Editing Christmas Eve (section)

== Religious traditions ==

=== Western churches ===
[[File:Midnight Mass 2010 - 66 (5292245955).jpg|thumb|left|[[Midnight Mass]] is held in many churches toward the end of Christmas Eve, often with dim lighting and traditional decorative accents such as greenery.]]
Western churches have traditionally observed Christmas Eve (properly the Vigil of the Nativity) as a liturgical observance distinct from the masses of Christmas Day, with the proper Gospel at the Mass for the Vigil of the Nativity being that of the Annunciation to Joseph in [[Matthew 1]]. The Vigil of the Nativity is not so much the first day of Christmas as it is the last day of [[Advent]], and so it traditionally retains the [[liturgical colours|liturgical color]] of violet. In traditional western liturgical practice, when the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve occur on the same day, the Sunday mass is of Christmas Eve and the Fourth Sunday of Advent is only commemorated.

The festivities of Christmas Day have, however, extended farther and farther back into Christmas Eve. While [[Roman Catholic]]s, [[Lutherans]], and some [[Anglican]]s traditionally celebrate [[Midnight Mass]], the first mass of Christmas, either at or near [[midnight]] on Christmas Eve, some churches have in recent decades scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7&nbsp;pm in an effort to better accommodate young children, whose choral singing has become a popular feature in some traditions.

Midnight Mass is held in churches throughout the world and celebrates the birth of Christ, which is believed to have occurred at night. Midnight Mass is popular in Poland ([[pasterka]]) and Lithuania (piemenėlių mišios). In [[Latin America]] and the [[Iberian Peninsula]], the Midnight Mass is also referred to as "Rooster's Mass" (''[[Misa de Gallo]]'' in Spanish, ''Missa do Galo'' in Portuguese and ''Missa del Gall'' in Catalan). In the [[Philippines]], the custom has expanded into the nine-day ''[[Simbang Gabi]]'', when Filipinos attend dawn Masses (traditionally beginning around 04:00 to 05:00 [[Philippine Standard Time|PST]]) from 16 December, continuing daily until Christmas Eve. In 2009 [[Holy See|Vatican]] officials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at 10&nbsp;pm so that the 82-year-old [[Pope Benedict XVI]] would not have too late a night.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8430118.stm |title=Woman knocks Pope down at Christmas Mass|date=25 December 2009|publisher=British Broadcasting Company}}</ref>

A [[nativity scene]] may be erected indoors or outdoors, and is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger, Mary, and Joseph.<ref>Vermes, Geza. ''The Nativity: History and Legend''. Penguin, 2006</ref> Other figures in the scene may include [[angel]]s, [[shepherd]]s, and various animals. The figures may be made of any material,<ref name="Dues">Dues, Greg.''Catholic Customs and Traditions: A Popular Guide'' Twenty-Third Publications, 2000.</ref> and arranged in a stable or grotto. The [[Magi]] may also appear, and are sometimes not placed in the scene until the week following Christmas to account for their travel time to [[Bethlehem]].  While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter, nativity scenes in churches usually remain on display until the feast of the [[Baptism of the Lord]].<ref name="Dues" />

Throughout congregations of the various denominations of Christianity, on Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle in the center of the [[Advent wreath]] is traditionally lit in many [[church service]]s. In candlelight services, while singing ''[[Silent Night]]'', each member of the congregation receives a candle and passes along their flame which is first received from the Christ Candle.

[[File:Advent2007candlelight.JPG|thumb|Advent wreath, lighting the candle]]

[[Lutheran]]s traditionally practice Christmas Eve [[Eucharist]]ic traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia. "Krippenspiele" ([[Nativity play]]s), special festive music for organ, vocal and brass [[choir]]s and candlelight services make Christmas Eve one of the most beloved days in the Lutheran Church calendar. Christmas [[Vespers]] is popular in the early evening, and [[Midnight Mass]]es are also widespread in regions which are predominantly Lutheran. The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas Vigil in the early morning hours of [[Christmas Day]] (Christmette) can still be found in some regions. In eastern and [[Central Germany (geography)|middle Germany]], congregations still continue the tradition of "[[Quempas]] singing": separate groups dispersed in various parts of the church sing verses of the song "He whom shepherds once came Praising" (''Quem pastores laudavere'') responsively.
[[File:Presepe naples rome2.jpg|thumb|left|Typical [[Neapolitan nativity scene]], or {{lang|it|presepe}} or {{lang|it|presepio}}, in [[Rome]].]]
With respect to [[Presbyterianism]], the [[Church of Scotland]] has a service beginning just before midnight, in which [[Christmas carol|carols]] are sung. These services are very popular.

