When many people think of Christmas, they think of a single day. Yet for much of church history, Christmas has been celebrated not as a moment, but as a season—a sacred time known as Christmastide. Understanding its history helps us appreciate why the Church continues to celebrate long after December 25.
The Origins of Christmastide
Christmastide emerged in the early centuries of the Church as Christians sought to mark the mystery of the Incarnation—God taking on flesh in Jesus Christ. By the 4th century, when December 25 became widely recognized as the celebration of Christ’s birth, the Church developed a rhythm of seasons around it.
Rather than isolating Christmas to one day, the Church established a twelve-day festival beginning on December 25 and concluding on January 5, followed by Epiphany on January 6. This structure mirrored other major Christian seasons, emphasizing that Christ’s birth was too significant to celebrate briefly.
The Season of Christmastide
Christmastide begins on Christmas Day (December 25) and lasts for twelve days, ending on January 5, the eve of Epiphany. These “Twelve Days of Christmas” are not meant to lead up to Christmas, but to flow out of it. Christmastide is a time set apart to celebrate, reflect, and rejoice in the reality that God has come to dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
While Advent is a season of waiting and preparation, Christmastide is a season of celebration and reflection. The long-anticipated hope of Advent is fulfilled, and the Church is invited to linger in the wonder of the incarnation.
Why Christmastide Matters
In a culture that moves quickly from Christmas to the next thing, Christmastide invites us to slow down. It reminds us that the birth of Jesus is not a moment to rush past, but a truth to sit with and live into.
During Christmastide, we reflect on profound realities:
God with us — The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
Light in the darkness — Christ’s coming brings hope, peace, and salvation to a broken world.
Joy that remains — The joy of Christmas is not fleeting, but ongoing and transformative.
Christmastide helps us recognize that Christmas does not end when the gifts are opened. Instead, it shapes how we live, love, and worship beyond December 25.
Living the Message of Christmas
Christmastide reminds us that the story of Jesus’ birth leads directly into the mission of God in the world. The child born in Bethlehem is the Savior who brings redemption, reconciliation, and new life. As the season unfolds, we are invited not only to celebrate Christ’s coming, but to carry His light into the world around us.
In a time when Christmas often feels rushed and fleeting, Christmastide calls us to stay a little longer—rejoicing in Emmanuel, God with us, and allowing the good news of Christmas to shape the days ahead.
We hope you will join us for a special Christmastide Service on Sunday, December 28th, 2025 at 10:3am as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and look ahead to the new year with hope and joy!