Fall Asleep While Learning Christmas Eve

Join me as I delve into the rich tapestry of Christmas Eve traditions, from the anticipation of midnight masses to the warmth of family gatherings. Did you know that the tradition of Midnight Mass dates back to the 4th century, initiated by Pope Sixtus III in the Basilica of St Mary Major? This episode explores the evolution of such customs, shedding light on how different cultures usher in Christmas Day. Perfect for those seeking to understand the historical roots of our holiday celebrations—or simply looking for a soothing narrative to drift into slumber. Happy sleeping!

Transcript

Welcome to the I Can't Sleep Podcast,

Where I read random articles from across the web to bore you to sleep with my soothing voice.

I'm your host,

Benjamin Boster.

Today's episode is from a Wikipedia article titled,

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas,

The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus.

Christmas Day is observed around the world,

And Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day.

Together,

Both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.

Christmas celebrations in the denominations of Western Christianity have long begun on Christmas Eve,

Due in part to the Christian liturgical day starting at sunset,

A practice inherited from Jewish tradition and based on the story of creation in the Book of Genesis.

And there was evening and there was morning,

The first day.

Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening,

For example,

The Nordic Lutheran churches.

Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night,

Based in Luke 2,

Verses 6-8,

Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve,

Traditionally at midnight,

In commemoration of his birth.

The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to as Heiligenacht,

Holy night in German,

Noche Buena,

The good night in Spanish,

And similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality,

Such as the song Silent Night,

Holy Night.

Many other varying cultural traditions and experiences are also associated with Christmas Eve around the world,

Including the gathering of family and friends,

The singing of Christmas carols,

The illumination and enjoyment of Christmas lights,

Trees,

And other decorations,

The wrapping,

Exchanging,

And opening of gifts,

And general preparation for Christmas Day.

Legendary Christmas gift-bearing figures,

Including Santa Claus,

Father Christmas,

Christkind,

And Saint Nicholas,

Are also often said to depart for their annual journey to deliver presents to children around the world on Christmas Eve.

Although until the Protestant introduction of Christkind in 16th century Europe,

Such figures were said to instead deliver presents on the eve of Saint Nicholas's feast day,

The 6th of December.

Western churches have traditionally observed Christmas Eve,

Properly the Vigil of the Nativity,

As a liturgical observance distinct from the Masses of Christmas Day,

With the proper Gospel at the Mass,

Or the Vigil of the Nativity,

Being that of the Annunciation to Joseph in Matthew chapter 1.

The Vigil of the Nativity is not so much the first day of Christmas as it is the last day of Advent,

And so it traditionally retains the liturgical color of violet.

In traditional Western liturgical practice,

When the fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve occur on the same day,

The Sunday Mass is of Christmas Eve,

And the fourth Sunday of Advent is only commemorated.

The festivities of Christmas Day have,

However,

Extended farther and farther back into Christmas Eve.

While Roman Catholics,

Lutherans,

And some Anglicans traditionally celebrate Midnight Mass,

The first Mass of Christmas,

Either at or near midnight on Christmas Eve,

Some churches have in recent decades scheduled their Midnight Mass as early as 7 p.

M.

In an effort to better accommodate young children,

Whose choral singing has become a popular feature in some traditions.

Midnight Mass is held in churches throughout the world and celebrates the birth of Christ,

Which is believed to have occurred at night.

Midnight Mass is popular in Poland and Lithuania.

In Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula,

The Midnight Mass is also referred to as Rooster's Mass,

Misa de Gallo in Spanish,

Misa do Galo in Portuguese,

And Misa del Gal in Catalan.

In the Philippines,

The custom is expanded into the nine-day Simbang Gabi,

When Filipinos attend dawn Masses,

Traditionally beginning around four to five in the morning,

From the 16th of December,

Continuing daily until Christmas Eve.

In 2009,

Vatican officials scheduled the Midnight Mass to start at 10 p.

M.

,

So that the 82-year-old Pope Benedict XVI would not have too late a night.

A nativity scene may be erected indoors or outdoors,

And is composed of figurines depicting the infant Jesus resting in a manger,

Mary,

And Joseph.

Other figures in the scene may include angels,

Shepherds,

And various animals.

The figures may be made of any material and arranged in a stable or grotto.

The Magi may also appear and are sometimes not placed in the scene until the week following Christmas,

To account for their travel time to Bethlehem.

While most home nativity scenes are packed away at Christmas or shortly thereafter,

Nativity scenes in churches usually remain on display until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Whilst it does not include any kind of Mass,

The Church of Scotland has a service beginning just before midnight,

In which carols are sung.

