Nativity of Christ: Byzantine Christmas
One of the obvious differences in how the East and West celebrate the Nativity is the Calendar day. The Gregorian calendar, which is also the current calendar used by the secular world, places the date of Christmas on December 25th. And the Annunciation on March 25th, and so on. The Julian calendar places Christmas on January 6th, and the Annunciation on April 7th, and so on.
The Roman Church uses the Gregorian Calendar. Both their new liturgical calendar, and the traditional liturgical calendar (used in the Traditional Latin Mass), are based on the Gregorian dates.
In the East, liturgical calendar varies by rite, and whether the dates are based on the Gregorian or Julian calendar can vary by individual parish. Typically, the Orthodox exclusively use the Julian calendar. In our city parishes, the Gregorian is mainly followed. However, the Cathedral publishes church liturgical calendars for both the Gregorian and Julian calendar, and will do Divine Liturgies following both Easters to match the major feast days.
Another unique celebration Christmas occurs in the Armenian Catholic Church. They celebrate Theophany and Christmas on the same day. Again, use of Gregorian and Julian calendar varies by location.
The Seven and Twelve Days of Christmas
The Leave-taking of the Nativity of Christ is on December 31st, 7 days after Christmas. However there is also a lot going for the Tradition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Plus, the song is a Catholic one! It teaches us about the gifts our true love gives to us. (Our true love being God). So let’s recall what these days are, but also what the lyrics from the song mean!
December 25th – 1st Day of Christmas – The Nativity.
God gives us Jesus Christ (a partridge in a pear tree). A partridge is chosen is because mothers partridges offer themselves as bait to lure enemies away from their young. They are even willing to sacrifice themselves. As Christ did for us. The tree symbolizes the cross, and also that Christ Himself is the tree of life.
December 26th – 2nd Day of the Nativity – Synaxis of the Theotokos
In the West this is universally the feast of St. Stephen. Byzantine Churches remember the Mother of God today, though, because it is through her we receive Christ. Anyway, the 12 Days of Christmas song is pretty straightforward for today. The two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Interestingly enough, two turtledoves is the sacrifice made by Mary and Joseph for the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Turtledoves are the sacrifices offered by the poor according to the Law.
December 27th – 3rd Day of Christmas – St Stephen
In the traditional liturgical calendar of the West, December 27th is the feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. In the new calendar, this is the feast of the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph). And while the west celebrated St. Stephen yesterday, the East celebrates St. Stephen on this day.
In the 12 days of Christmas song, the third day involves three french hens. These represent the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. I couldn’t find anything about why french hens symbolize these virtues. However, the song reminds us that God gives us the theological virtues as gifts.
December 28th – 4th Day of the Nativity – Two Thousand Martyrs of Nicomedia (or twenty thousand, by some accounts)
Today is the universally the feast of the Holy Innocents in the West, which is tomorrow in the East. Eastern Christians remember the Martyrs of Nicomedia, persecuted in the 4th century by Diocletian. The reason this occurs during the Christmas season is that tradition is that a church in Nicomedia was burned down on Christmas day, and so they were martyred on Christmas. However, the Roman church recognizes these martyrs on June 23rd.
The 4th day of Christmas is four calling birds, representing the four gospels.
December 29th – 5th Day of Christmas – The Holy Innocents
The Feast of the Holy Innocents, or the Holy Children, are the martyred children by the orders of Herod, seeking to kill Christ. These children were the first martyrs to die for Christ. We started a prayer league, named after them. Although we think of Christmas as a happy time, we are also constantly reminded of why Christ was born: to die for us on the Cross. The feasts of St. Stephen and the Holy Innocents remind us of this.
In the West this day is now an optional memorial for Thomas Becket, a martyred bishop. We also call him St. Thomas of Canterbury. This is how he’s listed in the traditional calendar (and not optional there).
The five golden rings of the 12 days of Christmas song represent the five books of the Pentateuch, or the books of Moses. These are Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
December 30th – 6th Day of the Nativity – Martyr Anysia, and Martyr Zoticus: Protector of Orphans
On this post-feast of the Nativity we celebrate Saint Anysia, martyred under the edict to kill Christians without fear of punishment . (By Emperor Maximian). Next we remember Martyr Zoticus this day. Zoticus lived during the time of Constantine, and was martyred when Constantine’s son (an Arian) wanted money Constantine had given Zoticus back.
There is no special commemoration this day in the West.
The sixth day of Christmas represents the six days of creation. The six geese-a-laying are creating new life through their eggs. And God forms creation, a foreshadowing of the Temple, in the six days of creation. This is then given to us, created at the end of the sixth day, to till and care for.
December 31st – 7th Day of Christmas – Leave-taking of Nativity, Melenia the Roman
The West universally celebrates Pope Sylvester today. Whereas we do that two days from now. This is the end of the Post-Feasts of the Nativity in the East, for tomorrow begins the Fore-feasts of Theophany. In the East we commemorate Melenia the Roman, or Saint Melenia the younger. She was an aesthetic, and Desert mother.
