Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas Day, which falls on December 24th each year. However, it is celebrated as a full day before Christmas Day and its climax is the evening of December 24th. It is an important part of the Christmas Season since it ushers us into Christmas Day. The origin of Christmas Eve can be traced back to the Bible story of the birth of Jesus Christ, where it is believed that he was born at midnight on this day. The Christmas Eve date remains the same every year.
Nonetheless, some churches celebrate Christmas Eve on different dates based on their calendar. An example is the Armenian Apostolic Church, which observes it on January 5th. Also, some Orthodox Christians in Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, and Serbia celebrate Christmas Eve on January 6th because their Christmas Day is on January 7th every year.
On Christmas Eve, people worldwide engage in various activities including attending church services, decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, and enjoying festive meals with loved ones. Others attend parties and concerts or watch a Christmas-themed movie at home. In many countries, it is a time of family gatherings and reunions.
Also, it is common for some Christians to participate in caroling, where they go in groups from house to house singing Christmas songs. Some Churches such as the Catholic Church hold a special service such as the Midnight Mass at midnight on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve celebrations and traditions vary by culture and community.
In addition to religious reasons, Christmas Eve is celebrated as a secular holiday. Many non-Christians also celebrate this day as a cultural holiday. In some countries, such as Mexico, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a special feast called Las Posadas. During this feast, people reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
Though Christmas Eve is widely celebrated, there are some places where it is not observed due to cultural or religious differences. All countries that do not celebrate Christmas have no need for Christmas Eve. Also, some countries, though celebrate Christmas, do not observe Christmas Eve as a public holiday. Among the countries where Christmas Eve is celebrated as a public holiday are Angola, Botswana, Denmark, Burundi, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Guatemala, Iceland, and many African countries.
Christmas Eve is a joyous fest associated with the anticipation and excitement of the upcoming Christmas Day. And celebrating it brings joy, happiness, forgiveness, harmony, and reconciliation, making it worthwhile. Though Christmas Eve is not celebrated in all places, on that day, the spirit of Christmas can still be felt everywhere. Merry Christmas!