Christmastide: The Second Season of the Ecclesiastical Year

The Christmas season officially begins at sundown on Dec. 24^th, when the first mass of Christ was celebrated at a service called Vespers.*  The season of Christmas lasts 12 days ending at sundown on Jan 5, the eve of Epiphany (Jan. 6).

The early church did not have Christmas as we know it.  Both the birth and baptism of Jesus were commemorated on Epiphany (Jan. 6).  Christmas developed from a pagan festival celebrating the birth of the sun-god (the winter solstice).   On the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year, the sun-god is said to have had a “rebirth,” the days from then on getting longer.  Today, the winter solstice occurs on Dec. 21^st.  In the 4^th century it occurred on Dec. 25^th.  It is not surprising to learn that the Christians found here a striking parallel to Jesus Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.  Therefore this festival was taken over by the Christians and became instituted at Rome sometime in the first half of the fourth century.  Gradually, this festival overshadowed the celebrations of Epiphany.

Scholars differ in their dating of the birth of Jesus.  Many feel that Christ was born in 4 B.C. or earlier.  Luke refers to an enrollment imposed by Augustus as the occasion for the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.  Outside sources give evidence of an enrollment by Quirinius in 6 A. D. which provoked a desperate uprising.  However, scholars consider 6 A. D. to be too late since Herod the Great undoubtedly was living at the time of Christ’s birth (St. Luke 1:5), and Herod died in 4 B.C.  Lack of actual historical evidence and errors in the calendar, therefore, lead to the conclusion that the exact day, month or even year of Christ’s birth cannot be known.

Preceded by the Advent season of penitence, waiting, preparation and expectation, Christmastide comes as a season of great joy, heralded by the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!”  The color for the Christmas season is white representing light, purity, brightness, etc. It is interesting that the ecclesiastical symbols connected with Christmastide are not numerous.  The most common symbol today is that of the Nativity Scene.  Other symbols include the blossoms of the Glastonbury Thorn (the East window in our own Sanctuary tower); the Christmas Rose; the burning bush; the shepherd’s crook; a manger; ox and ass; an angel with hand raised in benediction; a daisy representing the innocence of Christ; the fleur-de-lis; and the lily.

Christmas scriptures are some of the best known.  The music of the season is reflective of (1) the well-known Biblical stories surrounding the birth of Christ including shepherd carols, carols of the Nativity, some lullaby carols, carols of the Magi, etc.; (2)  regional carols or carols of custom; (3) dance carols; (4) legendary carols; (5) and miscellaneous carols.  On Christmas Eve, we begin  our church celebration of Christmas.  We will continue singing Christmas carols in our worship services until after Jan. 6^th.

* In the medieval church as well as today in some abbeys, monasteries and collegiate churches, daily life revolves around this ancient cycle of services:  Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.   These eight services are called the  “canonical hours” or “offices.”