The Liturgical Home: Christmas Day
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World”
Let earth receive her King…
After the long weeks of Advent, of intentional waiting, fasting, prayer, and preparation, the great Feast of the Nativity is finally here. The Christ Child is born! The Light has come, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5).
This is one of the highest feast days of the Christian year. It is the day of days that celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation. The God of the universe humbled himself, took on flesh, and walked among us. Around the world, bells are ringing, candles are burning, and carols are being sung. Finally, we can celebrate the long-awaited birth of Christ with Christians worldwide! And in homes, like yours and mine, the miracle of the Incarnation fills every room with warmth and joy. Today, heaven touches earth.
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As we celebrate this special day, we remember with joy the angels’ message:
“Glory to God in the highest,
Luke 2:14, KJV
and on earth peace, good will towards men.”
In these words, we see the loving hand of God. God has sent to us a Savior, his very son, Jesus, to redeem us, to set us free, and to bring us back to himself. What a glorious day this is!
The Mystery of the Incarnation
Christmas is not just the memory of a birth long ago. It is the mystery of God’s love entering into time, into history, into our very lives. The One who holds the universe in His hands has taken on human flesh. He is born not in a palace, but in a stable. Not to royalty, but to a humble virgin. He comes not in might, but in humility.
Let your heart pause and take that in.
God is with us. God is for us.
How to Celebrate Christmas Day at Home
There are many ways to honor this most holy day. Whether your home is bustling with family or quiet with stillness, today is for joy, feasting, worship, and wonder. Here are some traditions and ideas to mark the day with intention and reverence:
Greet One Another with Joy
In many traditions, it’s customary to greet one another by saying:
“Christ is Born!”
And to respond: “Glorify him!”
What a beautiful way to center our hearts and homes on the true joy of the day!
Open Your Gifts With Gratitude
If you wait until Christmas morning to open presents, consider beginning with a short devotion. Read Luke 2 together, pray the Lord’s Prayer, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for all that God has done before beginning.
If you have children, help them to remember that every good and perfect gift, wrapped or unwrapped, comes from God and points to the greatest Gift of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Attend Church or Light the Christ Candle
If you’re able, attend Christmas Day services at your church to worship and receive the Eucharist. If that’s not possible, gather around your Advent wreath, light the Christ candle, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
Sing
All through Advent, we’ve waited. Now, we sing! Turn up your favorite Christmas carol playlist, sing around the piano, or hum as you go about your day. Let the music of Christmas fill your home.
Move the Magi Closer
If you’ve been using a nativity set in your home, begin the Magi’s journey today. Slowly move them closer to the Christ Child each day until Epiphany (January 6), allowing your children to “walk” with them toward Jesus.
Remember the Lonely
Christmas can be both joyful and painful. Think of someone who might be grieving or alone today. Call them. Pray for them. Invite them over if you can. The smallest gesture may be the light they need today.
Give Generously
Christmas is a season of giving, and Christmastide is a beautiful time to give to and serve others. Leave gifts for your delivery people, serve at a soup kitchen, or bring a meal to someone in need. Every act of kindness reflects the generosity of our King.
Keep the Feast
Christmas Day is a feast day in every sense of the word. This is the time to serve your finest dishes, set a beautiful table, and celebrate with joy.
Christmas Day Around the World
Around the world, people celebrate in beautiful and varied ways:
In Creole Louisiana, Christmas Day is marked by a grand feast, beginning with a hearty breakfast. A typical morning meal might include sliced oranges, hominy, steak and potatoes, omelets, and rice cakes drizzled with cane syrup, all accompanied by café au lait.
In Italy, there is technically no formal Christmas Day dinner. Instead, the most significant meal of Natale (Christmas) is a leisurely lunch that can last for hours. Unlike Christmas Eve’s seafood-focused feast, Christmas Day is a celebration filled with rich, meat-based dishes. The meal begins with a traditional antipasto spread featuring dry-cured meats like salumi, fine Italian cheeses, briny olives, artichokes, and more. The first course is pasta, though the type varies by region. In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a staple, while favorites like lasagne Bolognese, manicotti, or ravioli are served in the North. The star of the meal is the main course, which may include roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages, or braised beef, delicacies worthy of the festive season.
In some countries, Christmas Day is a time for a lavish and joyful feast, a chance to serve your finest dishes in celebration of the birth of our Savior. Roast goose is served in many countries, such as Great Britain, the United States, and Germany. A recipe for Roast Goose is in the recipe section.
In Germany, they serve Knödel and Red Cabbage along with the Goose. A traditional fruit-filled bread called Stollen, folded to resemble the swaddled Christ Child, is also made during Christmastide (see a recipe for Stollen at the end of this post).
