The weeks leading up to December 25 are filled with lively anticipation and cheer amongst religious and nonreligious communities alike. Despite the heavy barrage of Christmas music and advertisements, the holiday season seems to come to a screeching halt in the days following December 25. By the start of the New Year, Christmas seems but a distant memory as people return to work or school, and stores begin touting Valentine’s Day paraphernalia.
Despite the sudden plummet in holiday cheer, December 25 is just the beginning of the Christmas season for Catholics. While the Church collectively views Christmas Day as a celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth, many Catholics wonder: when does the holiday actually end?
Many Catholics view Epiphany as the end of the Christmas season. It takes place 12 days after Christmas, on January 6, and celebrates the revelation of Christ to the Three Wise Men. Balthasar, Melchior, and Caspar had journeyed from their countries to pay respect to the Son of God, thus marking the revelation of Christ’s incarnate divinity to the Gentiles. While some people end their festivities on December 25, many Spanish-speaking countries celebrate the Epiphany with the Día de Los Reyes, or the Three King’s Day, during which participants enjoy King Cake and children receive gifts.
The Epiphany refers to the manifestation of Christ’s divinity and is tied to the Visitation of the Magi, as well as the Baptism of the Lord and the Wedding Feast of Cana. Each of these feasts have become attributed to a different day. In the United States, the Epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1, while some other countries celebrate it on January 6 every year. The Catholic Church commemorates the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River on the Sunday following January 6. The Eastern Orthodox Church also places particular emphasis on the Baptism of the Lord, also known as Theophany. Some Orthodox churches celebrate the Epiphany on January 19, as a result of celebrating Christmas on January 7.
Other Catholics view Candlemas, which takes place on February 2, as the end of the Christmas season. This celebration occurs 40 days after Christmas and commemorates the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. According to the Law of Moses, it was customary for Jews to present their firstborn son to God at the temple 40 days after their birth, as well as to undergo the rite of purification. According to the Gospel of Luke, a devout man Simeon held the baby Jesus in his hands during his presentation at the temple. Simeon declared that Jesus would bring light to both Gentiles and Jews, inspiring the eventual use of candles to commemorate this moment. The earliest accounts of this celebration in Jerusalem were during the 4th century. In the 5th century, it became custom to light candles in celebration, lending to the eventual name Candlemas.
Another Catholic perspective sees the Christmas season as extending from December 25 until January 1, for a total of eight days. The final day is known the Octave Day of Christmas and the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. It commemorates the circumcision of the baby Jesus and recognizes the significance of Mary as the Mother of God.
While the rest of the world moves on from the Christmas season with alarming haste, many Catholics continue their celebrations until early January or even early February, proving there is always something to celebrate.
Quentin is studying biology at Boston College. He enjoys spending his time outdoors, whether it be hiking, camping, or canoeing. His other favorite pastimes include running, writing for The Torch, eating obscene amounts of chocolate, and crushing his opponents at Catan.
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