Christmas Eve

• 1. Liturgical Origins And Observances

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  The evening before Christmas has long been a time of spiritual preparation in Western Christianity, rooted in the ancient belief that days begin at sunset. This practice traces back to Jewish tradition and the opening lines of Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day." Many churches still ring their bells and hold prayers during this time, such as Nordic Lutheran congregations. The idea that Jesus was born at night is reflected in the name Heilige Nacht, or Holy Night, used in German-speaking regions. Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, to commemorate his birth. In Poland, this service is known as pasterka, while in Lithuania it is called piemenėlių mišios. Latin American and Iberian communities refer to it as Misa de Gallo, or Rooster's Mass. Some churches have moved the start time earlier, scheduling Midnight Mass as early as 7 pm to accommodate young children whose choral singing has become popular. In 2009, Vatican officials set the Midnight Mass for 10 pm so Pope Benedict XVI would not stay up too late. A nativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors, composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger with Mary and Joseph. Other figures include angels, shepherds, and various animals. These scenes are often made from any material and arranged in a stable or grotto. Magi may also appear, sometimes added only after the week following Christmas to account for travel time. Most home nativity scenes are packed away by Christmas, but church displays remain until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Throughout Christian denominations, the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath is lit during many services. In candlelight services, each member receives a candle and passes along their flame from the Christ Candle. Lutherans practice Eucharistic traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia, including Krippenspiele, or Nativity plays, and special festive music for organ and choirs. Christmas Vespers is popular in the early evening, and Midnight Masses are widespread in predominantly Lutheran regions. The Church of Scotland holds a service beginning just before midnight, where carols are sung. Methodists celebrate the evening differently; some attend Holy Communion with families, while others hold services of light that include singing Silent Night as candles are lit. Some churches offer late evening services at 11 pm so they can ring bells at midnight to begin Christmas Day together. The annual Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast from King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve has become a custom in the United Kingdom and is transmitted worldwide via BBC World Service.

• 2. Global Culinary Traditions

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  In Bulgaria, the meal consists of an odd number of lenten dishes in compliance with fasting rules. They include sarma, bob chorba bean soup, fortune kravai pastry with a fortune inside, stuffed peppers, nuts, dried fruit, and boiled wheat. The meal is often accompanied by wine or rakia, Bulgaria's traditional alcoholic beverage. In the past, olovina, a type of homemade rye beer, was also served. Meals used to be placed on top of hay directly on the floor alongside a ploughshare or coulter. In Cuba, roasted pig is often the center of Nochebuena celebrations. This tradition dates back to the 15th century when Caribbean colonists hunted down pigs and roasted them with powerful flames. Cuban families sometimes cook the pig in a caja china, a large box where the entire animal is placed below hot coals. The dinner features many side dishes and desserts, and games of dominoes are played. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, fasting until Christmas dinner is a medieval tradition believed to bring luck if one sees a golden pig. A typical breakfast includes sweet braided bread called vánočka. Dinner traditionally consists of carp baked or fried and potato salad. In France, Réveillon refers to a long dinner eaten on Christmas Eve. Guam and the Northern Marianas serve shrimp kelaguen, coconut crab, and kadon octopus stewed in sweet peppers and coconut milk. Beef is rare there, but tinaktak ground beef in coconut milk remains popular. Germany hosts Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas markets in almost every city, town, or village, offering stalls, entertainment, and food like Glühwein mulled wine, Lebkuchen gingerbread, Stollen fruit cake, Speculaas, and marzipan confectionery. Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt attracts millions annually. Italy celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes historically served after a 24-hour fasting period. Sicilians especially maintain this meatless feast while attending Midnight Mass. Lithuania blends pagan and Christian traditions; animals were once thought able to talk on that night. Kūčios Holy Meal is the most important event, remembered with an empty plate for dead relatives. The feast starts after the evening star rises. No products made from meat, milk, or alcohol are allowed during Kūčios. Twelve rustic dishes are served including kūčiukai small biscuits soaked in poppy seed milk. Peru features turkey and panettone as stars of Christmas Eve. In the Philippines, lechón various types of pancit noodles Filipino spaghetti hamonado jamón queso de bola morcón embutido chicken galantina almondigas paelya lumpia menudo mechado callos chicken pastel relyenong bangús lengua estofado adobo barbecue white rice form the main course. Desserts include úbe halayá turon leche flan macaroni salad membrilyo fruit salad buko salad crema de fruta ensaymada champorado mango float fruitcake castañas roasted chestnuts kakanin rice cakes like puto bumbong bibingka suman biko sapin-sapin. Beverages range from tsokolate coffee soda wine beer alcoholic drinks fruit juices. Puerto Rico serves arroz con gandules rice with pigeon peas lechón asado pig roast pernil asado pork roast shoulder morcilla rice-filled pork blood sausage pasteles root vegetable-based dough meat-filled tamale guineitos en escabeche marinated sliced green bananas ensalada de papa puertorriqueña Puerto Rican potato salad ensalada de coditos puertorriqueña Puerto Rican macaroni salad. Desserts include arroz con dulce coconut rice pudding tembleque coconut pudding flan de queso o coco cheese or coconut caramel custard tierrita chocolate mousse turrón galletas florecitas small meringue-topped biscuits Danish butter biscuits nueces surtidas assorted shelled nuts bombones dulces de navidad surtidos assorted Christmas hard candy. Beverages are coquito coconut eggnog Don Q Bacardi rum Pitorro moonshine rum. Venezuela features hallacas alongside ham or pork leg known as pernil panettone rum and Ponche Crema alcoholic eggnog. The night is accompanied by traditional music called aguinaldos joropo.