In England, it is the day to bring out the cherished Christmas plum pudding. Plum pudding, or Christmas pudding, is a beloved tradition, often presented with a flourish. After the main meal, the pudding is brought to the table, soaked in brandy or another festive spirit, and set alight. This dramatic moment, with its dancing flames, fills the room with warmth and reminds us of the season’s joy. To serve the pudding, the lights are dimmed, and the flaming dessert is carried to the table. Once the flames subside, it is shared among the family, brimming with rich ingredients that symbolize the abundance Christ brings on his birthday.
If you’ve already cooked your Christmas Eve feast, let Christmas Day be a little simpler, but still full of meaning. Whatever your table looks like today, may it proclaim: Christ is born, and we rejoice.
After the Feast
Gather around the Christmas tree. Light the candles. Sing more carols. Let your home settle into that gentle hush that often comes after a day of great joy.
Let the light of Christ dwell richly in your home today.
Gather the family for a devotion and carol singing in the Christmas room after the feast. As you settle into this peaceful moment, offer a warm beverage, such as French-style hot chocolate or spiced cider, to keep the festive spirit alive. Eat Stollen and coffee.
Christmas Is Only Just Beginning
Remember: Christmas is only just beginning!
The Church gives us the Twelve Days of Christmas, which run from today until Epiphany (January 6). Don’t rush to take down the tree or the lights. Don’t let the world tell you Christmas is over on December 26. Keep celebrating, feasting, and singing.
Let every day be filled with small ways to honor the newborn King. Christ has come, and that changes everything.
Christ is born! Glorify him.
Wishing you and your family a holy, joyful, and peaceful Christmas.
Traditional German Stollen
A beautiful bread made for Christmas Eve and Christmastide, Stollen is folded to resemble the swaddled Christ Child. It’s rich with fruit, spice, and story.
Stollen has been made in Germany since the Middle Ages. When you fold the dough, instead of turning the folds underneath, you leave them on top to resemble Jesus’s swaddling clothes!
- 2/3 cup dark raisins
- 2/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
- 1/3 cup dark rum or orange juice
- 1 cup slivered or sliced almonds, lightly toasted
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 1/2 teaspoons powdered yeast
- 1/2 cup milk (whole or low-fat) at room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup rye flour, or use a similar amount of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground dried ginger
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon freshly-grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest, preferably unsprayed
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1 cup plus 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup chopped candied ginger
- 1/2 cup diced candied citrus peel
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar or more, if necessary
Mix both kinds of raisins with cranberries or cherries with the dark rum or orange juice, then cover. In another bowl, mix the almonds with the water, and cover. Let both sit for at least an hour, or overnight.
Pour the milk into a medium bowl and sprinkle the yeast over it. Stir briefly, then stir in 1 cup of the flour until smooth to make a starter. Cover, and let rest for one hour.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, or by hand, stir together the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, rye flour, three tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of dried ginger, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, citrus zest, and vanilla. Pour in one cup of the melted butter, honey, and egg yolk, and mix on medium speed until the mixture is moistened uniformly.
While mixing, add the yeast starter, one-third at a time, mixing until thoroughly incorporated. Once added, continue beating for about four minutes, until it is almost smooth; it should resemble cookie dough. Add the dried fruits (and any liquid), candied ginger, citrus peel, and almonds, and beat until they’re well-distributed.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times, then place it back in the mixer bowl, cover, and let it rest in a warm place for one hour.
Remove the dough from the bowl, knead the dough again, then return it to the bowl. Let it rest for another hour.
Divide the dough into four pieces, shape each one into an oval, and place them evenly spaced apart on an insulated baking sheet. (The original recipe says to stack two rimmed baking sheets on top of each other, so you can do that if you don’t have one.)
Cover the loaves with a clean tea towel and let them rest in a warm place for one hour.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Remove the tea towel and bake the loaves for 45 minutes, or until they’re deep golden brown. (Note: The recipe advises that when they’re done, the internal temperature should read 190F if using an instant-read thermometer.)
While the loaves bake, mix the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar with one teaspoon of dried ginger. When the bread comes out of the oven, generously brush the remaining 3/4 cup melted butter over the hot loaves. Let the butter saturate the bread, repeating until it absorbs all the butter.
Rub the gingered sugar mixture over the top and side of each loaf, then let rest on the baking sheet until room temperature.
Sift powdered sugar over, under, and around the bread, rubbing it in with your hands. They wrap the loaves on the baking sheet in a large plastic bag and let them sit for two days. After two days, the loaves are ready to eat or can be wrapped as gifts. You may wish to sift additional powdered sugar over the top in case they need another dusting.
Recipe from www.davidlebovitz.com/stollen
Image: Photo by swkunst from Getty Images, courtesy of Canva.
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