Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve the Church celebrates the Vigil Mass of Christmas and, at night, the Mass during the Night, known as Midnight Mass. Either fulfills the Christmas obligation. Before Midnight Mass many churches chant the Christmas Proclamation from the Roman Martyrology, announcing the birth of Christ in the fullness of time.

Christmas Eve gathers the traditions of many Catholic families: the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes, the Polish Wigilia with the sharing of the opłatek wafer, the Filipino Noche Buena after the last Simbang Gabi, and Mexican tamales after the last Posada. It is also the last day of the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena.