Christmas, with its charm, is a holiday eagerly awaited by young and old alike. Cities change appearance, dress up for the occasion, and light up, while at home adults and children enjoy decorating the Christmas tree, making the atmosphere warmer with cheerful colored lights or with the soft glow of candles that symbolize waiting and faith, and preparing the Nativity scene to celebrate the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who became man and came among us. We think we know everything about Christmas; yet there are some interesting facts that perhaps not everyone knows. Let’s discover them together!

What is the origin of the word Christmas?
The word Christmas derives from the Latin natalis, in turn derived from the word natus (born), and was first used in Christian Latin as Natāle(m), meaning diem natālem Chiristi, “the day of Christ’s birth.”

Why does the Catholic Church celebrate Christmas on December 25?
The Chronograph, an ancient document from the year 354, attests to the existence in Rome of a feast celebrated on December 25, corresponding to the winter solstice: it was the feast of “Natalis Solis Invicti”; that is, it celebrated the birth of the new sun, which regained strength after the longest night of the year.
By celebrating on this day the birth of the one who is the true Sun, the light of the world, the Church intended to give an entirely new meaning to a pagan tradition deeply felt by the people, since it coincided with the Saturnalia holidays, during which slaves received gifts from their masters and were invited to sit at the same table as free citizens. Christmas gifts, however, are more directly reminiscent of the gifts brought to the Infant Jesus by the shepherds and the Magi.
Christmas therefore approximately overlaps with celebrations for the winter solstice and the Roman Saturnalia festivals (from December 17 to 23).

When does the Eastern Church celebrate Christmas?
January 7 is Christmas Day for the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches that follow the Julian calendar. This applies to the Middle East, as well as to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Orthodox Christians living in Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, and elsewhere. The situation in Egypt is particular: Catholics in Cairo and Alexandria, together with their respective provinces, have already celebrated the birth of Jesus on December 25, while those living in Upper Egypt celebrate it on January 7, together with the Orthodox. Why January 7? It is important to bear in mind that in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII decided to modify the old calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, called the Julian calendar in his honor. For this reason, the days between October 5 and 14, 1582 were omitted, and so our December 25 becomes January 7. Most Orthodox churches throughout the world use the Julian calendar and have not adopted the Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians also celebrate Christmas on December 25; it is just that in the calendar they use, this date falls on “our” January 7 (which is why Epiphany becomes Christmas Eve for them). Some Orthodox Christians, however, chose to adapt to the change: in Greece, for example, Christmas coincides with the Catholic celebration.

When exactly was Jesus Christ born?
The only textual sources that refer to the birth of Jesus are the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but they do not provide precise chronological information. Assuming the historical validity of the information they provide, it is nevertheless possible to infer a probable time frame in which to place the event. The Gospel of Matthew (2:1) states that Jesus was born “in the days of King Herod,” who presumably reigned between 37 BC and 4 BC. However, it cannot be ruled out that in 4 BC he simply associated his sons with the reign. Matthew 2:16 records Herod’s intention to kill the children of Bethlehem under the age of two (the Massacre of the Innocents). Assuming the historicity of the account, this suggests that Jesus was born one or two years before Herod’s meeting with the Magi.

Why does the Christmas liturgy provide for four different celebrations of Mass?
The Christmas Day liturgy is in fact particularly rich, and four different celebrations are provided: the evening Mass of the Vigil, the Mass at Night, the Mass at Dawn, and the Mass during the Day.
The evening Mass, which already belongs to Christmas, sums up all of humanity’s waiting. The words of the preface explain the meaning of this celebration: “At this hour, through prayer, we anticipate the waiting for his coming, so that we may be ready to keep vigil during the coming night and welcome his Christmas with open hearts.”
The nighttime celebration highlights the event of Jesus’ birth at a precise moment in history and geography: an aspect strongly emphasized in the opening words of Luke’s Gospel.
In the early morning hours, the Mass at Dawn is celebrated. The biblical texts, especially the Gospel, continuing from the nighttime celebration, highlight the figure of the Shepherds, who receive the announcement and set out for Bethlehem.
This brings us to the Mass during the Day: God became man to give humanity the grace of becoming like God. The Liturgy of the Word is dominated by the reading of John’s Prologue, which directs our gaze to the fact that God becomes incarnate and becomes man like us. God pitches his tent among us, choosing to live in our midst and walk with us each day.

Let us live Christmas 2020 in hope
Pope Francis focused on the meaning to give to this Christmas 2020, which came at the end of an extremely difficult year marked by so much suffering: «Even this Christmas, amid the suffering caused by the pandemic, Jesus, small and helpless, is the Sign that God gives to the world. “Wondrous Sign”, as I wrote in the Letter on the Nativity scene that I signed a year ago in Greccio. It will do us good to reread it in these days».
«The tree and the Nativity scene help create a favorable Christmas atmosphere in which to live the mystery of the Redeemer’s birth with faith», Francis explained: «In the Nativity scene, everything speaks of “good” poverty, evangelical poverty, which makes us blessed: contemplating the Holy Family and the various figures, we are drawn to their disarming humility. The Madonna and Saint Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. There was no place for them, not even a small room; Mary listens, observes, and treasures everything in her heart. Joseph looks for a place to prepare for her and the Child who is about to be born. The shepherds are central figures in the Nativity scene, as they are in the Gospel. They live outdoors. They keep watch. The Angels’ announcement is for them, and they immediately go to seek the Savior who has been born».

Let us take advantage of these days, during which we await the Lord’s Christmas, to “treasure” in our hearts, like Mary, the “wondrous sign” that is Jesus, who comes among us.
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