The octave day of Christmas, honouring Mary as Mother of God, the Theotokos.
Dates
| Year | Dates | Reckoning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 1, 2025 | ||
| 2026 | January 1, 2026 |
Recurrence: Gregorian fixed date.
Significance
January 1 keeps the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on the octave day of Christmas. The title, in Greek Theotokos, confesses that the child Mary bore is truly God, and it was affirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431. The day closes the Christmas octave and is also observed as a day of prayer for peace.
Observance
Mass is celebrated for the solemnity, and the day is widely kept as a day of prayer for world peace.