Michael Brooks
The last day of the Catholic Christmas season varies depending on whom you ask and where they are from. The traditional 12 Days of Christmas ends on January 5th, known as Twelfth Night, but the Christmas season is extended to include the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, which celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. The season can be further extended to include the Octave of Epiphany, lasting until January 13th, and even Candlemas on February 2nd, which is considered a Christmas feast day. The length of the Christmas season in the liturgical calendar can vary from 15 to 20 days, depending on the day of the week that Christmas falls on.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of days | 12 days |
| Start date | 24 December at sunset or Vespers |
| End date | 5 January (Twelfth Night) or 6 January (Epiphany) |
| Last day | The Feast of the Epiphany, The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, or Candlemas (2 February) |
| Other names | Christmastide, Christmas Time, Christmas octave, liturgical Christmas season, Christmas Cycle |
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What You'll Learn
The Feast of the Epiphany
The primary focus of the Feast of the Epiphany in Western traditions is the visitation of the Magi, or the Three Wise Men, to the newborn Christ. This event is seen as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and is marked by the exchange of gifts. In many countries, Epiphany is celebrated with special pastries, and children often receive small gifts in their shoes, honouring the Magi's gifts to the baby Jesus. The eve of the feast, known as Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve, falls on January 5, and it is customary for Christians to remove their Christmas decorations.
In Eastern traditions, the Feast of the Epiphany, or Theophany, commemorates the manifestation of Jesus' divinity at his baptism in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. This baptism is seen as Jesus' revelation as the Son of God and his manifestation to the world. The traditional site of John the Baptist's ministry is in Al-Maghtas, Jordan, where the baptism of Jesus was once marked by a cross in the middle of the Jordan River.
The date of the feast is traditionally observed on January 6 by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Christians of other Western traditions. However, in the United States, the celebration is sometimes moved to the Sunday between January 2 and January 8 to accommodate modern schedules. Eastern traditions that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Epiphany on January 19, as their Christmas Eve falls on January 6.
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The Christmas Octave
The Christmas season is a joyful and celebratory time for Catholics and Christians around the world. It begins with the anticipation and preparation of Advent and reaches its climax in the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25th. But the festivities don't end there—the celebration of Christmas extends beyond a single day. In the Catholic Church, the feast of Christmas is observed as an "octave," an eight-day celebration that begins on December 25th and ends on January 1st. This period is known as "The Christmas Octave."
The concept of an octave is rooted in the idea of extending and intensifying the joy and solemnity of a particular feast. By observing an octave, the Church emphasizes the importance and significance of the event being commemorated. During the Christmas Octave, all the days are treated as solemnities, which are the highest ranking feasts in the Catholic liturgical calendar. This means that each day of the octave is a day of celebration, and the liturgical color is white, symbolizing light, purity, and joy.
Each day of the Christmas Octave has its own specific focus and theme. The first day of the octave, December 25th, is, of course, Christmas Day itself, when the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated. On December 26th, the feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is observed. This day is also known as the Second Day of Christmas or Boxing Day in some traditions. December 27th honors Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, emphasizing his role as a witness to Christ's life and author of the Fourth Gospel.
December 28th is dedicated to the Holy Innocents, commemorating the infant boys martyred by King Herod in his attempt to kill the newborn Christ child. This day is a reminder of the suffering and persecution that sometimes accompany the Christian faith. The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas or, if Christmas falls on a Sunday, on December 30th. This feast honors Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a model of family life and virtue.
The final day of the Christmas Octave, January 1st, is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This feast day celebrates Mary's role as the mother of Jesus Christ, who is both fully human and fully divine. It is also a day to honor Mary as the Mother of the Church and to seek her intercession. With the conclusion of the Christmas Octave, the Church enters into Ordinary Time, the period between liturgical seasons, although the Christmas season continues to be celebrated until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which usually falls on the Sunday after Epiphany.
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The Feast of Christ's Baptism
In the Catholic Church, the Feast of Christ's Baptism, also known as the "Feast of the Baptism of the Lord", marks the end of the Christmas season. It is celebrated on the Sunday after 6 January (the Epiphany), or the following Monday if Epiphany falls on a Sunday. In 2025, the feast was celebrated on 12 January.
In the Eastern Church, this feast is called "Theophany", commemorating the manifestation of Jesus' divinity at his baptism. The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates "Svyatki", or "Holy Days", from the Nativity of Christ (7 January) to Theophany or the Baptism of Christ (19 January). During this period, believers attend church services, sing hymns, visit friends and relatives, and perform works of mercy.
The day after the feast marks the beginning of Ordinary Time, which lasts until the Tuesday before Lent.
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Candlemas
On Candlemas, Christians, especially Catholics, bring candles to their local church to be blessed. These blessed candles represent Jesus Christ, referred to as the Light of the World. The candles are then lit at home during prayer or challenging times. Candlemas is also associated with the Virgin Mary, with the festival dedicated to her in the Canary Islands.
The festival holds significance for farmers, as it marks the beginning of the "farmer's year". Various proverbs and customs related to weather predictions and fieldwork preparations are associated with Candlemas. For instance, a clear sky on Candlemas is considered auspicious for beekeepers, while an old English song suggests that fair weather on Candlemas foretells a prolonged winter.
In some countries, Candlemas is celebrated with unique culinary traditions. In Belgium, it is customary to eat pancakes, while in Mexico, families gather to eat tamales, a traditional Mesoamerican dish. Candlemas is also known as "Liichtmëssdag" in Luxembourg and "El Día de la Candelaria" in Mexico, where it is a public holiday marked by processions and dance groups.
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The Christmas Season
In the Catholic Church, the Christmas season officially begins on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the first day of Christmastide. Christmastide, also known as the "Twelve Days of Christmas," lasts from 25 December to 5 January, with the latter date being named Twelfth Night. These twelve days are filled with festivities and traditions, including Christmas Day, Saint Stephen's Day, Childermas, New Year's Eve, and the Feast of the Holy Family.
Following Christmastide, the season of Epiphany or Epiphanytide begins on 6 January, lasting until 13 January. This season commemorates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God to the Three Wise Men, as well as his baptism in the Jordan River. The Feast of the Epiphany, which falls twelve days after Christmas, marks the encounter of the Magi with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and their presentation of gifts.
The end of the Christmas season is a matter of debate among Catholics. Some consider the Feast of the Epiphany or the Baptism of the Lord as the conclusion of the Christmas season proper. However, others extend the season until Candlemas on 2 February, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day marks the symbolic representation of Jesus Christ as the "Light of the World," with Catholics bringing candles to church for a blessing.
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Frequently asked questions
The last day of the Catholic Christmas season is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany. The latest this can occur is January 13th.
Twelve days after Christmas is the Feast of the Epiphany, which marks when the Magi encountered Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, Epiphany celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God.
The Christmas cycle extends past the Baptism of the Lord to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, which occurs 40 days after Christmas.
