On the first of January, the Church celebrates the feast of
the Mother of God – the Octave of Christmas.
Most Church-goers believe that they go to the Church on
this day to usher in the New Year at Church. It is in fact called “New Year’s
Mass”. It is of course the first of January and the New Year’s Day, but the day
is of much more significance than just being the first day of a new year.
The tradition of Octaves in the Catholic Church has its roots in the Jewish Tradition of circumcision on the 8th day of a child’s birth. The circumcision was an exterior sign with which the Covenant between God and His people was sealed, and therefore it was an event of great significance. Jesus was also circumcised on the 8th day of birth.
The tradition of Octaves in the Catholic Church has its roots in the Jewish Tradition of circumcision on the 8th day of a child’s birth. The circumcision was an exterior sign with which the Covenant between God and His people was sealed, and therefore it was an event of great significance. Jesus was also circumcised on the 8th day of birth.
Likewise, in the Catholic Church an Octave is a feast of 8
days. There are two main Octaves in the Catholic Church – one of Christmas and
one of Easter. The Christmas Octave begins with feast of incarnation of God and ends with the feast of the Mother of God. The Easter Octave begins with the
feast of the risen Lord and ends with the feast of Divine Mercy. All the eight
days of the feast are considered to be one single day or one single feast.
So Merry Christmas and Happy Feast of Mother of God to all!
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