Christmas Eve

The white “Christ candle” is traditionally lit on Christmas Eve, symbolizing that the True Light has come into the world to usher in the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah 31:31–34.  The Lord himself referred to this covenant at the Last Supper when he said that the sacrament represented his “blood of the new testament, which is shed for many” (Mark 14:24).  He thus made possible the blessings and promises of the“new and everlasting covenant” mentioned throughout latter-day revelation, whereby we are promised all that God has if we have faith in Christ and make sacred covenants of our own in his name.

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people . . . for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31–34, emphases added)

My Christmas message and testimony, recorded just north of Bethlehem in November 2022:

Family Activities on Christmas Eve

There are probably as many Christmas Eve traditions as there are families. After spending the day cleaning the house, baking, last minute wrapping, and completing our various preparations, Christmas Eve begins in earnest with a special dinner, a chance to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with good food and warm feelings. Although the origins of our particular Christmas Eve supper are unclear, we gather on the floor of our living room, where a table cloth, our silver, china, and crystal have been set. We then proceed to have a Christmas Eve picnic consisting of seafood and various appetizers and other hors d'oeuvres. As we eat and visit, we usually watch the previous year's concert of the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, which I have had the privilege of being part of for 15 years.

Then, because The Church of Jesus Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not have any formal services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, we join with our friends at the local St. Mary's Episcopal Church to to worship by song and scripture, culminating with the lighting of candles.

 

Things become fun when we come home with the

production of our annual Nativity play, which our children have written and rewritten ever since they were small. Based as much on tradition and scripture videos as upon the biblical texts this production with its ad hoc costumes and lines is often as humorous as it is serious, something that my friend Eva Witesman has recently observed has a utility and power all its own (see her piece in LDS Living, "Why I Love the 'Raucous Reverence' of Our Family's Nativity Reenactment"). Ours ends with the entire family and any guests joining into a hearty rendition of "Joy to the World" after the angel's pronouncement of the good tidings of great joy.

This year is both extra joyful and somewhat poignant as we add Luke Petersen, Rachel's finance, to our activities. They will soon marry and start a family of our own, perhaps melding some of our traditions with those of his family and starting new ones of their own.

The Scriptural Heart of Christmas Eve

Clearing the costumes and props, our evening then turns serious. Whether you are able to be with family, friends, or spend Christmas Eve there by yourself, the familiar Christmas story from Luke 2:1–14 is always waiting to bring you before the manger. Lighting the three purple and single pink candle of our Advent wreath, we at last light the central white candle, signaling that Christmas is at last here. We then read the familiar words:

. . . And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’” (Luke 2:1–14)

One of the highlights of our lives was the Christmas Eve that we spent at Bethlehem during my year teaching at the BYU Jerusalem Center (click here to see our blog entry of that experience). 

With my family in front of the Basilica of the Nativity, 2011

On an open hillside with Bethlehem in the background, a site reminiscent of the original "Shepherds Field"

But wherever we are, and at any time of the year, we can celebrate the birth of our King best by giving our lives and hearts to him.  The lyrics of the Catalonian carol "What Shall We Give to the Babe in the Manger" beautifully review the nativity of our Lord but also point us forward to his life, death, and resurrection. Likewise, the words of the much-loved sacrament hymn, "Jesus, Once of Humble Birth," both recall the birth of the Son of God in a stable and point our minds forward to his glorious Second Coming, an important message of the Advent season.

"What shall we give to the Babe in the manger, what shall we offer the child in the stall? Incense and spices and gold we’ve got plenty, are these the gifts for the King of us all?

"What shall we give to the boy in the temple, what shall we offer the Man by the sea? Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising, are gifts for Him who will carry the Tree.

"What shall we give to the Lamb who was offered, rising the third day and shedding His love? Tears for his mercy we’ll weep at the manger, bathing the infant come down from above."

"What Shall We Give to the Babe in the Manger?"
Traditional Catalonian Carol, arr. Mack Wilberg (from A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas)

A new and sweetly stirring tradition that Elaine and I added to our final Advent celebration this past year was to end it with the singing of the sacrament hymn “Jesus, Once of Humble Birth.” Its words by LDS apostle Parley P. Pratt (1807–1857) are set to a tune adapted from Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791–1864). As Karen Davidson observes in her study of LDS hymns, “This hymn is a triumphant meditation on the paradoxes of the Savior’s life and ministry . . . on the one hand are the poverty, pain, and submissiveness of the Savior’s life; on the other hand are his sovereignty and power, the miracles of his atonement and resurrection” (Davidson, Our Latter-day Hymns, 196).

Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth.
Once he suffered grief and pain;
Now he comes on earth to reign.
Now he comes on earth to reign.

Once a meek and lowly Lamb,
Now the Lord, the great I Am.
Once upon the cross he bowed;
Now his chariot is the cloud.
Now his chariot is the cloud.

Once he groaned in blood and tears;
Now in glory he appears.
Once rejected by his own,
Now their King he shall be known.
Now their King he shall be known.

Once forsaken, left alone,
Now exalted to a throne.
Once all things he meekly bore,
But he now will bear no more.
But he now will bear no more.

Even as we joyfully celebrate the birth of our King, we should keep in mind why he was born into this world.  As I wrote in God So Loved the World, "Rejoice in the sublime truth that God so loved the world that he sent his Only Begotten Son---as a gift at his birth, a sacrifice at his death, and a source of hope at his resurrection."

Pivotal for over a decade to my celebration of both Christmas and Easter are these inspired words of the late President Hinckley:

Titian, "Crucifixion"

“This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea is preface. The three-year ministry of the Master is prologue. The magnificent substance of the story is His sacrifice, the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us.

“The epilogue is the miracle of the Resurrection, bringing the assurance that ‘as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive’ (1 Cor. 15:22).

“There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.”

                    President Gordon B. Hinckley
                    “The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec. 2000, 2

Christmas Quick Links 

Preparing for Christmas  |  Celebrating Advent  |  First Advent  |  Second Advent  |  Third Advent  |  O Antiphons: The Coming Messiah  |  Fourth Advent  |  Christmas Eve  |  The Focus of Advent and Christmas  |   Daily December Christmas Devotional Ideas  |  Christmas throughout the Year  |   
Epiphany  |   The Presentation