Christmas Season
Join us as we joyfully celebrate the Christmas season from December 25 to January 9. Learn about the feasts of the Christmas season and ways to celebrate.
Celebrate with joy
Watch Archbishop Etienne's Christmas 2022 video.
Continue celebrating the joy and hope of the incarnation of the Son of God all throughout the Christmas season!
Scroll down to learn more about each feast and solemnity.
Christmas season traditions
- Read the infancy narrative from the Gospel of Luke on Christmas Day, and pray Gracious Lord, Child of Bethlehem together.
- Gather the family to do this brief Christmas season reflection.
- Bless your Nativity scene and rethink how you view it.
- Table topic: What was the best non-material gift you received this year?
- Support your parish outreach ministry or give to Catholic Community Services, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or Agape Service Project.
Ways to celebrate
- Keep the Nativity scene, tree and the lights up as reminders of the Christmas season.
- Play Christmas music, especially carols celebrating the birth of our Lord.
- Light the Christmas candle, or "Christ candle," every day (any white candle will do) during dinner.
- Enjoy your favorite Christmas food and drink, giving thanks to God.
- Watch family Christmas movies. Read this list put together by the USCCB.
- Host a Twelfth Night celebration on January 5, the 12th day of Christmas.
What are the 12 days of Christmas?
The 12 days of Christmas are the days from Christmas Day to January 5 (or Twelfth Night), the evening before the traditional celebration of Epiphany on January 6.
Feast days of the Christmas season
All Parishes
910 9th Avenue, Seattle, WAChristmas
Christmas, the Nativity of the Lord, is one of the most important solemnities of the Church year and a holy day of obligation. ...
Feast of Saint Stephen
St. Stephen was Christianity’s first martyr. As he was was stoned to death outside the city, he cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ...
Feast of Saint John the Apostle
The feast day of St. John the Apostle, just two days after Christmas Day, is full of symbolic meaning. ...
Feast of the Holy Innocents
The Feast of the Holy Innocents remembers the massacre of young male children under 2 years old in Bethlehem by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus. ...
All Parishes
910 9th Avenue, Seattle, WAFeast of the Holy Family
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph celebrates the Holy Family, the role model for all Christian families. ...
All Parishes
910 9th Avenue, Seattle, WAThe Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, celebrated eight days following the birth of Christ, is a day honoring Mary as the Mother of God. ...
All Parishes
910 9th Avenue, Seattle, WAEpiphany
The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, is when we celebrate when the three kings who came from the east to pay homage to Jesus. ...
All Parishes
910 9th Avenue, Seattle, WAFeast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which falls on January 9 this year, officially marks the end of the Christmas season. ...
Christmas season resources for parishes and ministries
“And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
Luke 2:13-14