The Christmas liturgical season ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, having started with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve. This time of year, we rejoice in the arrival of Christ into our world and into our hearts and give thanks for the gift of salvation that goes along with it—not to mention the reality that he came into the world to die in our place.
A vigil, a nighttime Mass, an early morning Mass, and an afternoon Mass are the four specific timeslots that Mass can be offered in honor of this magnificent feast. The prayers and readings used in each of these masses are distinctive. The Christmas season's prayers and feasts are imbued with the freshness of life made possible by the pregnancy of Jesus.
A common representation of the holiday and a custom in many Christian homes are the Nativity scene and Christmas tree. Christmas gift-giving with loved ones and friends is another custom that celebrates God the Father's gift of his one and only son to the world. We naturally want to give the gift of Christ to the people we care about after receiving it.
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