The Octave of Christmas

There is an ancient practice of celebrating Christmas for eight wonderful days, because how could you celebrate this unfathomable mystery in just one mere morning? This is in sharp contrast to the modern American practice of celebrating Christmas during December. Liturgically we celebrate each Mass during the Octave (eight days) as if it were Christmas. One of those ways is by including the Gloria every day.

The Hebrews celebrated many of their feasts, such as the “Feast of Tabernacles” and the “Dedication of the Temple” for eight days. Later, the Roman Emperor Constantine continued the tradition by celebrating the dedication of basilicas in the Christian World for eight days. Before the Second Vatican Council the Church granted certain feasts an octave including Pentecost, Epiphany, the feasts of Sts. Peter and St. Paul, St. Lawrence, and St. Agnes. Today we celebrate two feasts with Octaves: Easter and Christmas.

Life in the ancient world was so hectic and filled with pressure and families had grown apart and were being swept up in the older pagan traditions so the Church granted a period of eight days in order to contemplate the mysteries experienced in the Church’s liturgy. If the Ancients were busily distracted, what has become of us!? Take some time and be humbled before the Mystery: The Word of God has become man!