Midnight Mass

{{Short description|First liturgy of Christmastide that is celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve}} {{About|the Christmas liturgy|the Easter liturgy|Easter Vigil|the New Year's Eve liturgy|Watchnight service|the miniseries of the same name|Midnight Mass (miniseries)|other uses|Midnight Mass (disambiguation)}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2023}} [[File:Evangelieprocession med rökelse i Sankt Matteus.jpg|thumb|300px|Midnight Mass being celebrated at [[St. Matthew's Church, Stockholm|St. Matthew's Evangelical-Lutheran Church]] in Stockholm, Sweden]] [[File:Complete-church-midnight-mass (3135957575).jpg|thumb|Midnight Mass at [[St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church (Queens)|St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church]], [[New York City]]]] In many [[Western Christian]] traditions, '''Midnight Mass''' is the first [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] of [[Christmastide]] that is celebrated on the night of [[Christmas Eve]], traditionally beginning at [[midnight]] when Christmas Eve gives way to [[Christmas Day]]. This popular Christmas custom is a jubilant celebration of the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] or [[Church service|service of worship]] in honour of the [[Nativity of Jesus]]; even many of those [[Christian denomination]]s that do not regularly employ the word ''Mass'' uniquely use the term "Midnight Mass" for their Christmas Eve liturgy as it includes the celebration of [[Holy Communion]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

==History== The tradition of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was first chronicled by [[Egeria (pilgrim)|Egeria]], a [[Galicia (Spain)|Galician]] woman who went on a pilgrimage to the [[Holy Land]] around 381. She witnessed how the [[Early centers of Christianity|early Catholics]] of [[Jerusalem]] honored the Christmas mystery with a midnight vigil at [[Bethlehem]].<ref>{{cite web | title = A Zenith Daily Dispatch: 3 Masses on Christmas| work = EWTN| url = http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur156.htm| access-date = 2013-06-02}}</ref> This was followed by a torchlight procession to Jerusalem, arriving at the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre|Church of the Resurrection]] at dawn. The tradition reached the Western world in 430 under [[Pope Sixtus III]] in the [[Basilica of St Mary Major]].<ref name="aquinasandmore.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/the-tradition-of-midnight-mass/article/119|title=The Tradition of Midnight Mass|access-date=2016-12-21|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032902/http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-articles/the-tradition-of-midnight-mass/article/119|url-status=dead}}</ref> He instituted the practice of a midnight Mass after the cockcrow in the grotto-like oratory of the famed [[Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore|Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore]]. There are discrepancies, however, as to the exact time of the cockcrow due to the fact that the ancient Romans set it at the start of the day.

By the twelfth century, the practice of midnight Mass had become more widespread as all priests had been granted the faculty of celebrating three Masses on Christmas Day (previously reserved to the Pope), provided the three different propers were celebrated at their appropriate times of midnight, dawn and day.<ref name="aquinasandmore.com"/>

In 1587, the head priest of the Church of San Agustin de [[Acolman]] in Mexico, Diego de Soria, petitioned [[Pope Sixtus V]] to allow the Mass to be held outdoors because the church could not accommodate the large number of attendees at the evening celebration.<ref name="filipinaslibrary.org.ph">{{cite web | title = Going to Mass at Christmas | work = Filipinas Heritage Library | url = http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/news/40-filipiniana/112-going-to-mass-at-christmas | access-date = 2013-06-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022061014/http://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/news/40-filipiniana/112-going-to-mass-at-christmas | archive-date = 2013-10-22 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Traditions== [[File:Adventwreath.jpg|thumb|right|On Christmas Eve, the [[Advent wreath]] is traditionally completed with the lighting of the Christ Candle in many [[church service]]s.]] [[File:Mikulov Sv.Václav Půlnoční mše 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Midnight Mass at Church of St. Wenceslaus in [[Mikulov]], [[Czech Republic]]]] ===Roman Catholicism=== [[File:Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral in December 2025 3.jpg|thumb|Cardinal [[Jose Advincula]] enthrones the [[Christ Child|Infant Jesus]] at the [[Manila Cathedral]] [[sanctuary]] at the beginning of a Roman Catholic midnight Mass.]] The [[Roman liturgy]] for the Midnight Mass starts with an overview of salvation history, the [[Proclamation of the Birth of Christ]].

