Have you ever questioned why Christmas falls on December 25? No body can really be certain about the exact date of the birth of the Jesus of Nazareth because no part of the Sacred Scripture will implicitly tell us that the Christ’s birth happened on the 25th except from the periscope where it tells us about the census conducted by the authorities of that time. And besides, the Jewish calendar is quite different from the Gregorian one that we follow today. Their concept of celebrating a feast on a particular day is also quite different from us. A day for celebrations usually starts on the dusk of the preceding day. Hence, we shall see that the feast of the Passover starts through a dinner to be shared by Jewish families. But why celebrate it on the 25th anyway if the date is not necessarily that one? Or the perennial question that I ask myself: why not celebrate it on the day of my birthday?
The eve of December 24 up to the dawn of December 25 is characterized as the day in the calendar wherein the night seems to be the longest throughout the year. Hence, it is part of the Church’s tradition to speak of the birth of the Christ in the longest of the nights that is perhaps implied by the star followed by the Magi. This was however not the first case because originally, the date is set on the 6th of January. However, a pagan ritual regarding the winter solstice that is set on the eve of December 24 seems to have been taken into account and is celebrated festively better than Christ’s birth. That is why it has been decided to transfer the celebration on that day perhaps to overshadow the colors of the pagan ritual.
In our local customs, the Philippines is seen to be celebrating Christmas starting from the 16th of December and culminates it on the feast of the Three Kings. This custom covers 9 days more than the traditional 12 days of other countries. Others would even say that Christmas season officially starts when the ber-months strike. The practice is much earlier in comparison to other countries. It is because the Philippines is the only country recognized by the pontificate in celebrating the 9 dawn masses in preparation for Christmas day. But have you ever known that even if Filipinos start the Christmas season early, they also end it early.
Taking into account the calendar of the Church, the celebration of the day of the magi is not the formal end of Christmas season. It is also not referring to the local feast of the holy child. Christmas season formally ends in the solemnity of Christ’s Baptism. Differences are due to cultural interpretation of the season.
Would it matter? Is it wrong? It is not, I suppose. The Church is following two dominant aspects, the scriptures and traditions and they supplement each other. Traces of this so-called “inculturation” and “appropriation” practice may be inferred from the practices of early Christians as early as the time of St. Paul when they admitted non-Jews and uncircumcised people for Baptism.
It was not my mere intent to justify the long-lived traditional date for Christmas. Moreover, one should realize that the message seems to tell us that since the date for Jesus’ birth is really uncertain and is at times dependent upon cultural practices and variation. Hence, it is upon us to make every day a Christmas day. As long as one feel treating it so, Christmas spirit and the values it reminds us should be kept not just on a cold December day but all throughout the year.
The eve of December 24 up to the dawn of December 25 is characterized as the day in the calendar wherein the night seems to be the longest throughout the year. Hence, it is part of the Church’s tradition to speak of the birth of the Christ in the longest of the nights that is perhaps implied by the star followed by the Magi. This was however not the first case because originally, the date is set on the 6th of January. However, a pagan ritual regarding the winter solstice that is set on the eve of December 24 seems to have been taken into account and is celebrated festively better than Christ’s birth. That is why it has been decided to transfer the celebration on that day perhaps to overshadow the colors of the pagan ritual.
In our local customs, the Philippines is seen to be celebrating Christmas starting from the 16th of December and culminates it on the feast of the Three Kings. This custom covers 9 days more than the traditional 12 days of other countries. Others would even say that Christmas season officially starts when the ber-months strike. The practice is much earlier in comparison to other countries. It is because the Philippines is the only country recognized by the pontificate in celebrating the 9 dawn masses in preparation for Christmas day. But have you ever known that even if Filipinos start the Christmas season early, they also end it early.
Taking into account the calendar of the Church, the celebration of the day of the magi is not the formal end of Christmas season. It is also not referring to the local feast of the holy child. Christmas season formally ends in the solemnity of Christ’s Baptism. Differences are due to cultural interpretation of the season.
Would it matter? Is it wrong? It is not, I suppose. The Church is following two dominant aspects, the scriptures and traditions and they supplement each other. Traces of this so-called “inculturation” and “appropriation” practice may be inferred from the practices of early Christians as early as the time of St. Paul when they admitted non-Jews and uncircumcised people for Baptism.
It was not my mere intent to justify the long-lived traditional date for Christmas. Moreover, one should realize that the message seems to tell us that since the date for Jesus’ birth is really uncertain and is at times dependent upon cultural practices and variation. Hence, it is upon us to make every day a Christmas day. As long as one feel treating it so, Christmas spirit and the values it reminds us should be kept not just on a cold December day but all throughout the year.
1 comment:
Agreed. The "festive" and loving spirit should be all year round. I suspect your British pagan theory is correct. In England Christmas comes as the nights begin to brighten. Have often wondered why our time system is imposed on the southern hemisphere if not worldwide. Why adopt a Jewish religion though? Why am I not still praying to Thor or Odin then Mr. Religious Student? I bet you have some answers for me. Fondest wishes. Paul.
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