Christmas Eve

holiday

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June 24, 2026

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Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas, observed on December 24th. It is a significant part of the Christmas celebration for many Christians and non-Christians alike.123

While the exact date of Jesus' birth is not definitively known, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in the Gregorian calendar by many Christians. For some Eastern Orthodox churches using the Julian calendar, this date corresponds to January 7th.23

Traditions associated with Christmas, including gift-giving, often take place on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. The origins of Christmas traditions are diverse, incorporating elements from ancient Roman festivals, Germanic midwinter customs, and medieval religious celebrations.23

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Christianity
Christian practice in the modern world
…rural Romania, for instance, on Christmas Eve groups of young carolers would (colindatori) proceed from house to house in the village, singing and collecting gifts of food. Often these carolers impersonated the saints, especially Saints John, Peter, George, and Nicholas. The words of their songs (colinde) described legendary heroes who…
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…rural Romania, for instance, on Christmas Eve groups of young carolers would (colindatori) proceed from house to house in the village, singing and collecting gifts of food. Often these carolers impersonated the saints, especially Saints John, Peter, George, and Nicholas. The words of their songs (colinde) described legendary heroes who…
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Christmas
Development of Christmas as a holiday
…late on the evening of December 24. A special service of “lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson and adopted at the University of Cambridge, has…
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…late on the evening of December 24. A special service of “lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson and adopted at the University of Cambridge, has…
Read More

Feast of the Seven Fishes
Origins
, Christmas Eve (December 24)—was a period of fasting during which Catholics also were required to abstain from meat. However, in southern Italy, where seafood was abundant and relatively cheap, it became customary for families to break the fast with a large meal of fish. In…
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, Christmas Eve (December 24)—was a period of fasting during which Catholics also were required to abstain from meat. However, in southern Italy, where seafood was abundant and relatively cheap, it became customary for families to break the fast with a large meal of fish. In…
Read More