Christmas Eve

What is the Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas Day, counting from the twilight of December 24 each year. This time is considered one of the most important cultural festivals in Western Christianity and has today become a major festival in a secular society in many countries. From a religious perspective, the Christmas season begins on the evening of December 24 because Christianity inherits the Judaic concept that a day begins at sunset. Usually, churches will celebrate a great mass in the evening or midnight that day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. For the Roman Catholic Church, this Mass concludes Advent in the liturgical year.

In terms of secular society, depending on the local culture, Christmas Eve is an occasion for people to decorate their homes, have family reunions, eat, drink, play... and especially give each other gifts. . Santa Claus giving gifts to children is the most typical image on the eve of Christmas. Because of the peak activities taking place on the night of December 24, many people mistakenly think this is Christmas Day. In reality, however, Christmas is December 25.

The Origin of the Christmas Eve?

The Roman Catholic Church usually celebrates a Mass after Vespers on the 24th called the Christmas Vigil Mass. And then close to midnight there is another more solemn Mass called the Christmas Eve Mass, which is more popular because its Gospel tells directly about the events of Christmas. . The time near midnight 24 to 25 is also the real-time to celebrate Christmas. However, December 25th is the day of Christmas, and churches will also often celebrate a pre-dawn Dawn Mass and a Day Mass to celebrate Christmas.

Distinguishing the 24th and 25th of Christmas

The night of December 24 - the "holiday" of Christmas

According to Roman Catholicism, the night of December 24 is the time when the "vigil" is held to attract more participants. On that night, all places such as churches or every household decorate the cave with a manger, inside there is a statue of the Child Jesus and the statue of the Virgin Mary. Around there are donkeys, statues of the Three Kings, some angels, Saint Joseph...

On the other hand, the image of December 24 is also associated with the birth of the Christmas tree. According to history, between 2000 and 1200 BC, people spoke of an Epicea tree decorated with flowers, fruit, and wheat associated with December 24, the day of the Sun's rebirth.

It is said that in the 7th century an English monk, Saint Boniface (born 680) on his pilgrimage came across a group of devout pagans gathered around a large oak tree and used a child. young to sacrifice.

To stop the sacrifice and save the child, Boniface knocked down the oak tree with one punch. There grew a small pine tree. The saint told the pagans that the small pine tree was the tree of life and it symbolized the eternal life of the Savior. Since then, people have planted pine trees to use at Christmas - a symbol of hope and new life.

December 25th - the main holiday of Christmas

There are many people who believe that December 25 is the day Jesus was really born, so December 25 is the real Christmas. But this is not entirely correct.

Until now, there is no document that dares to confirm for sure whether Jesus was born on that day or not. All we know is that Jesus was born on a dark night in a cave, some shepherds, informed by angels, came to worship him.

After this event, Christmas began to be celebrated by Christians. Initially, before the ban and persecution of the Roman government, they secretly chose December 25 to celebrate - coincided with the "Feast of the Sol Invictus" of the Romans.

For a long time, the Roman government was unable to detect the joyful Christians who welcomed the coming of Jesus to earth because they celebrated the same day as the great Roman national holiday at that time.

About 300 years later, in 312, Roman Emperor Constantine I abandoned polytheism and adopted Christianity. He canceled the worship of the sun god. December 25th has since become the day to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.

However, it was also not until 354 that Pope Libero announced December 25 as the official date to celebrate the Nativity of Jesus. And when Christianity spread around the 4th century, Christmas began to be celebrated regularly and regularly.

Thus, December 25th is just a convention day around the world, to commemorate a real historical event, the birth of the Son of God as a human, to complete the mission of saving mankind.

Christmas Eve related products are available on Printerval 

Printerval has a wide range of products with very unique theme designs from world artists. Products printed with images related to Christmas Eve for those who love this holiday.

Products are diverse from T-shirts, Hoodies, Tank Tops, in addition to decorative products such as Cups, Flags... And the products are also diverse from size, color to quality, to help you there are more choices.

Printerval always ensures to bring you the best products and experience. Printerval Shop's staff is always there to help when you need it or have a problem.

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