Sarah Mitchell
The Christmas season for Catholics is one of the shortest liturgical seasons, but also one of the most unique. The Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve with the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord and ends on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany, or the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the second Sunday of January. The Christmas octave, an eight-day celebration of the Lord's Nativity, ends on New Year's Day with the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ or the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Christmas season is filled with customs such as carol singing, gift-giving, attending Nativity plays, and church services.
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What You'll Learn
The Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve
The Christmas season is one of the most unique in the Catholic Church, but also one of its shortest. The liturgical season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve, at sunset or Vespers, with the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses. This is liturgically the beginning of Christmas Day. The Vigil Mass of the Nativity is used on the evening of December 24, either before or after First Vespers.
The Vigil Mass is one of four Masses that may be celebrated in observance of the Nativity of the Lord. The other three are a Mass at night, a Mass at dawn, and a Mass during the day. Each of these Masses has its own unique prayers and readings. The newness of life made possible by the Incarnation is reflected in the prayers and feasts of the Christmas season.
The Christmas season is filled with customs such as carol singing, gift-giving, attending Nativity plays, and church services. Christmas cake is a dessert unique to this season.
The Christmas season ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany. The date of the Epiphany varies, but it is often celebrated on January 6. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the beginning of Ordinary Time.
In some countries and households, Christmas decorations are kept up until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, forty days after Christmas. This feast is also known as Candlemas and is accompanied by a candlelight procession and the blessing of beeswax candles from the home.
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Christmas Day is a holy day of obligation
In the Catholic Church, holy days of obligation are days on which Catholic Christians are expected to attend Mass and rest from work and recreation. Christmas Day is a holy day of obligation for Catholics. In the United States, 25 December is always a holy day of obligation. There are four particular timeframes during which Mass might be celebrated in observance of this great feast: a vigil, a Mass at night, a Mass at dawn, and a Mass during the day. Each of these Masses has its own unique prayers and readings.
The liturgical celebration of the Lord's Nativity has many variables and components. The four different Gospel readings assigned for use at the different Masses of Christmas all speak of the variety of people affected by the Saviour's coming. The beginning of St. Matthew's Gospel (see Mt 1:1-25), which lists Jesus' family lineage, is proclaimed at the Vigil Mass. This includes major figures of Judaism like Abraham and David, whose covenants with God foreshadow the new and everlasting covenant that will be sealed in the blood of Christ.
The Christmas octave, an eight-day celebration of the Lord's Nativity, begins on Christmas Day. The octave of Christmas ends with the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on 1 January. This is also a holy day of obligation, except when it falls on a Saturday or Monday, in which case the obligation for Catholics in the United States is lifted. 1 January also marks the Church's commemoration of the World Day of Peace.
The liturgical Christmas season ends with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany (usually the second Sunday of January). Ordinary Time begins the day after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
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The Octave of Christmas ends on the Solemnity of Mary
The Christmas season for Catholics is one of the shortest liturgical seasons, beginning on Christmas Day and ending on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany (usually the second Sunday of January).
The Christmas Octave, or the eight-day celebration of the Lord's Nativity, is a significant part of the Christmas season. It begins on Christmas Day, the first day of the octave, and ends on the eighth day, the Octave Day of Christmas or the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (New Year's Day). The Octave Day of Christmas is also known as the Solemnity of Mary, honouring Mary as the Mother of God.
The Octave of Christmas, therefore, ends on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on January 1st. This day is a holy day of obligation, except for Catholics in the United States when it falls on a Saturday or Monday. The Solemnity of Mary commemorates the divine, virginal, and salvific motherhood of Mary, whose "inviolate virginity brought the Saviour into the world".
The eight-day structure of the Christmas Octave holds symbolic significance. The number eight is associated with perfection or rest and can be traced back to Jewish festival customs, such as the circumcision of Jewish boys on the eighth day and the Feast of Tabernacles, which lasted seven days and concluded with a solemnity, forming an octave.
The Christmas Octave is a time for prayer and reflection on the Mass readings. It is an opportunity to attend daily Mass and spend time with family. The Gloria is repeated each day of the Octave, and there are four feast days within the octave: St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, and the Holy Family.
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The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season
The Christmas season is one of the shortest liturgical seasons of the Church. In 2024-2025, the Catholic Christmas season in the United States began with the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses on 24 December, celebrating the Nativity of the Lord, and ended on 12 January, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The Christmas season is filled with festivities and traditions. Customs include carol singing, gift-giving, attending Nativity plays, church services, and eating special food, such as Christmas cake. The liturgical celebration of the Lord's Nativity has several components. There are four particular timeframes during which Mass might be celebrated: a vigil, a Mass at night, a Mass at dawn, and a Mass during the day. Each of these Masses has its own unique prayers and readings.
The octave of Christmas ends with the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on 1 January. It is a holy day of obligation, except when the feast falls on a Saturday or Monday, lifting the obligation for Catholics in the United States.
While the Church's liturgical Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, some traditions hold that the Christmas season extends for forty days after Christmas, ending on 2 February with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas. This day marks forty days after Christmas and is considered a ""Christmas feast day".
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The Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Catholic Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve with the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses, celebrating the Nativity of the Lord. However, there is some debate about when the Christmas season ends for Catholics. Some liturgical calendars state that it ends with the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which falls on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany, usually the second Sunday of January. However, others argue that the true end of the Christmas season is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, which falls forty days after Christmas on the 2nd of February.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord commemorates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. According to the Law of Moses, first-born sons were to be dedicated to the Lord, and Mary was obliged to present Jesus to the Lord 40 days after his birth. This feast day also recalls Mary's humble submission to the purification ritual, where she offered two turtledoves for her purification.
The celebration of a 40-day Christmas season is an ancient tradition that dates back to at least the 6th century. In some countries and households, it is traditional to keep Christmas decorations up until this feast. The feast is also known as Candlemas due to the candlelight processions that were popularized in the Middle Ages.
While the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord may mark the end of the liturgical Christmas cycle, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord can be seen as a natural conclusion to the Christmas season, bringing the joys of Christmas to a close.
It is worth noting that the Christmas octave, an eight-day celebration of the Lord's Nativity, ends with the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on January 1st. This day marks the Church's commemoration of the World Day of Peace.
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Frequently asked questions
The Christmas season starts on Christmas Eve, with the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.
The Christmas season ends on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany, which is usually celebrated on January 6. The season can be extended until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas.
The Christmas Octave, or the Octave of Christmas, is an eight-day celebration of the Lord's Nativity, starting on Christmas Day.
The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6, commemorates the revelation of Jesus, the Son of God, to the Three Kings, or the Magi.
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, is a celebration of the baby Jesus being brought to the Temple for his dedication and circumcision.
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