The Church of Scotland no longer holds Hogmanay services on New Year's Eve,

But the Christmas Eve services are still very popular.

On Christmas Eve,

The Christ candle in the center of the Advent wreaths is traditionally lit in many church services.

In candlelight services,

While singing Silent Night,

Each member of the congregation receives a candle and passes along their flame,

Which is first received from the Christ candle.

Lutherans traditionally practice Christmas Eve Eucharist traditions typical of Germany and Scandinavia.

Krippenspiele,

Nativity plays,

Special festive music for organ,

Vocal,

And brass choirs,

And candlelight services make Christmas Eve one of the most beloved days in the Lutheran church calendar.

Christmas Vespers is popular in the early evening,

And midnight Masses are also widespread in regions which are predominantly Lutheran.

The old Lutheran tradition of a Christmas vigil in the early morning hours of Christmas Day can still be found in some regions.

In eastern and middle Germany,

Congregation still continues a tradition of Kempas singing.

Separate groups,

Dispersed in various parts of the church,

Sing verses of the song,

He Whom Shepherds Once Came Praising,

Responsibly.

Methodists celebrate the evening in different ways.

Some in the early evening come to their church to celebrate Holy Communion with their families.

The mood is very solemn,

And the only visible light is the Advent wreath and the candles upon the Lord's table.

Others celebrate the evening with services of light,

Which includes singing the song,

Silent Night,

As a variety of candles,

Including personal candles are lit.

Other churches have late evening services,

Perhaps at 11 p.

M.

,

So that the church can celebrate Christmas Day together with the ringing of bells at midnight.

Others offer Christmas Day services as well.

The annual Nine Lessons and Carols,

Broadcast from King's College,

Cambridge,

On Christmas Eve,

Has established itself a Christmas custom in the United Kingdom.

It is broadcast outside the UK via the BBC World Service and is also bought by broadcasters around the world.

In the Byzantine Rite,

Christmas Eve is referred to as Parimony,

Preparation.

It is the concluding day of the Nativity Fast and is observed as a day of strict fasting by those devout Byzantine Christians who are physically capable of doing so.

In some traditions,

Nothing is eaten until the first star appears in the evening sky,

In commemoration of the Star of Bethlehem.

The liturgical celebration begins earlier in the day with the celebration of the Royal Hours,

Followed by the Divine Liturgy combined with the celebration of Espers,

During which a large number of passages from the Old Testament are chanted,

Recounting the history of salvation.

After the dismissal at the end of the service,

A new candle is brought out into the center of the church and lit,

And all gather round to sing the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast.

In the evening,

The all-night vigil for the Feast of the Nativity is composed of the Great Compline,

Matins,

And the First Hour.

The Byzantine services of Christmas Eve are intentionally parallel to those of Good Friday,

Illustrating the theological point that the purpose of the Incarnation was to make possible the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

This is illustrated in eastern icons of the Nativity,

On which the Christ Child is wrapped in swaddling clothes,

Reminiscent of His burial wrappings.

The Child is also shown lying on a stone,

Representing the tomb of Christ,

Rather than a manger.

The Cave of the Nativity is also a reminder of the cave in which Jesus was buried.

The services of Christmas Eve are also similar to those of the Eve of Theophany,

Epiphany,

And the two Great Feasts are considered one celebration.

In some Orthodox cultures,

After the Vesperal Liturgy,

The family returns home to a festive meal,

But one at which Orthodox fasting rules are still observed.

No meat or dairy products are consumed.

Then they return to the Church for the all-night vigil.

The next morning,

Christmas Day,

The Divine Liturgy is celebrated again,

But with special features that occur only on Great Feasts of the Lord.

After the dismissal of this Liturgy,

The faithful customarily greet each other with the kiss of peace and the words,

Christ is born,

To which the one being greeted responds,

Glorify Him,

The opening words of the Canon of the Nativity that was chanted the night before during the vigil.

This greeting,

Together with many of the hymns of the Feast,

Continue to be passed until the leave-taking of the Feast on December 31.

The first three days of the Feast are particularly solemn.

The second day is known as the Synaxis of the Theotokos and commemorates the role of the Virgin Mary in the Nativity of Jesus.

The third day is referred to simply as the Third Day of the Nativity.

The Saturday and Sunday following the 25th of December have special Epistle and Gospel readings assigned to them.

The 29th of December celebrates the Holy Innocence.

