Christmas
Our current English term can be traced back to at least 1123 and in one of
the Old English spellings appears as Cristes maesse, which by 1568 clearly
meant “Mass of Christ,” that is, the celebration of His birth. By the sixth
century the annual feast day was almost universally celebrated on the
twenty-fifth of December (the exception still to this day being the Church of
Armenia). Speculation about the correct birth date originates in the early
third century when Clement of Alexandria suggested May 20. The date of
December 25 is marked for Christmas in the Philocalian Calendar, which
represents Roman practice in the year 336 (natus Christus in Betleem
Judeae).
Scholars speculate that the selection of December 25 was aimed at replacing
the pagan winter festival dedicated to the “Unconquered Sun” (Natalis Solis
Invicti). In the Eastern part of the Church, the feast of the Epiphany,
celebrating Christ's Baptism on January 6, was later connected to the
Nativity (in the fourth century). By the sixth century most of the East had
adopted the December 25 date.
A logical explanation of the date of December 25th starts with September
25th. The Gospels relate that Zachariah was serving in the temple and
chosen to offer sacrifice. The description matches Yom Kipper, the Day of
Atonement, which likely fell on that date. The chain starts there. Six
months later, Gabriel appears to Mary and announces she will be the mother
of Jesus and that Elizabeth is six months pregnant. The Annunciation is
celebrated on March 25th. Three months later, June 25th, we celebrate the
Birth of John the Baptist. Nine months after the Annunciation we celebrate
the birth of Jesus.
John the Baptist was born on the summer solstice, when days start getting
shorter (less sunlight each day). Jesus was born on the winter solstice, when
days start getting longer (more sunlight each day). Remember the words of
John “I must decrease, he must increase”.
Is it a coincidence that the birthday of Jesus fell on a pagan feast celebrating
the birth of the sun? All things work together for God’s plan. God
prefigured the birth of the Son by changing seasons. The Church affirmed
the deeper workings of God recognized faintly by pagans, now revealed
clearly in Jesus.
The Eastern Church places more importance on the Feast of the Epiphany.
The word “Epiphany” means manifestation. On this feast Jesus is shown to
the world. The importance of the Magi, or wise men, is seen in foreigners
recognizing what God is doing. While tradition identifies three Magi, the
Gospel does not give a number. It speaks of gifts of gold, frankincense, and
Myrrh. Since there were three gifts, we suppose three gift givers. Tradition
has even given them names.
The term is from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation.” In the
liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church the solemnity of the
Epiphany occurs on January 6, which commemorates the “manifestation” of
God through Christ to the whole “world” symbolized by the Three Magi
from the East (Mt 2:1-12). The feast day originated sometime in the third
century in the Eastern Church, where originally and currently it refers to the
“manifestation” of God to the world through the Baptism of Christ. By the
fourth century the feast ranked in importance with Easter and Pentecost.
When introduced into the Western Church in the fourth century, the focus of
the feast shifted from Christ's Baptism to His birth. To date, the Eastern
Church maintains the link between the Baptism of Christ and the Epiphany
of God.
In the United States, the Epiphany is celebrated on the Sunday nearest
January 6.
The 12 Days of Christmas or the true Christmas Season is from Christmas
(Dec 25) to Epiphany (Jan 6). The song was composed as a catechism
lesson.
Liturgical Aspects of the Season feature White or Gold vestments in honor
of Christ. The Gloria is sung at all Masses.
Midnight Mass is a favorite for many Catholics. The mystique of the hour
of Jesus’ Birth touches our sense of the holy. A time shrouded in wonder
and majesty. The hymn “Silent Night, Holy Night” expresses the wonder of
the time.
The Christmas Martyrlogy is the formal proclamation of the birth of Jesus:
Today, the twenty-fifth day of December in the Two thousand and seventh
year of the Common era
Unknown ages since God created the heavens and the earth and formed man
in his likeness
Thousands of years after the flood when God made a new covenant with
Noah sealed by the sign of the rainbow
Twenty-one centuries from the covenant with Abraham and Sarah
Thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of God out of Egypt and made
a new covenant with God on Mt Sinai
Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges
One thousand years from the anointing of David as King
In the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel
In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad
The seven hundred and fifty second year from the founding of Rome
The forty second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus
The whole world being at peace, Jesus Christ;
eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming,
being conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and nine months having passed since his conception,
was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.
Today is the nativity of our Lord and Savior according to the flesh.
Christmas Gifts
Ancient Romans exchanged gifts on New Year’s Day. In French Canada
and Scotland, this custom of giving gifts on New Year’s Eve has been
preserved. Depending upon the wealth of the gift giver, Roman gifts varied
from jewelry, pieces of gold and silver to home made pastry, cookies and
candies. Sweet things were given to ensure sweetness during the year to
come. The custom of giving gifts at Christmas is one of the many instances
where the Church baptized an ancient custom. The Magi were the
inspiration for the change. Later St. Nicholas became the model of the gift
giver that we know as Santa Claus (Santa Nich=olaus).
The Manger Scene became popular thanks to St. Francis of Assisi. The
popular saint dramatized the first Christmas scene with animals and actors to
teach us the Gospel story. Since that time stables have been put up in every
Christian home to remind us of the humble beginning of Jesus, the Son of
God who took on our lowly human nature.