![[top of page]](../images/up.gif) Historical Background
The season of Christmastide begins on Christmas
Eve, December 24, and ends on January 5.
Reprinted from Book of Worship © 1986 Office of Church Life
and Leadership, 2002 Worship and Education Ministry Team, United Church of
Christ. Used by permission.
“Christmas, the festival day of the birth
of Jesus Christ, falls on December 25 in the church in the West. This date
in the ancient Roman calendar was observed as a winter solstice holiday associated
with non-Christian rituals of light. By the year A.D. 354, the church in the
West had transformed the day into the annual festival of the one born to be
the Light of the World. White, the color of the season, is appropriately used
from Christmas Eve through at least the first Sunday in Epiphany. The season
is one of joyful celebration.
— quoted from the Introduction
to Worship in the United Church of Christ, as posted on the UCC Web Site.
In historical times, days were counted
as beginning and ending at sunset (rather than midnight, which required an
accurate clock). In that system
of reckoning, Christmas day would be considered to begin at sunset on December
24th,
and end at sunset on the 25th, so Christmas Eve was originally
the beginning of the Christmas feast day. This is why so many traditions
have Christmas Eve services.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
The “12
Days of Christmas” that we sing about begin on the day after Christmas
(a common misconception
is that the “12 Days” ends on Christmas).
Christmas Day is not included in the “12 Days” because it is a Holy Day, and was considered
too sacred for partying and merriment; therefore, the “12 Days” began immediately after Christmas.
Using the old “sunset to sunset” reckoning, the “12 Days” lasted
from sunset on December 25th until sunset on January 6th, the
day of Epiphany (also known as “twelfth day” in many traditions).
Because days now start and end at midnight, the 12 Days now begin
on December 26th.
For a clearer explanation of the calendar dates of the “12 days”, see
The
Twelve Days of Christmas (at, of all places, a website for a British junior school!).
Here at Pilgrim Church
The season begins with two evening candlelight worship services on Christmas
Eve. The earlier service is intended for families, and has lots of carols,
and readings by church members. The later service is much quieter and more
contemplative; Communion is often celebrated, and the service ends at midnight,
as Christmas Day begins. In 2005, we have added a third, afternoon service,
especially for families with very young children.
Our tradition is to leave the Christmas greenery and decorations up throughout
Christmastide. Services during the “12 Days” are
festive and beautiful celebrations of Christ's birth.
| 
