Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
Together with Easter, Ascension Day and Pentecost, Christmas is one of the most important feasts in Christianity. On Christmas, Reformed Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, in whom God became man.
The Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve on December 24 and lasts until Epiphany Sunday. Christmas Day always falls on the fourth day after the winter solstice. For this reason, Christmas was also the feast celebrating the return of the sun after the darkest day. In the Christmas service, the sto-ry of Jesus’ birth in the Gospel according to Luke is traditionally read or presented as a Nativity play (Christmas story).
Advent as a Time of Arrival
Waiting for Jesus’ birth
During Advent, Christians prepare for the feast of Jesus’ birth – Christmas. The first Sunday of Advent is always the first Sunday after November 26. The theme that permeates Advent is the anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, who will establish justice and peace. Symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world, people in many places light candles on their Advent wreath. Advent translates as ‘arrival’.
The four Sundays of Advent each have a different Christian message. The first Sunday highlights the return of Christ expected at the end of all days. On the second and third Sundays of Advent, the focus is on John the Baptist. The fourth Sunday of Advent frequently speaks of the joyful anticipation of Christ’s birth. The Advent season ends on the evening of December 24.