Online Catholic Mass · 2026-11-20
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ — the centerpiece of the Catholic liturgical year. For Catholics, Christmas is not one day but a season, beginning with Advent and lasting until the Baptism of the Lord in January.
For Catholics, Christmas celebrates the Incarnation — God becoming man in Jesus Christ. This is why Christmas is called the 'great feast': it honors the moment when God entered human history. The season reminds us that God is with us (Emmanuel).
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Catholics prepare through prayer, the Advent wreath with its four candles, and waiting in joyful hope. Many families use an Advent calendar or Jesse tree to count the days.
Families celebrate with the nativity scene (creche), Christmas tree, carols, and special foods. The Christmas Eve meal often begins with breaking the Christmas wafer (oplatek) and reading the Gospel of Luke's nativity story.
Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is a beloved Catholic tradition. Many parishes also hold Masses on Christmas morning. Attending Mass is the heart of Catholic Christmas — the Eucharist is the center of the celebration.
Christmas lasts until the Baptism of the Lord (mid-January). During this time Catholics continue to celebrate — the 'twelve days of Christmas' are part of the liturgical calendar.
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