[[Roman Catholics]] have traditionally celebrated Midnight Mass with church services beginning at midnight, although the Mass itself is officially called '''Missa in nocte''' (''Ad Missam in nocte'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.musicasacra.com/books/latin_missal2002.pdf|title=Missale Romanum 2002}}</ref> or '''Mass during the Night''' in English<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ldysinger.com/@magist/1978_SCDW/2011_roman_missal/THE%20ROMAN%20MISSAL-bookmarked.pdf|title=The Roman Missal}}</ref> and need not start at midnight, as has been the case in the Vatican since 2009, first at 10:00 pm,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/6753375/Pope-to-hold-Midnight-Mass-at-10pm.html|title=Pope to hold Midnight Mass at 10 pm|first=Nick|last=Squires|date=7 December 2009 }}</ref> then subsequently earlier in the evening.

''[[In Splendoribus Sanctorum]]'' is used for the Communion chant during traditional Catholic midnight mass.

===Lutheranism===

[[Lutheran]]s often observe Midnight Mass in addition to Christmas [[Vespers in Lutheranism|Vespers]] and [[Matins in Lutheranism|Matins]]. In his famous work, ''Cérémonies et coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde'', Bernard Picart describes the Lutheran Midnight Mass: {{Blockquote |In some Lutheran Countries, the People go to Church on the Night of the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour with lighted Candles, or Wax-Tapers in their Hands. The Faithful who are met together in the Church, spend the whole Night there in singing, and saying their Prayers by the Light of them. Sometimes they burn such a large Quantity of Incense, that the Smoke thereof ascends in the Form of a Whirlwind, and their Devotees may properly enough be said to be wrapt up in it.<ref>''The Ceremonies and Religious Customs of the Various Nations of the Known World with Additions and Remarks Omitted by the French Author'', London: 1741, p. 511</ref> }}

===Anglicanism===

Churches of the [[Anglican Communion]] also traditionally celebrate Midnight Communion for Christmas at 11 or 11:30 pm.

===Methodism===

[[Methodist]] observations vary as many hold services at 11 p.m. which involve the ringing of [[church bells]] when the stroke of midnight is reached.

===Presbyterianism===

The [[Church of Scotland]] observes a service just before midnight which involves the singing of carols, although it does not include [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] and is called a [[watchnight service]] (held elsewhere on New Year's Eve).

===Eastern Christian traditions===

While Midnight Mass is not observed in Eastern traditions, [[All-Night Vigil]] is common on Christmas Eve and involves the celebration of [[Matins]], the [[Liturgy of the Hours|hour]] which is traditionally observed at midnight.

==Misa de Gallo== {{Infobox holiday | holiday_name = ''Misa de Gallo'' | type = Christianity | image = File:Altar de la Iglesia del Señor de Luren en Navidad. Ica.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Altar decorated for a ''Misa de Gallo'' | official_name = | nickname = Rooster's Mass<br> Shepherd's Mass | observedby = [[Roman Catholics]] | litcolor = | longtype = | significance = [[Advent season]] | begins = December 16 | ends = December 24 | date = | scheduling =  | duration =  | frequency =  | week_ordinal =  | weekday =  | month =  | date2017 =  | date2018 =  | date2019 =  | date2020 =  | celebrations = | observances = | relatedto = ''[[Misa de Aguinaldo]]''<br> [[Christmas Day]] }}

'''''Misa de Gallo''''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Rooster's Mass", also ''Misa de los Pastores'', "Shepherds' Mass;" [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: '''''Missa do Galo'''''; [[Catalan language|Catalan]]: '''''Missa del gall''''') is the Midnight Mass celebrated in Portugal and many former Portuguese colonies and also in Spain and many former [[Spanish Empire|Spanish colonies]] on [[Christmas Eve]] and sometimes in the days immediately preceding [[Christmas]]. The tradition of ''Misa de Gallo'' is still observed today, mostly by Spanish-speaking [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] countries in [[Latin America]] and in the [[Philippines]].

===Spain=== In Spain, locals begin Christmas Eve by lighting small oil lamps in every home, then proceed to church to hear Midnight Mass.<ref>{{cite web | title = Spain – Christmas traditions and customs | work = The History of Christmas| url = http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/traditions/spain.htm| access-date = 2013-06-02}}</ref>

The most popular of these holy services is in the Basílica de Montserrat also known as [[Santa Maria de Montserrat]], a Benedictine monastery built on the steep cliffs of the Montserrat mountain range. The [[Escolania de Montserrat]], Europe's oldest boys' choir known for their angelic voices, graces the celebration.

