During the Octave before Christmas (beginning 17 December), one tradition of the Church is the reading of what are known as the “O Antiphons” before the Magnificat during Evening Prayer (part of the Divine office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours). Each of these antiphons refers to one of the titles of the Messiah, and each one also refers to Isaiah’s prophecy related to the coming of the Messiah.
On a somewhat related note, in the Philippines, there is a pre-Christmas Novena of Masses, Simbang Gabi, during which large numbers of the faithful participate in an early morning Mass daily . This tradition is spreading, with many of the parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States taking part this year.
For more information about the O Antiphons, please visit:
Catholic Education Resource Center: What are the "O Antiphons"?
For more information about the Simbang Gabi, please visit:
Catholic San Francisco: The origin and meaning of the Simbang Gabi novena (14 DEC 11)
Whispers in the Loggia: Before Dawn, The Countdown Begins.... (17 DEC 11)
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