Christian Christmas

Built around the Christmas Vigil Mass on the evening of December 24 and the Masses of Christmas Day. Most US parishes offer an early Vigil (often a children's Mass), a late Christmas Eve or Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Masses; attending one fulfills the obligation. The season runs to the Baptism of the Lord, with Advent as the four-week lead-in.

Preceded by the forty-day Nativity Fast from November 15. The Nativity Vigil and the Divine Liturgy of the Nativity mark the feast. New-Calendar jurisdictions (Greek, Antiochian, most OCA) keep December 25; Old-Calendar ones (Russian, Serbian) keep January 7 by the civil calendar. The greeting is "Christ is born! Glorify him!"

Centered on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, nine readings tracing the promise of the Messiah interspersed with carols, is the distinctive Anglican service. The principal Christmas Eve service is usually a late Eucharist with carols, and observance runs through the twelve days to Epiphany.

Centered on the Christmas Eve service: Lessons and Carols, a candlelight service, or a Christmas Eve Eucharist. The candlelight "Silent Night" at the close is one of the most loved traditions. Advent leads in, with the Advent wreath lit on the four Sundays before Christmas.

Centered on the Christmas Eve service, in formats from a traditional candlelight service to a larger production, sometimes across several services. The candlelight "Silent Night" is widespread. A Christmas Day service is unusual unless December 25 is a Sunday, and Advent observance varies from church to church.