Todays verse presents Seven swans a swimming as the gift from God. These represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. And these are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Swans swim gracefully and easily through water. And so the Holy Spirit can move gracefully and easily in us if we unite ourselves with God.
January 1st – 8th Day of Christmas – Circumcision of Christ, St Basil the Great
This is a great feast day in both the East and West. However we have different commemorations! As we celebrate the Mother of God on the day after Christmas, most of the West celebrates her today. Although, following the traditional calendar, the Latin Mass celebrates the circumcision along with us Byzantines!
The eighth day of Christmas symbolizes the beatitudes with eight maids-a-milking. And these include blessings for: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, and those hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Also it includes blessings for the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and those persecuted because of righteousness.
January 2st – 9th Day of Christmas – Pope St. Sylvester – Fore-feast of Theophany
The East commemorates Pope St. Sylvester on this day, while the West St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory are commemorated. In the traditional liturgical calendar, it is the octave of St. Stephen.
On the nine day of Christmas, my God gave to me… the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. So the nine ladies dancing symbolize Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we bear these fruits in our life. And don’t these gifts make you want to dance, too?
January 3st – 10th Day of Christmas – Prophet Malachi , Martyr Gordius
The West universally celebrates the Most Holy Name of Jesus today. In the East, we commemorate Prophet Malachi (the last of the 12 minor prophets), and Gordius, martyred in Cappadocia for publicly proclaiming his Christian faith.
Ten Lords a leaping represent the ten commandments. Which we as Christians should eagerly “leap” to follow. Because God gave them to us as a guide for living a truly great and joyful life the way He intended for us to live.
January 4st – 11th Day of Christmas – Theopemptus and Theonus
We commemorate St. Theopemptus of Nicomedia, and St. Theonus, who converted because of Theoopemptus. The West commemorates St. Elizabeth Seton (who is big in Catholic Education), or, under the traditional liturgical calendar, the Octave of the Holy Innocents. Also, in the 12 days of Christmas song, the 11 pipers piping for today represent the 11 Apostles who were faithful to Christ after the resurrection.
January 5st – 12th Day of Christmas – Eve of Theophany
In the East this is a big day – the Eve of Theophany! Also, on the West’s traditional calendar it is the Vigil of Epiphany. And the new calendar commemorates St. John Neumann in the West.
The 12th day of Christmas includes 12 drummers drumming… druming the doctrine of the Apostles Creed into us!
Prayers for the Nativity of Christ
Troparion: (tone 4)
Your Nativity, O Christ our God, made the light of knowledge dawn on the world. Through it, those who worshiped the stars were taught by a star to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness. And to know You, the Dawn from on high. Glory be to You O Lord.
Verse 1: The Lord will send a scepter of power out of Zion, and reign in the midst of your enemies
Verse 2: Yours is the Dominion on the day you are given power, in the splendor of your holy ones
[Entrance Verse] 3: In the womb, before the dawn, I begot you. The Lord has sworn an oath He will not change: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek
Nativity Kontakion: (tone 3)
Today the virgin gives birth to Him who is above all being. The Earth offers the cave to Him whom none can approach, and Angels with shepherds give Him glory, while the Magi make their way following a star. For to us is born a little Child, the pre-eternal God.
Prokeimenon: (tone 8)
Let all the earth worship You and Sing to You; let it sing to Your Name O Most High.
Verse: Shout to the Lord, all the Earth, sing to His name O Most High.
Irmos: (tone 1)
Oh my soul, magnify Christ the King, born in a manger. Behold, a strange and glorious mystery! Behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin is the throne of the cherubim; the manger, a dwelling place in which Christ is laid, the God whom nothing can contain. Singing His praises we magnify Him.
The Byzantine Life
Thank you for checking out this week’s article. Also, if you haven’t already, you can read our article about the Eve of the Nativity, and the Synaxis of the Theotokos. And please note that there will be no new article next week, to take time of to celebrate the Nativity of Christ. So, just a post wishing you Christmas Greetings and offering links to Christmas articles will be posted. :>)
Please share our article on social media! On our Pinterest we have boards full of different icons and faith life ideas! Also, you can follow our Facebook to see our latest blog posts as they publish. The Badger Dad also runs our Twitter (@TheByzLife) and Instagram accounts (username: thebyzantinelife)!
Do you appreciate our work at TheByzantineLife.com? Consider joining us on Patreon for as little as $5 a month. In other words, you can help us run this website and produce quality content. And in return, you get exclusive access to special posts, photos, and updates from our family! As more people join, we will be adding bonus faith and family resources too. In short, click here to find out more: https://www.patreon.com/thebyzantinelife
