With a feast as important as Christmas, we are not limited to celebrating it on one day but are encouraged to continue the celebration for eight days – referred to in the Christian tradition as an “octave” – concluding the celebration with the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 1. Each day is still another “little Christmas”.
Here is a great quote explaining the reason for the Octave of Christmas:
“In the spirit of the Church the great feasts of redemption should not be restricted to a single celebration but should continue on through a full week. Mother Church is good psychologist; she understands human nature perfectly. When a feast comes, the soul is amazed and not quite prepared to think profoundly upon its mystery; but on the following days the mind finds it easy to consider the mystery from all sides, sympathetically and deeply; and an eighth day affords a wonderful opportunity to make a synthesis of all points covered...Today for the last time the Church leads us to the crib at Bethlehem” (The Church’s Year of Grace, Volume I, pp. 244-245).
Today: Plan to celebrate the Octave of Christmas from tomorrow night until
January 1, making each day
after Christmas Day a ‘little Christmas’.
Sent by Lisa Jones on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 9:00AM