• 3. Gift Giving Customs And Figures

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  In Christianity, gift-giving during Christmastide traces to the Magi who brought gifts for the Christ child in the manger. During the Reformation in 16th- and 17th-century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift-bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, shifting the date from the 6th of December to Christmas Eve. It is the night when Santa Claus makes his rounds delivering presents to good children. In Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, Saint Nicholas gives gifts on the 6th of December, while the Child Jesus delivers them later. Ježíšek appears in Czech families, Jézuska in Hungarian homes, Ježiško in Slovak households, and Isusek in Croatian ones. In Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland, presents are traditionally exchanged on the evening of the 24th of December. Children are told that gifts were brought either by the Christkind German for Christ child or by the Weihnachtsmann. Both leave the gifts unseen in most families. In Germany, Nikolaus brings gifts on the 6th of December with his helper Knecht Ruprecht. Estonia's Jõuluvana, Finland's Joulupukki, Denmark's Julemanden, Norway's Julenissen, and Sweden's Jultomten personally meet children and give presents on Christmas Eve evenings. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Quebec French Canada, Romania, Uruguay, Slovenia, and Switzerland open presents mostly on the evening of the 24th following German tradition. The British royal family adopted this practice after Queen Victoria and Albert introduced it. Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Malta, English Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia typically exchange gifts on the morning of Christmas Day. Some countries connect gift-giving to Epiphany in Spain on the morning of the 6th of January or Sinterklaas in Belgium and the Netherlands on the evening of the 5th of December.

• 4. Cultural Variations And Adaptations

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  Christmas Eve is celebrated differently across cultures beyond Christianity. Among Jewish communities, Nittel Nacht was a name given by scholars in the 17th century. In contemporary American-Jewish culture, Christmas Day being a work holiday creates unfilled free time that can lead to loneliness for Jews. Typical activities include eating at Chinese restaurants which tend to stay open and watching movies like reruns of the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. Since the 1980s social events for young Jews have become popular including Matzo Ball The Ball and local gatherings organized by Jewish Federations in North America. In Mandarin-speaking regions Christmas Eve is called 平安夜 meaning peaceful night etymologically from Silent Night carol titles. People exchange apples because the word for apple rhymes with peace. In Inuit territories Christmas Eve is called Quviasukvik and serves as their new year celebration. In New Mexico and parts of San Diego California Christmas Eve nochebuena is marked by lighting luminarias and farolitos. These cultural adaptations show how diverse groups engage with the holiday season while maintaining their own identities.

• 5. Historical Events And Truces

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  During World War I in 1914 and 1915 an unofficial Christmas truce occurred particularly between British and German troops. The truce began on Christmas Eve the 24th of December 1914 when German troops decorated trenches near Ypres Belgium with candles on trees. They sang Christmas carols most notably Stille Nacht Silent Night. British troops responded by singing English carols. Both sides shouted greetings across No Man's Land where small gifts were exchanged. Visits allowed breathing space to retrieve recently killed soldiers through burial parties. Funerals took place as soldiers mourned together reading Psalm 23 at one funeral. The truce happened despite opposition from higher military command levels. Earlier Pope Benedict XV had called for an official truce ignored by warring governments. On the 24th of December 1968 Apollo 8 astronauts Bill Anders Jim Lovell and Frank Borman surprised the world with a reading of Creation from Book of Genesis while orbiting the Moon. This was the most watched television broadcast up to that date. In 1969 United States Postal Service issued stamp Scott# 1371 commemorating the flight featuring Earthrise photograph taken by William Anders on Christmas Eve with words "In the beginning God...".