Book of Common Prayer

Thursday, December 25^th, 2025

The Nativity of our Lord or the Birth-Day of Christ commonly called Christmas Day - HD (White or Gold)

Christmastide

The Christmas collect, 104, is repeated for the twelve days of Christmas—every day until the Epiphany. There is also an option to use collect 107 during this time.

Advent Wreath: The Advent wreath is removed before the first liturgy of Christmas, unless it contains a white Christmas candle, which is now lit. The Christmas cycle begins at Evensong today and concludes after Evensong on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Christmas Cré Che: A Christmas cré Che may be erected in the church on Christmas Eve or on Advent IV, but hopefully not before 16 December when Advent enters its final thematic phase anticipating the Nativity of Christ. The image of the Child is not placed in the cré Che until immediately before, or at the end of, the first service of Christmas when the cré Che is blessed. The Christmas cré Che should include the Shepherds, manger animals, and angels but not the Wise Men (Magi) who replace these on the feast of the Epiphany. The Canadian Book of Occasional Offices provides a “Blessing of the Crib on Christmas Eve” on p. 113.

Saint Stephen, Saint John, and Holy Innocents’ Day: The BCP notes on p. xviii that Saint Stephen, Saint John, or Holy Innocents’ Day take precedence over the Sunday after Christmas Day. The collect of the Sunday is said after the collect of the Holy Day (see rubrics p. 94).

Morning Prayer: Anthems 104 instead of Venite; Ps 45; Is 9:2-7; Mt 1:18-25; Coll 104 (& 107)

Holy Eucharist: Second Service of Christmas: Propers 107 & Coll 104; Int 2:7-8; Grad 110:1-4; Preface of Christmas (1)

Evening Prayer: Of Christmas Day: Ps 85, 110; Is 7:10-14; 1 Jn 4:7-end; Coll 104 (& 107)

Office Note: If the first Holy Communion of Christmas is celebrated in the late evening or midnight on Christmas Eve, MP of Christmas may precede the celebration.