From the Latin word, Octava, comes the ancient practice of
celebrating Christmas for eight wonderful days. Why
celebrate for eight days? The practice actually is as
ancient as the Old Testament. The Hebrew people
observed many of their feasts for a period of eight days.
The “Feast of Tabernacles” and the “Dedication of the
Temple” are two of the more notable. Later, the Roman
Emperor Constantine continued the tradition by celebrating
the dedication of basilicas in the Christian World for the
same period of eight days. Prior to the Second Vatican
Council, which closed in 1965, the Church granted certain
feasts the dignity of an octave. In addition to the more
prominent liturgical observations of Easter, Pentecost,
Epiphany, the feasts of Sts. Peter and St. Paul, St.
Lawrence, and St. Agnes were observed. Today we
celebrate two feasts with Octaves: Easter and Christmas.
Again, so why celebrate for eight days? Life in the ancient
world was so hectic and filled with pressure and families
had grown apart and were being swept up in the older
pagan traditions, that the Church granted a period of eight
days in order to contemplate the mysteries experienced by
the Christians of the ancient world! The ancient world did
not have television, shopping malls, computers,
telephones, fast food, automobiles, magazines and
newspapers…if the Ancients were busily distracted, what
has become of us!? We need to enjoy this time! Visit
family, feast, attend Mass, praise God, visit the poor,
celebrate charity, and most of all be humble before the
Mystery: The Word of God has become man!