The season of Christmas is when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is now believed that Jesus was born between 7BC and 4AD. The years BC are those before the Christ's birth and the years AD are those following it, from the Latin Anno Domini meaning 'in the year of our Lord'. Some 350 years after Jesus' birth, Pope Julius 1 decided that 25th December would be fixed as the date of the Nativity as it was believed that Christ was born on the 25th even though the exact month was not known.

The word Christmas comes from the old English name Cristes Mæsse meaning Christ's Mass (or Christ's Holy Communion). The church colour for the season of Christmas is white (or gold) and is used for the light, joy and purity of Christ.

Christmas services at St. James's include Midnight Mass, Christmas morning Parish Communion and a very popular Crib Service for the children on Christmas Eve afternoon. The church is always beautifully decorated at Christmas with a Christmas tree and appropriate flower and green arrangements. Our beautifully made crib is the focus of attention for many of the services, especially for the children. 

The abbreviation Xmas comes from the Greek alphabet. The use of the letter X is not new, it was widely used from the mid-15th century. X is the letter Chi, which is the first letter of Christ's name in the Greek alphabet. The correct pronunciation for the word ‘Xmas’ is ‘Christmas’, just as if the word were written out in full. Xmas is NOT ex-mas!

It is probably only in the last hundred years that a crib or 'nativity scene' depicting the scene of Jesus' birth at Bethlehem has become widespread in Anglican churches. St. Francis of Assisi (1181/2-1226) is credited with the first nativity scene in Grecchio in Italy in 1223. His was a living nativity scene with real people acting out the parts of the characters in the Christmas story. This became quite popular in some parts of Europe. Static illustrations developed and some could be very elaborate.

Christmas cribs or nativity scenes usually show us Jesus, Mary and Joseph together with the shepherds and animals found in the stable where Jesus was born. On the 6th of January, the feast of the Epiphany, the coming of the wise men to visit Jesus is celebrated. The shepherds and animals are removed, and are replaced by the wise men. Cribs used to remain in churches until February 2nd when the presentation of Jesus in the Temple is celebrated. Now it is most common for cribs to be removed after the first Sunday of the Epiphany, the Baptism of Christ.

The Three Days immediately after Christmas
The three days immediately after Christmas, 26th, 27th and 28th December, are all special. At St. James's Church they are observed with services of Holy Communion on each day. The first commemorates St. Stephen, and we read about his witness to his faith in Acts chapters 6 and 7. He is described as a person full of grace and power and able to speak with inspired wisdom. He gives an account, when challenged, of the salvation history of the Jewish people, a resumé of God's dealing with mankind, and ends by accusing the Jews of fighting against the Holy Spirit and murdering Christ. His hearers are infuriated; they tum on him and stone him to death. He is remembered and honoured as the first Christian martyr.

On the second day, we remember St. John the Evangelist. Among the four gospels the Gospel of John emphasises most of all the Glory of God through the life and work of this God made Man, Jesus. This is a gospel containing such deep mystery and yet such loving simple words of comfort. The miracles, the signs, point to the revelation of the glory and power of God, as well as to the wonder and astonishment of the recipients of the sign or miracle. The first verses of the gospel, including 'the Word was God' and 'the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us', sum up the Incarnation. Praise, thankfulness and worship of God are expressed on the feast of St. John the Evangelist.

The third day is the day of the Holy Innocents when we recollect the story of the savage jealousy of King Herod. In order to avoid trouble in Judaea, he acted quickly to exterminate any future contender for power by brutally killing the baby boys in Bethlehem. The prophesy in Jeremiah 31 is realised: 'A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children'. On this day we focus our caring on the world's children to-day and pray for them.