Christmas runs from the Vigil Mass on December 24 to the Baptism of the Lord in early January, with the Solemnity of Mary on January 1 and Epiphany in between. It is the one season where a parish fills every seat, so the candle and host counts are the largest of the year.
Candles
- Congregational candles with drip protectors for the Christmas Eve candlelight Mass or service: one per seat, plus 10 percent. Boxes of 250 and 500 are the common sizes; order by the first week of December.
- The Christ candle in the centre of the Advent wreath, lit from the Vigil onward.
- Altar candles: Christmas Masses may use the tall 1 1/2 x 16 or 2 x 24 sizes on a high altar; stock a box of the parish's festal size.
- Sanctuary and votive candles for the extra visits of the octave.
Vestments and linens
White or gold chasubles and stoles are worn from the Vigil through the Baptism of the Lord, with the exception of St. Stephen on December 26 (red) and the Holy Innocents on December 28 (red). A gold set, if the parish has one, is reserved for the Vigil, Midnight Mass and Christmas Day. Festal altar linens and a white frontal go out for the season.
The crèche
The Child is placed in the manger at the Vigil, the Magi at Epiphany. Figures should be large enough to be seen from the pews: 12-inch scale at least, 27-inch in a large nave. Missing or damaged figures are easiest to replace in the same maker's scale, such as Fontanini 12-inch or Joseph's Studio. Outdoor sets need weatherproof resin and a lighting kit.
Hosts, incense and the gift shop
Count hosts by the Christmas attendance, which is often two to three times a normal Sunday; a parish that uses one 1,000-count box a fortnight may use two on Christmas alone. Incense is customary at the Vigil and Midnight Mass, so check the charcoal roll is fresh. The gift shop sells nativity sets, Christmas holy cards and rosaries in the last two weeks of Advent; restock before the Fourth Sunday.
Questions
How many congregational candles for Christmas Eve?
One per seat at the largest Mass, plus 10 percent for ushers, choir and breakage. Count the seats, not the registered families.
Which color is worn on December 26 and 28?
Red, for St. Stephen the first martyr and the Holy Innocents. The rest of the Christmas season is white or gold.
When do the Magi go into the nativity?
At Epiphany, celebrated in the United States on the Sunday between January 2 and 8. Many parishes move them closer to the stable through the season.