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Notes on the Rendering of the
2003 Book of Divine Worship on this Website

Christmas Eve

  • At Evening Prayer on December 24th Use:

  • At Compline:

    Christmas Day and Following

    Lectionary pages 30, 31, and 88; Propers pages 203 through 210 and 435 through 437.

    The calendar for the Christmas season is one of the most complicated due the number of liturical days which may fall within the twelve days of Christmas. There are seven variations depending on the day of the week on which Christmas Eve falls.

    Christmas Eve Falls on Sunday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26

    St. Stephen
    27

    St. John
    28
    Holy
    Innocents
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30
    6th Day
    of Xmas
    31
    Holy
    Family
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    12th
    Day

    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Monday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26

    St. Stephen
    27

    St. John
    28
    Holy
    Innocents
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30
    Holy
    Family
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    12th
    Day
    Eve of
    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Tuesday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    21

    Advent
    22

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    27

    St. John
    28
    Holy
    Innocents
    29

    Holy Family
    30
    6th Day
    of Xmas
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    2nd Sun. of Xmas
    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany
    7

    Epiphany
    8

    Epiphany
    9

    Epiphany
    10

    Epiphany
    11

    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Wednesday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    21

    Advent
    22

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26

    St. Stephen
    27

    St. John
    28

    Holy Family
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30
    6th Day
    of Xmas
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    2nd Sun.
    of Xmas
    5
    12th
    Day
    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany
    7

    Epiphany
    8

    Epiphany
    9

    Epiphany
    10

    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Thursday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    20

    Advent
    21

    Advent
    22

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26

    St. Stephen
    27

    Holy Family
    28

    Holy
    Innocents
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30
    6th Day
    of Xmas
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    2
    2nd Sun.
    of Xmas
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    12th
    Day
    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany
    7

    Epiphany
    8

    Epiphany
    9

    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Friday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    19

    Advent
    20

    Advent
    21

    Advent
    22

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26
    Holy
    Family
    27

    St. John
    28

    Holy
    Innocents
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30
    6th Day
    of Xmas
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    2nd Sun. of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    12th
    Day
    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany
    7

    Epiphany
    8

    Epiphany

    Christmas Eve Falls on Saturday

    Sunday
    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    Saturday
    19

    Advent
    20

    Advent
    21

    Advent
    22

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    23

    Advent
    24
    Advent
    Xmas
    Eve
    25

    Xmas
    Day
    26

    St. Stephen
    27

    St. John
    28

    Holy
    Innocents
    29
    5th Day
    of Xmas
    30

    Holy Family
    31
    7th Day
    Eve of
    Mother
    of God
    1
    Mary,
    Mother
    of God
    2
    9th Day
    of Xmas
    3
    Most Holy Name of Jesus
    4
    11th Day
    of Xmas
    5
    12th Day
    Eve of
    Epiphany
    6

    Epiphany
    7

    Epiphany

    You may also wish to consult this spreadsheet showing the possible arrangments of the liturgical days in Christmas.

    This site differs from the 2003 Book of Divine Worship on three days in Christmas:

    • On December 20 the Psalm at Evening Prayer it cites as 18:21-50 (as in the Contempary Psalter) this site uses 18:21-51 per the versification of the Traditional Anglican Psalter,

    • On December 31 for evening use Eve of Mary, Mother of God in consequence of which two lessons, John 8:12-19 and James 4:13-17; 5:7-1 assigned in the Daily Office Lectionary are not used.

    • On January 4 for Joshua "3:14;4:7" read "Joshua 3:14–4:7".

    • On January 5 for evening use Eve of Epiphany in consequence of which two lessons, John 15:1-16 and Ephesians 6:10-20 assigned in the Daily Office Lectionary are not used.