The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January – also known as Twelfth Night. The 12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.
12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.
The 12 Days each traditionally celebrate a feast day for a saint and/or have different celebrations:
Day 2 (26th December also known as Boxing Day): St Stephen’s Day. He was the first Christian martyr (someone who dies for their faith). It’s also the day when the Christmas Carol ‘Good King Wenceslas‘ takes place.
Day 3 (27th December): St John the Apostle (One of Jesus’s Disciples and friends)
Day 5 (29th December): St Thomas Becket. He was Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century and was murdered on 29th December 1170 for challenging the King’s authority over the Church.
Day 6 (30th December): St Egwin of Worcester.
Day 7 (31st December): New Year’s Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland). Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated on this day. He was one of the earliest popes (in the 4th Century). In many central and eastern European countries (including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and Slovenia) New Year’s Eve is still sometimes called ‘Silvester’. In the UK, New Year’s Eve was a traditional day for ‘games’ and sporting competitions. Archery was a very popular sport and during the middle ages it was the law that it had to be practised by all men between ages 17-60 on Sunday after Church! This was so the King had lots of very good archers ready in case he need to go to war!
Day 9 (2nd January): St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, two important 4th century Christians.
Day 10 (3rd January): Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This remembers when Jesus was officially ‘named’ in the Jewish Temple. It’s celebrated by different churches on a wide number of different dates!
Day 11 (4th January): St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the past it also celebrated the feast of Saint Simon Stylites (who lives on a small platform on the top of a pillar for 37 years!).
Day 12 (5th January also known as Epiphany Eve): St. John Neumann who was the first Bishop in American. He lived in the 19th century.
What do the different colors used by the priest signify?
As outlined by the Church, different colors represent different liturgical seasons. Since around the sixth century, the primary liturgical colors have been green, white, purple, redand black. Read More
The STOLE is a long cloth, about four inches wide and of the same color as the chasuble, that is worn around the neck like a scarf. It is secured at the waist with the cincture.
Traditionally, the STOLE was crisscrossed on the chest of Read More
The CINCTURE is a long, thick cord with tassels at the ends which secures the alb around the waist. It may be white or may be the same liturgical color as the other vestments.
In the Graeco-Roman world, the CINCTURE was Read More
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”
Last Updated: December 11, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
The 12 Days of Christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January – also known as Twelfth Night. The 12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.
12 Days have been celebrated in Europe since before the middle ages and were a time of celebration.
The 12 Days each traditionally celebrate a feast day for a saint and/or have different celebrations:
Posted: December 18, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
Christmas and New Year Mass Schedule
Mass Schedule
December 24
5:00 pm Vigil Mass
Christmas Day
7:30 am (Spanish)
10:00 am (English)
New Years Day
Day of Obligation
10:00 am
Last Updated: December 6, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Saturday, December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Mass at Holy Family begins at 10:00 am
Posted: November 28, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
The Meaning of Advent Candles
The candles represent Jesus coming as the light in darkness.
One candle is lit each Sunday until all four candles are lit, and sometimes a fifth candle is lit on Christmas. Read More
Last Updated: October 31, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
Helping Those in Need
We have families within our parish and community
who need our help
Holy Family is commited to helping those who are in need, as Jesus has asked us to do.
All items may be brought to the church before or after all Masses; or you can bring items to the Rectory located right across from the church.
Read More
Last Updated: October 3, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
The Liturgical Colors–What Do They Mean?
As outlined by the Church, different colors represent different liturgical seasons. Since around the sixth century, the primary liturgical colors have been green, white, purple, red and black. Read More
Last Updated: October 3, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
What Is Our Priest Wearing? – The Chasuble
The CHASUBLE is the outer garment worn over the alb and stole.
Over the centuries, various styles of CHASUBLES have emerged.
Derived from the Latin word casula meaning Read More
Last Updated: October 3, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
What Is Our Priest Wearing? – The Stole
The STOLE is a long cloth, about four inches wide and of the same color as the chasuble, that is worn around the neck like a scarf. It is secured at the waist with the cincture.
Traditionally, the STOLE was crisscrossed on the chest of Read More
Last Updated: October 3, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
What Is Our Priest Wearing? -The Cincture
The CINCTURE is a long, thick cord with tassels at the ends which secures the alb around the waist. It may be white or may be the same liturgical color as the other vestments.
In the Graeco-Roman world, the CINCTURE was Read More
Last Updated: October 3, 2018 by Daybreak Social Media Leave a Comment
What Is Our Priest Wearing? – The Alb
The ALB is a long, white garment, which flows from shoulders to ankles, and has long sleeves extending to the wrists.
The word alb means “white.”
The ALB was a common outer garment worn in the Graeco-Roman world and would be Read More
Song of the Month
“The things that we love tell us what we are.”
-St. Thomas Aquinas
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Come, pray with us.
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”
–Saint Teresa of Avila
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