December is almost here. Being cozy by the fireplace and devouring the egg nog your mom made for you while listening to your grandpa speak about Christmas Eve and awesome stories related to it sounds so cool. Doesn’t it?
Do you want to know more about Christmas Eve? Maybe a little more than what your grandpa and grandma know about Christmas Eve?
Maybe you want to surprise them with your newfound knowledge while your family is getting ready with cool Christmas gifts just for you? Then let's dive in without any delay! The season of grand festivities is here!
Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24th, an entire day before the birth of Jesus Christ, and the next day is called, as we all know Christmas. Both events are celebrated all over the world and are regarded as some of the most culturally significant celebrations of the year.
Many of the famous Christmas gift-bearing figures, like Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas, are often said to leave for their journey to deliver presents to good kids on the day of Christmas Eve.
Christmas evening in some countries is celebrated by sitting together for large family meals featuring traditional Christmas day dishes like scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, roasted turkey, Yorkshire Pudding, and so much more.
Christmas day celebrations are different in various countries. This is because of their unique cultural traditions and beliefs combined with more modernized customs like Santa Claus and the Christmas tree.
For example, Christmas day celebrations in Germany are always incomplete without their famous roasted duck. Of course, like the rest of the world, their celebration is grand and filled with colorful fairy lights and Christmas trees. They do have a dish that is unique to their own culture.
France, just like the rest of the world, does celebrate Christmas Eve with its own French food and wines. As mentioned before, every country, though the celebrations are the same, has a little something of its own in adding more color to the festival.
Christmas eve meaning in the coming year cannot be understood without mentioning the joy of holidays, decorations, small gifts, and midnight services.
If you enjoyed reading about the different translations of Christmas and its significance, why not also read about Christmas in Mexico and facts about Cuba here on Kidadl?
Significance Of Christmas Eve
The importance of Christmas Eve varies from church to church. Many people around the world celebrate Christmas evening in different ways. One of the most important things on Christmas Eve is related to religion.
If you come from a traditional Christian home, then you know about attending midnight mass and other church services every year. Christmas eve is also essential for the simple reason that, in the early times, leave for a festival or other important event, began at the sundown of the day before the festival to celebrate it.
During this time period, Jesus was born, and we all know the significance of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion. It is said that the Lord Jesus was born to save mankind from a large number of sins.
So, the day of his birth is held in high regard. The celebration of Christmas Eve, the day Jesus was born, starts a whole day before, known as Christmas Eve, which is observed as a partial holiday.
Christmas Eve Pronunciation
Christmas meaning is simple to learn and the term 'Christmas eve' is relatively simple to pronounce.
Eve-uh (first syllable pronounced ‘Eve’ as in Christmas Eve)
(the first vowel sounds like ‘e’ in the egg nog).
In the German language, Christmas is written as the word Weihnachten.
Christmas Eve Traditions
As you are now aware of the significance of Christmas Eve, Christmas Tree, and Christmas Holiday, you may have come across some of the traditions associated with it in relation to the new year, the date which marks the first day of the year.
The practice of American people eating Chinese food on Christmas Day is such a trend now, you can also call this a tradition of sorts.
The Jewish tradition, also known as the Hanukkah tradition (a symbol of money Jewish parents give their children), involves playing with tops known as dreidels, and, of course, exchanging gifts after sunset.
Traditions like going to the midnight mass, which begins sometime before midnight, are common. Children in many countries around the world hang their Christmas pillows, hoping for a present from Santa Claus. Some common traditions are:
Making a gingerbread house with the family
Clicking family photos to commemorate the special moments and, of course, last but not least, feasting on the amazing Christmas supper or dinner with your family is a must.
Traditions are the way to find meaning and color on special occasions. They help develop bonds of unity among people and play a significant role. Festivals like Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July are made unique precisely because the traditions involved with them speak the language of centuries ago. Traditions take you back to the time itself.
What do you do on Christmas eve?
Along with Easter, the vibe on Christmas Eve is all about color fairy lights, decorating and lighting up the Christmas tree, giving and receiving presents, and definitely having amazing food all week long. But the day is not just limited to that. You can do various things to make your Christmas Eve even more special and fun such as:
You can watch a special Christmas movie.
Read about the Christmas stories in the Bible.
Play games with your family.
Attend the Christmas Eve church service
Take part in the Christmas carol singing.
Christmas Eve marks the start of a significant moment in the history of the world. It is the start of something good and merry, so make sure you are starting your year with a positive attitude and good vibes. Merry Christmas!
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Christmas eve meaning then why not take a look at Christmas in Sweden, or Christmas in Germany.
We Want Your Photos!
Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
With over 3+ years of professional experience, Olanrewaju is a certified SEO Specialist and Content Writer. He holds a BSc in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. Throughout his dynamic career, Olanrewaju has successfully taken on various roles with startups and established organizations. He has served as a Technical Writer, Blogger, SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager, and Digital Marketing Manager. Known for his hardworking nature and insightful approach, Olanrewaju is dedicated to continuous learning and improvement.
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.