Byzantine Christians observe a festal period of 12 days,

During which no one in the Church fasts,

Even on Wednesdays and Fridays,

Which are normal fasting days throughout the rest of the year.

During this time,

One Feast leads into another.

The 25th through the 31st of December is the after-Feast of the Nativity.

The 2nd through the 5th of January is the fore-Feast of the Epiphany.

Christmas Eve Dinner In Bulgaria,

The meal consists of an odd number of lenten dishes in compliance with the rules of fasting.

They are usually the traditional sarma,

Bobjorba,

Bean soup,

Fortuna kravai,

Pastry with a fortune in it,

Also called bogavica,

Vercenik,

Kolodnik,

Stuffed peppers,

Nuts,

Dried fruit,

Boiled wheat.

The meal is often accompanied with wine or Bulgaria's traditional alcoholic beverage,

Rakia.

In the past,

Olivina,

A type of homemade rye beer.

The meals used to be put on top of hay directly on the floor,

Together with a plowshare or a coulter.

Cuba In Cuba,

Roasted pig is often the center of Christmas Eve,

Noche Buena.

It is believed that the tradition dates back to the 15th century when Caribbean colonists hunted down pigs and roasted them with a powerful flame.

In Cuban and Cuban-American tradition,

The pig is sometimes cooked in caja china,

A large box where an entire pig is placed below hot coals.

The dinner features many side dishes and desserts,

And often games of dominoes are played.

The tradition is continued by Cuban families in Florida and the United States.

The dinner on the 24th,

Christmas Eve itself,

Is the center of the celebration.

That day,

It may also be the 31st,

For many it is important to wear a new piece of clothing,

Be it a jacket or underwear.

The Cuban family does not have a fixed time for dinner.

It is necessary,

Yes,

In most of the island to have it as a family,

And it is expected to be all at the table to start tasting the frijoles negros dormidos,

Sleeping black beans,

And the arroz blanco desgranado y reduciente,

Shredded white rice.

The yuca con mojo,

Cuban side dish made by marinating yuca root,

Also known as cassava,

And garlic,

Sour orange,

And olive oil.

The roasted pork or the stuffed or unfilled guanajo that,

Along with homemade desserts,

Such as Christmas fritters,

And a wide range of sweets and syrup and Spanish nougat.

The visit to the archipelago of Pope John Paul II in 1998 promoted the Cuban state in a gesture of goodwill to declare December 25th again as a holiday,

Which had stopped happening for several decades.

Czech Republic In the Czech Republic,

Fasting on the day of Christmas Eve,

Or only eating meatless food,

Is a medieval tradition.

The belief is that if one lasted until Christmas dinner,

They would see a golden pig,

Which is a symbol of luck.

A typical Christmas breakfast is a sweet braided bread,

Vanočka.

Christmas Eve dinner traditionally consists of a carp,

Baked or fried,

And a potato salad.

In French-speaking places,

Réveillon is a long dinner eaten on Christmas Eve.

In Guam and the Northern Marianas,

Dishes include shrimp keleguen,

Coconut crab,

And candan octopus,

Octopus stewed in sweet peppers and coconut milk.

Beef is a rarity,

But a popular dish is tinoctoc,

Ground beef in coconut milk.

Italy Christmas in Italy begins on the 8th of December with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,

The day on which traditionally the Christmas tree is mounted,

And ends on January 6th of the following year with the Epiphany.

According to tradition,

The Christmas Eve dinner must not contain meat.

It is quite common to attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and practice the old custom of abstinence from meat on the day,

But not fasting,

Which is observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Traditions regarding the exchanging of gifts vary from region to region,

As this may take place either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day.

On December 24th,

Christmas Eve,

The Christmas Night Mass,

Also called Midnight Mass,

Is celebrated.

While other Christian families throughout the world celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with various means,

Italians,

Especially Sicilians,

Celebrate the traditional Catholic Feast of the Seven Fishes,

Which was historically served after a 24-hour fasting period.

Although Christmas fasting is no longer a popular custom,

Some Italian Americans still enjoy a meatless Christmas Eve feast and attend the Midnight Mass.

In various cultures,

A festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance,

When the first star,

Usually Sirius,

Appears in the sky.

LITHUANIA Lithuanian Christmas Eve blends pagan and Christian traditions,

As initially it was a celebration of the winter solstice.

Traditionally,

Lithuanians believed that animals could talk on that night,

And it was possible to predict the future with charms and various games.

Kuchos,

Holy Meal,

Is the most important event of the year and family reunion.

Dead relatives are remembered with an empty plate set at the table.

The feast starts after the rise of the evening star.

No products made from meat,

Milk,

And alcohol are allowed during the kuchos.

In all,

Twelve dishes are served,

All of them rustic,

Made from grains,

Fish,

Dried fruit,

Or mushrooms,

Including kuchikai.

Small biscuits soaked in poppy seed milk are served.

After dinner is over,

The table is left uncleared overnight for the feast of the veles,

Spirits,

Or soul.

In Peru,

Turkey and panettone are the stars of Christmas Eve.

In the Philippines,

The traditional dinner,

Noche Buena,

Is served at midnight after the family attends the late evening mass,

Known as Misa de Gallo,

Sometimes referred to as Misa de Aguinaldo,

Gift Mass.

Common traditional dishes served for the main course include lechon,

Various types of pancit noodles,

Filipino spaghetti,

Jamon,

Queso de bola,

Marcon,

Embutido,

Chicken galantina,

Almondigas,

Meatballs,

Paella,

Arroz valenciana,

Brinje,

Etc.

,

Lumpia,

Menudo,

Mechado,

Maldereta,

Callos,

Chicken pastel,

Relleno,

Bangus,

Stuffed milkfish,

Lengua estofado,

Adobo,

And various types of barbecue.

Almost all of these dishes are eaten with white rice.

Desserts and side dishes include ube halaya,

Turon,

Leche flan,

Macaroni salad,

Membrillo,

Fruit salad,

Buko salad,

Crema de fruta,

Ensemada,

Champorado,

Mango float,

Fruit cake,

Castañas,

Roasted chestnuts,

And various other kakanin rice cakes like puto bumbong,

Bibingka,

Suman,

Pico,

And sapan-sapan.

Popular beverages are chocolate,

As well as coffee,

Soda,

Wine,

Beer,

Alcoholic drinks,

And fruit juices.

Poland.

In tradition similar to Italy,

Vigilia,

Or Christmas vigil,

Exists in Poland.

The number of dishes is traditionally 12,

But has been an odd number in the past.

According to the Słonik Etymologiczny Jezuka Polskiego,

The Etymological Dictionary of the Polish Language,

By Alexander Bruckner,

The number of dishes was traditionally related to the social class.

The peasant's vigil consisted of five or seven dishes,

The gentry usually had nine,

And the aristocracy eleven dishes,

But the even number twelve is also found today to remember the twelve apostles.

It is obligatory to try a portion of all of them.

Some traditions specify that the number of guests cannot be odd.

In Poland,

Gifts are unwrapped on Christmas Eve,

As opposed to Christmas Day.

It comes from fusing the traditions of Saint Nicholas Day,

The 6th of December,

And Christmas.

In the past,

Gifts were opened on the morning of Saint Nicholas Day.

In the U.

S.

Territory of Puerto Rico,

The traditional Christmas Eve dinner consists of arroz con gandules,

Rice with pigeon peas,

Lechon asada,

Pig roast,

Or pernil asado,

Pork roast shoulder,

Morcilla,

Rice-filled pork blood sausage,

Pasteles,

Root vegetable-based dough,

Meat-filled tamale,

Cuinetos en escabeche,

Marinated sliced green bananas,

Ensalada de papa puertorriqueña,

Puerto Rican potato salad,

And ensalada de codidos puertorriqueña,

Puerto Rican macaroni salad.

The traditional Christmas Eve desserts are arroz con dulce,

Coconut rice pudding,

Temblaque,

Coconut pudding,

Flan de queso o coco,

Cheese or coconut caramel custard,

Tiarrita,

Chocolate mousse,

Turrón,

Galletas florecitas,

Small meringue-topped biscuits,

Danish butter biscuits,

Nueces sortidas,

Assorted shelled nuts,

Bombones dulces de navidad assortidos,

Assorted Christmas heart candy.

The traditional Christmas Eve beverages are coquito,

Coconut eggnog,

Don Q,

Or Bacardi rum,

And Pitorro,

Moonshine rum.

Russia.

Rozhdenstvensky Sochelnik was a common Eastern Orthodox tradition in the Russian Empire,

But during the era of the Soviet Union,

It was greatly discouraged as a result of the official atheism of the former regime.

But the celebration itself has not yet regained its popularity among the people.

Instead of the Christmas Eve,

New Year's Eve is considered to be a traditional family celebration featuring the New Year tree.

Serbia.

In accordance with the Christmas traditions of the Serbs,

Their festive meal has a copious and diverse selection of foods,

Although it is prepared according to the rules of fasting.