[[Methodism|Methodists]] celebrate the evening in different ways. Some, in the early evening, come to their church to celebrate [[Eucharist|Holy Communion]] with their families. The mood is very solemn, and the only visible light is the [[Advent Wreath]], and the candles upon the [[Lord's Table]]. Others celebrate the evening with services of light, which include singing the song ''Silent Night'' as a variety of candles (including personal candles) are lit. Other churches have late evening services perhaps at 11&nbsp;pm, so that the church can celebrate Christmas Day together with the ringing of bells at midnight. Others offer Christmas Day services as well.

The annual "[[Nine Lessons and Carols]]", broadcast from [[King's College, Cambridge]] on Christmas Eve, has established itself a Christmas custom in the United Kingdom, where Anglican Christianity is the traditional faith.<ref name=nine>{{citation|author=Alex Webb|title=Choir that sings to the world|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/1703517.stm|work=BBC News|date=24 December 2001}}</ref> It is broadcast outside the UK via the [[BBC World Service]], and is also bought by broadcasters around the world.<ref name=nine/>

=== Eastern churches ===
[[File:2013-12-24--Artoklasia during Christmas Eve service.JPG|thumbnail|Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario, Canada]]

In the [[Byzantine Rite]], Christmas Eve is referred to as '''Paramony''' ("preparation").  It is the concluding day of the [[Nativity Fast]] and is observed as a day of strict [[fasting]] by those devout Byzantine Christians who are physically capable of doing so. In some traditions, nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky, in commemoration of the [[Star of Bethlehem]]. The [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] celebration begins earlier in the day with the celebration of the [[Royal Hours]], followed by the [[Divine Liturgy]] combined with the celebration of [[Vespers]], during which a large number of passages from the [[Old Testament]] are chanted, recounting the history of salvation. After the [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] at the end of the service, a new candle is brought out into the center of the church and lit, and all gather round and sing the [[Troparion]] and [[Kontakion]] of the Feast.

In the evening, the [[All-Night Vigil]] for the Feast of the Nativity is composed of [[Great Compline]], [[Matins]] and the [[First Hour]]. The Byzantine services of Christmas Eve are intentionally parallel to those of [[Good Friday]], illustrating the [[Eastern Orthodox theology|theological]] point that the purpose of the [[Incarnation of Christ|Incarnation]] was to make possible the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Crucifixion]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection]]. This is illustrated in Eastern [[icon]]s of the Nativity, on which the [[Christ Child]] is wrapped in [[swaddling clothes]] reminiscent of his [[burial shroud|burial wrappings]]. The child is also shown lying on a stone, representing the [[Holy Sepulchre|Tomb of Christ]], rather than a [[manger]]. The [[Church of the Nativity|Cave of the Nativity]] is also a reminder of the cave in which Jesus was buried.

The services of Christmas Eve are also similar to those of the Eve of [[Epiphany (holiday)#Eastern Orthodox churches|Theophany]] (Epiphany), and the two [[Great Feasts]] are considered one celebration.

In some [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] cultures, after the Vesperal Liturgy the family returns home to a festive meal, but one at which [[Fasting#Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox fasting rules]] are still observed: no meat or dairy products (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.) are consumed (see below for variations according to nationality). Then they return to the church for the All-Night Vigil.

The next morning, Christmas Day, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated again, but with special features that occur only on Great Feasts of the Lord. After the [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] of this Liturgy, the faithful customarily greet each other with the [[kiss of peace]] and the words: "Christ is Born!", to which the one being greeted responds: "Glorify Him!" (the opening words of the [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]] of the Nativity that was chanted the night before during the Vigil). This greeting, together with many of the [[hymn]]s of the feast, continue to be used until the [[leave-taking]] of the feast on 31 December.

The first three days of the feast are particularly solemn. The second day is known as the [[Synaxis]] of the [[Theotokos]], and commemorates the role of the [[Virgin Mary]] in the [[Nativity of Jesus]]. The third day is referred to simply as "the Third Day of the Nativity". The Saturday and Sunday following 25 December have special [[Epistle]] and [[Gospel]] readings assigned to them. 29 December celebrates the [[Holy Innocents]].

Byzantine Christians observe a festal period of [[Twelve Days of Christmas|twelve days]], during which no one in the Church fasts, even on Wednesdays and Fridays, which are normal fasting days throughout the rest of the year. During this time one feast leads into another: 25–31 December is the [[afterfeast]] of the Nativity; 2–5 January is the [[forefeast]] of the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]].