Nine Lessons and Carols
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Nine Lessons and Carols, also known as the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, is a service of Christian worship traditionally celebrated on or near Christmas Eve in England. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings or lessons from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir anthems.
A service of Nine Lessons in 2010 at St. George's School, Rhode Island, US
Edward White Benson, credited with devising the service of Nine Lessons and Carols in 1880
Order of Service for the first Nine Lessons and Carols in 1880 on display in Truro Cathedral
King's College Chapel, Cambridge (left), from where the popular Nine Lessons and Carols service is broadcast annually on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
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Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.
Christmas Eve, an 1878 painting by J. Hoover & Son
Midnight Mass is held in many churches toward the end of Christmas Eve, often with dim lighting and traditional decorative accents such as greenery.
Advent wreath, lighting the candle
Typical Neapolitan nativity scene, or presepe or presepio, in Rome.