As well as a round unleavened loaf of bread and salt,

Which are necessary,

This meal may comprise roast fish,

Cooked beans,

Sauerkraut,

Noodles with ground walnuts,

Honey,

And wine.

Families in some Slavic countries leave an empty place at the table for guests,

Alluding to Mary and Joseph looking for shelter in Bethlehem.

Ukraine.

In Ukraine,

Svyativodcher is traditionally celebrated with a meatless twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper,

Or the Holy Supper.

The main attributes of the Holy Supper in Ukraine are kucha,

A poppy seed,

Honey and wheat dish,

And uzvar,

A drink made from reconstituted dry fruits.

Other typical dishes are borscht,

Vareniki,

And dishes made of fish,

Facilis,

And cabbage.

The twelve dishes symbolize the twelve apostles.

Just as in Poland,

It is obligatory to try a portion of all of the dishes.

The table is spread with a white cloth,

Symbolic of the swaddling clothes of the child Jesus was wrapped in,

And a large white candle stands in the center of the table,

Symbolizing Christ,

The light of the world.

Next to it is a round loaf of bread,

Symbolizing Christ,

Bread of life.

Hay is often displayed either on the table or as a decoration in the room,

Reminiscent of the manger in Bethlehem.

Venezuela.

In Venezuela,

Ayacas are normally the staple dish for Noche Buena,

Alongside of either ham or pork leg,

Known as pernil,

Panettone,

Rum,

And pancha crema,

A form of alcoholic eggnog.

The night is usually accompanied by traditional Christmas music,

Known as aguinaldos.

In Venezuela,

The traditional music is known as carabó.

Gift-giving.

During the Reformation in the 16th and 17th century Europe,

Many Protestants changed the gift-bringer to the Christ child or Christkindl,

And the date of giving gifts changed from the 6th of December to Christmas Eve.

It is the night when Santa Claus makes his rounds delivering gifts to good children.

Many trace the custom of giving gifts to the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ child in the manger.

In Austria,

Croatia,

The Czech Republic,

Hungary,

And Slovakia,

Where Saint Nicholas gives gifts on the 6th of December,

The Christmas gift-giver is the child Jesus.

In Austria,

The Czech Republic,

Denmark,

Finland,

Germany,

Hungary,

Norway,

Poland,

Slovakia,

Sweden,

And Switzerland,

Presents are traditionally exchanged on the evening of the 24th of December.

Children are commonly told that presents were brought either by the Christkindl,

German for Christ child,

Or by Weihnachtsmann.

Both leave the gifts,

But are in most families not seen doing so.

In Germany,

The gifts are also brought on the 6th of December by the Nikolaus,

With his helper Necht Ruprecht.

In Estonia,

Yulevana,

Finland,

Yulepukki,

Denmark,

Yulemanden,

Norway,

Yulenissen,

And Sweden,

Yultamten,

Personally meets children and gives presents on the evening of Christmas Eve.

In Argentina,

Austria,

Brazil,

Colombia,

Croatia,

The Czech Republic,

Denmark,

Estonia,

The Faroe Islands,

Finland,

France,

Germany,

Hungary,

Iceland,

Latvia,

Lithuania,

Luxembourg,

Norway,

Poland,

Portugal,

Quebec,

French Canada,

Romania,

Uruguay,

Slovakia,

Slovenia,

Sweden,

And Switzerland,

Christmas presents are opened mostly on the evening of the 24th.

Following German tradition,

This is also the practice among the British royal family since it was introduced by Queen Victoria and Albert Prince Consort.

While in Italy,

The United States,

The United Kingdom,

Republic of Ireland,

Malta,

English Canada,

South Africa,

New Zealand,

And Australia,

This occurs mostly on the morning of Christmas Day.

In other Latin American countries,

People stay awake until midnight when they open the presents.

In Spain,

Gifts are traditionally opened on the morning of the 6th of January,

Epiphany Day.

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos.

Though in some other countries like Mexico,

Argentina,

And Uruguay,

People receive presents both around Christmas and on the morning of Epiphany Day.

In Belgium and the Netherlands,

Saint Nicholas,

Or Sinterklaas,

And his companions,

Wattepiet,

Deliver presents to children and adults alike on the evening of 5th of December,

The eve of his nameday.

On the 24th of December,

They go to church,

Or watch the late night mass on TV,

Or have a meal.

Reviews

Another timely delivery of interesting yet boring information. Thank you 🙏✨

Very nice. Visions of sugar plums danced in my head.

Beautiful as always! Love your pronunciation of all the different languages! Alas- I still felll asleep 😴 😉