===Bolivia=== Bolivians attend [[Christmas Eve]] Mass, and the celebration is followed by a sit-down meal featuring a traditional bowl of ''picana del pollo''. It is a stew<ref> {{cite web |url=http://voices.yahoo.com/christmas-bolivia-5069690.html?cat=16 | last = Draper | first = Faith | title= Christmas in Bolivia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022234730/http://voices.yahoo.com/christmas-bolivia-5069690.html?cat=16 |archive-date=2013-10-22 | access-date = 2013-06-02}}</ref> made of chicken with peas, carrots, and potatoes.

===Philippines=== {{main|Simbang Gabi}}

''Simbang Gabi'' ([[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] for "Night Mass"), also called ''Misa de Aguinaldo'' ("gift mass"), is the [[Filipinos|Filipino]] version of the ''Misa de Gallo''. It traditionally begins on December 16 and ends on December 24. In most parts of Philippines, however, the term "''Misa de Gallo''" specifically only refers to the last mass on [[Christmas Eve]].<ref name="mb-aguinaldo">{{cite web|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/misa-de-gallo-or-misa-de-aguinaldo-whats-the-difference/ |title=Misa de Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo – What's the difference? |author=Lilia Borlongan - Alvarez |date=December 15, 2013 |publisher=Manila Bulletin |access-date=December 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224150417/http://www.mb.com.ph/misa-de-gallo-or-misa-de-aguinaldo-whats-the-difference/ |archive-date=December 24, 2014 }}</ref> In [[Zamboangueño language|Zamboangueño Chavacano]], the series of masses is also called ''Misa de los Pastores''.<ref> {{cite news | title= Misa de Gallo is not the dawn mass | newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer | date = 19 December 2012 |url= http://opinion.inquirer.net/43033/misa-de-gallo-is-not-the-dawn-mass | access-date = 2013-06-02}}</ref>

''Simbang Gabi'' is associated with a nine-day [[novena]] procession, as well as a reenactment of the [[Nativity of Jesus|search for lodgings]] by [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] and the pregnant [[Virgin Mary]] known as the [[Panunulúyan]].<ref name="Tan">{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Nigel |title=PH X'mas symbols, practices trace roots to Spanish era |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/46589-ph-christmas-symbols-spanish-roots/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |work=Rappler |date=17 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Orejas">{{cite news |last1=Orejas |first1=Tonette |title='Lubenas' is alive in Angeles City |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/324159/lubenas-is-alive-in-angeles-city |access-date=2 December 2020 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=14 December 2012}}</ref>

===Puerto Rico=== In Puerto Rico, locals celebrate Mass by singing Christmas songs, which they call ''aguinaldos''. The more religious versions of these songs are called ''[[villancico]]s'' and the ones with a [[Criollo people|Criollo]] inspiration are called ''décimas navideñas''.<ref>{{cite web|title= Puerto Rican Christmas Traditions |work= El Boricua |url= http://www.elboricua.com/traditions.html |access-date= 2013-06-02}}</ref>

===Venezuela=== In Venezuela, the ''Misa de Gallo'' is only one of a series of Masses held at dawn called ''Misa de Aguinaldo''. The name comes from the Spanish word for "Christmas box". The Masses are held for nine days and culminate on Christmas Eve. The songs of the liturgy are replaced by songs of the "[[Gaita zuliana|gaita]]" genre [https://acn.com.ve/fiesta-navidad-continua-naguanagua/], which is a folk genre from the [[Zulia]] state, and which are heard most widely throughout the country during Christmas. The lyrics of these gaitas are liturgical and approved to be played during ceremonies.

==See also== {{Wikiquote|Midnight Mass}} {{Commons category|Midnight mass}} * [[Misa de Gallo]], a version of the Midnight Mass in many Spanish-speaking countries * [[Pasterka]], a Midnight Mass celebrated in Poland * [[Plygain]], a Welsh service of worship taking place on Christmas morning * [[Watchnight service]], a service of worship observed on New Year's Eve * ''[[Messe de minuit pour Noël]]'' H.9 by [[Marc-Antoine Charpentier]] * [[Proclamation of the Birth of Christ]] * ''[[Rorate Coeli]]''

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Christmas}} {{Liturgical year of the Catholic Church}} {{Nativity of Jesus}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nativity of Jesus in worship and liturgy]] [[Category:Mass (liturgy)]] [[Category:Anglican liturgy]] [[Category:Catholic liturgy]] [[Category:Lutheran liturgy and worship]]