The Season of Christmas
"Christmas" (from Christ-mass) is the church's celebration of the incarnation and nativity of Jesus Christ. At the Nativity of the Lord and throughout the season of Christmas we give thanks that, in the fullness of time, God's Word became flesh to live among us, full of grace and truth. We proclaim this good news of great joy for all people: that God has sent us a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord. We bear witness to the light of Christ that has come into the world, the light that darkness cannot overcome.
Christians have commemorated the Nativity of the Lord on December 25 since at least the fourth century in Rome. As with Advent, the origin of this festival is unclear. Some have proposed that it was established to replace the Roman feast of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (the "day of the birth of the unconquered sun"). According to another theory, Jesus' conception was thought to correspond with the day of his crucifixion: March 25, according to early Christian tradition; December 25 is exactly nine months later.
As with Easter, Christmas refers not only to a single day, but to a whole season of celebration in the Christian year. The season of Christmas spans the twelve days between the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) and the Epiphany of the Lord (January 6). Traditionally, the first service of Christmas takes place on the eve of the Nativity of the Lord. Depending on the year, one or two Sundays fall within the season of Christmas; on these Sundays we continue to rejoice in the wondrous gift of Emmanuel--God with us in Jesus Christ.
COLORS: white and gold
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)
Christians have commemorated the Nativity of the Lord on December 25 since at least the fourth century in Rome. As with Advent, the origin of this festival is unclear. Some have proposed that it was established to replace the Roman feast of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (the "day of the birth of the unconquered sun"). According to another theory, Jesus' conception was thought to correspond with the day of his crucifixion: March 25, according to early Christian tradition; December 25 is exactly nine months later.
As with Easter, Christmas refers not only to a single day, but to a whole season of celebration in the Christian year. The season of Christmas spans the twelve days between the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) and the Epiphany of the Lord (January 6). Traditionally, the first service of Christmas takes place on the eve of the Nativity of the Lord. Depending on the year, one or two Sundays fall within the season of Christmas; on these Sundays we continue to rejoice in the wondrous gift of Emmanuel--God with us in Jesus Christ.
COLORS: white and gold
- from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship (2018)