Christmas Eve Church tradition?

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Corrine

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I have a quick question about abstaining from meat on the day before Christmas. Was that ever a tradition of the Catholic Church? I am really curious. Both my parents grew up that way and so we did with my brothers as well, but no one else I have talked to has ever heard of that.

Thanks so much.
Corrine
 
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Corrine:
I have a quick question about abstaining from meat on the day before Christmas. Was that ever a tradition of the Catholic Church? I am really curious. Both my parents grew up that way and so we did with my brothers as well, but no one else I have talked to has ever heard of that.

Thanks so much.
Corrine
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obviously there was a tridition if both parents grew up honoring that practice… but, I have never heard of it… interesting… i will check around… Peace 👍
 
I think it’s a tradition in some cultures. I’ve heard of Polish and Italian Catholics doing this.
 
Yes, according to former laws, the Vigil of Christmas was a day of abstinence and fast (the same goes for several other vigils as well).

Pope Pius XII allowed this fast to be moved to Dec. 23, at the individual’s discretion.

Scott
 
My dad was a first generation American of Polish parents. We looked forward to Wigilia .

It’s a wonderful tradition.
 
Yes, there is such a tradition (formerly law).

This is why it used to be traditional for Sicilians to eat seafood on Christmas Eve.

My family, no longer religious, still continues this seafood tradition, though.
 
The Byzantine Catholic church has always kept strict fast on Christmas Eve and continues to do so.

Little known fact: Poland, although Roman Catholic today, was originally introduced to Christianity through the Eastern church.

Many Polish customs for Easter and Christmas derive from that time or are influenced by their Slavic Eastern Christian neighbors. Another such interesting custom is the blessing of baskets on Holy Saturday. I have seen it promoted in Latin parishes in my area as a nice Polish custom, which it is, but they hold to that custom along with their Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Slavic neighbors who were all evangelized through the initial efforts of SS Cyril and Methodius.

Southern Italy (including Sicily) was once Byzantine as well. There is still a remnant church there, most of the inhabitants have been weaned away from the Byzantine rite over the centuries. Most southern Italians should be able to trace their ancestry back to Byzantines at some point. I would say that many of the customs there would have been influenced by the Greek church in some way, this could be an example of that.

+T+
Michael
 
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Hesychios:
The Byzantine Catholic church has always kept strict fast on Christmas Eve and continues to do so.

Little known fact: Poland, although Roman Catholic today, was originally introduced to Christianity through the Eastern church.

Many Polish customs for Easter and Christmas derive from that time or are influenced by their Slavic Eastern Christian neighbors. Another such interesting custom is the blessing of baskets on Holy Saturday. I have seen it promoted in Latin parishes in my area as a nice Polish custom, which it is, but they hold to that custom along with their Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Slavic neighbors who were all evangelized through the initial efforts of SS Cyril and Methodius.

Southern Italy (including Sicily) was once Byzantine as well. There is still a remnant church there, most of the inhabitants have been weaned away from the Byzantine rite over the centuries. Most southern Italians should be able to trace their ancestry back to Byzantines at some point. I would say that many of the customs there would have been influenced by the Greek church in some way, this could be an example of that.

+T+
Michael
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Not this again… The byzcath.com theory. Poland was evangelized by Roman Catholics not Byzantine Catholics.
 
I just simply forgo meat every friday thru-out the year. Its easy…just give me access to Tuna and Cheese Pizza and/or ravioli. 😃
 
Thanks everyone for your information. I had a question and it was responded to pretty quickly. My dad is Italian and my mom is mostly Irish. There isn’t any Polish or Italian on my mom’s side so it must be tradition in other countries too -maybe America?

Someone said it used to be law. Is that so? Meatless Fridays used to be the law all year round, but now we can offer up something else in rememberance instead (except during Lent -of course)
Is it the same kind of situation where it used to be required but isn’t anymore and we are still supposed to offer up something?

Not that I want to get by with as little preparation as possible before Christmas … I just want to have the right answer in case someone asks again.

Now I have two posts!
Corrine
 
Christmas Eve celebrations don’t have anything to do with Orthodox traditions.

All over Europe Catholics celebrate Christmas Eve, it is even a “half holiday” (working day in the morning, holiday after noon) in many countries over here in Europe.

The famous “Silent Night, Holy Night” represents the spirit of a typical German Christmas Eve.

The family comes together to have a dinner (not a holiday dinner, that is for Christmas Day), then gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas songs.

Presents are exchanged and later they go to midnight mass.

For most people here that evening actually is Christmas, while Christmas day itself is “just a holiday” of sorts.

Werner
 
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