The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, December 25, is unique in that three services (Masses) are defined. The first (Missa in nocte) is the is the Midnight Mass also known as Engelamt or the Mass of the Angels. The second (Missa in aurora) is the Dawn Mass or Hirtenamt, the Mass of the Shepherds. The third (Missa in die) is the Mass of Christmas Day. This Mass is not named as are the other two, but it is often called the Mass of the People. The Introit for this Mass is "Unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given."
It is a laudable custom to place a Christmas crib (but without the wise men) in church at the foot of the chancel, preferably on the Gosdpel side. But is should not be put up before Christmas Eve. Candles and flowers may be placed near it. On Epiphany, figures of the wise men may be added.
The Christmas tree is a symbol of "the Tree of Life" and of Christ "the Light of the World." The traditional ornaments of the tree are in harmony with these symbols: apples, oranges, glass balls, lights, and tinsel. Trees may also be decorated with Chrismons (symbols or monograms of Christ).
To most of us Christmas, while it may be long in coming, goes all too quickly. What can be done to slow Christmas down, to make its days and joys last just a little longer?
Medieval Christians found an answer to this question by devising a calendar which extended Christmas into a 12-day cycle, from Christmas day to the Epiphany (January 6). Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night and the old ballad The Twelve Days of Christmas are reminders of how popular the celebration of Christmas, as a season of 12 days, was in merrie olde England.
We who wish that Christmas might, somehow, be made to last can profit by taking a fresh look at this old custom. The early Church has provided us with a religious calendar by which we can fulfill our desire for an expanded, more meaningful Christmas.
Each of the 12 days of Christmas has been given a special significance of its own.
Christmas Day, of course, is the focal point, the event which gives purpose and meaning to all the other events to be commemorated. This is the first day of Christmas.
The second day of Christmas is the day of St. Stephen, Martyr. The stoning to death of this eloquent leader in the Church is an awesome reminder - and one that is emphasized again and again throughout these 12 days - that Christmas and Good Friday are not far apart. The Cross is omnipresent, casting its shadow even across the cradle at Christmas. Because, in the early church, deacons like Stephen were responsible for distributing food to the needy, the second Christmas day has become known as Boxing Day in England. It is so designated , because people in that country had the custom of giving boxes of food to their servants and to the poor on this day.
The third day of Christmas is the day of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. Of all the sacred writers, John most clearly caught the deeply spiritual import of Christ's birth, and gave us our most treasured expressions of Christmas love. For your family devotions on this day read the first 14 verses of the Gospel according to St. John, or the entire First Epistle of St. John.
The fourth day of Christmas is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Here once more the joyous season is seemingly marred by tragedy, the senseless slaughter of the children of Bethlehem less than 2 years old. But this part of the Christmas Gospel helps us to understand life and to know that despite man's rage, God still rules the world and His eternal purpose will not be thwarted.
Still another murder is commemorated on the fifth day of Christmas. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was slain in his cathedral in fulfillment of an unintentional remark made by his friend, King Henry II. Becket, a controversial figure in English history, is depicted in legend and lore as a man who chose to "obey God rather than man." Hence this day has come to be observed as a day of prayer that those in difficult straits may remain true to Christ.
The sixth day of Christmas is associated with the crèche - the Christmas manger scene. In the year 1223, St. Francis of Assisi started the practice of dramatizing Christmas in order to bring Christmas to the common people who could neither read or write. To this day the crèche plays a prominent part in our annual observance of Christmas.
New Years Eve is the seventh day of Christmas. It is also the feast day of St. Sylvester; therefore the German people know new year's eve as Sylvester Abend. Saint Sylvester was bishop of Rome in the days when Christian persecution ended and a new era of peace was beginning. So also, New Year's Eve marks the end of the old and the beginning of the new. It is a time for reflection upon the past, and of anticipation of God's continued grace for the future.
The eighth day of Christmas is known to the world as New Year's Day, but to the Church it is the festival of the Circumcision of our Lord, and of His receiving the holy name of Jesus. The Gospel for this day is the shortest of them all: St. Luke 2:21. "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb."
On the ninth day of Christmas we come again to the thought of martyrdom as we celebrate the octave day of St. Stephen. Some parts of the Church also celebrate the Litchfield Martyrs on this day. These martyrs died because they refused to obey the order of the emperor Diocletian to destroy their bibles. What would Christmas be without the written word and the story of Jesus' birth? "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
The tenth day of Christmas is the octave day of St. John the Apostle. It is also associated with the Christmas tree. As early as the eighth century, Boniface, missionary to the Germanic tribes, initiated the custom of decorating an evergreen tree in honor of Christ. But Martin Luther popularized the practice and added lighted candles to the tree to symbolize Christ, the Light of the World.
The eleventh day of Christmas is the octave day of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs; but we may well spend some time in contemplation of the gifts of the Wise Men, whose coming will be recalled just 2 days hence. Gold, a gift of universal value, a gift befitting a king, reminds us to give the Christchild our most valued gift - ourselves, all that we are, all that we have. Frankincense, a gift used in the temple worship, symbolizes the prayers which the people of God offer in His Name. The psalmist declares, "Let my prayers be set forth before Thee as incense." Myrrh, a costly ointment for anointing the dead, a spice which Nicodemus used to prepare our Lord's body for burial, reminds us that Christ was born to die for us. Thus, by derivation, myrrh has come to be a token of repentance and of redirection of our lives. This is the least we can do to show our appreciation to God who gave us His "unspeakable gift" at Christmas time.
The twelfth day of Christmas has traditionally been associated with Simon Stylites. Today, we would consider Simon an "oddball." To get away from all the troubles and vices of his world, he climbed to the top of a pillar and stayed there for 30 years. His pillar became a pulpit as people came from near and far to hear him preach. It is hard for us to accept people who think and act differently from us. Let us be reminded on this day that Christ came for all and that there is room in His kingdom for all kinds of people.
Epiphany, January 6, marks the coming of the Magi and the end of the Christmas season. But if you find yourself sitting in your favorite chair at 7:30 Christmas morning, surrounded by shreds of wrapping paper and scattered boxes, thinking "Well, I guess Christmas is over now," remember that the Christmas Season is just beginning. One day alone cannot contain all the joys and blessings that Christmas affords. Perhaps reflection upon some of the Saints and Martyrs celebrated during this season, as well as some of the other customs associated with this time, will help us to recall the joys of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas.
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