
  
  
• Star Carolers also known as 'Jaslickari' are young men and boys dressed as the Three Kings or shepherds and an angel carrying a star on a pole. One member of the group carries a crèche and, in song, tells the story of the nativity.
  
  
• Some families throw walnuts into the corners of every room to ensure good luck for the coming year. Others break them open to foretell the future. The four quarters of the walnut represent a quarter of the year.
  
  
• In some areas, the head of the household takes a spoonful of a dish of boiled wheat mixed with honey, raisins and nuts (known as bobalki, loksa or kutia) and throws it up on the ceiling. The more these stick, the bigger the crops will be in the coming year.

Alternate Names - Vigil of Christmas, Heiligabend (Germany), Nochebuena (spain), La Noche Buena (latin america), Stedry den' (Slovakia -the Generous Day), Véspera de Natal (portuguese)

Holiday Status - It is mostly a Full or Partial Holiday, especially in Western World, on account of the upcoming Christmas celebrations. In India, it is a Restricted Holiday.