Crib

14/1/12

Could anyone tell me when is the correct time to remove the Christmas Crib from the church.

REPLIES

Les Haines - 14/1/12

There are differences of opinion, I was always told it was at Candle-mass, which I under stood was the end of the Christmas season.

Les Haines.

St John's Bovey Tracey.

14/1/12

 the crib  is removed from  Church on the feast of  Candleemas  which marks the end of  Christmastide

Robert Tucker - 14/1/12

Under the modern rules the Christmas Crib is retained to Candlemas. This year that may be celebrated on Sunday 29th January instead of Thursday 2nd February.

Robert Tucker

(Sacristan S. Mary Magdalen, Chapelfields, Coventry.

Ed Bakker - 14/1/12

Blessings all, 
Based on experience , on the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany. 
 
A Blessed Sunday 
 
The Very Revd. Father Ed Bakker OPR

Simon - 14/1/12

As far as I'm aware it can stay there until Candlemas (2nd Feb).

Simon

Sue - 14/1/12

After Candlemass, or what we used to call Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Tree comes down by 12th night, but crib & candles remain until Candlemass (2nd Feb)

Sue

Secretary

Purification of BVM Telford

Annie, Janet & Adam Wilson - 14/1/12

The 6th January is when you take the crib down that's the 12th day of Christmas!

From Annie Janet and Adam Wilson

Fr. Michael Fish - 14/1/12

I know that there are variations, presumably because with the Anglican calendar we are still in Epiphany and the Roman calendar has us in Ordinary Time (which we use). I retain the crib (with wise men) until the feast of Candlemas, when we celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, so it is a logical point in time.
Best Wishes
Fr. Michael Fish ssc
The Parish of All Saints w. S. Michael '
An Anglo-Catholic Parish under the Episcopal Oversight of the See of Ebbsfleet'
All Saints Vicarage
5 Lingen Close
Shrewsbury
SY1 2UN
Tel: 01743 244879

Ken A Johnson - 14/1/12

I always thought it was after the Christmass season. eg. after last Sunday or after Monday. Ordinary time starts on the Tuesday. some leave it till the presentation , but I feel we need the break after the Epiphany until lent a demarcation and a time of normality.

Ken A Johnson. Tssf. cbs, gss.

Fr. David Moore - 14/1/12

I don't think there is 'a correct time' to remove the Christmass Crib'. There are various customs. Some churches leave the crib in place until Candlemass. Others until after Epiphany 1. In some churches in these days that Sunday is observed as the Epiphany.

I hope my contribution is of some help.

Fr.David Moore .... Warden.

Fr. Michael Pearson - 14/1/12

That depends. The week after The Baptism of our Lord is back to ordinary time. However, technically Christmas does not end until Candlemass, 2nd February. I have removed the crib at different times depending where I have been, my last Parish it remained until Candlemass as it bought many children and young families into a Town centre church. It also was a reminder to the business community that Christmas began on the 26th December not ended!

Fr. Michael Pearson

John Tobin - 15/1/12

From a Roman Catholic point of view I would say straight after the Feast of the Epiphany. However, some of the comments made on this site regarding this matter are very interesting.

Thank you,

John Tobin.

Australia.

- 15/1/12

Well it could be said that you should keep it until the end of the "Christmas Season" that is Candlemass.
or after you have celebrated the feast of Epiphany.
Personally I prefer to keep the crib of just the Holy Family until Candlemass - and make it a place of pilgrimage at the end of the Candlemass service and have prayers there, and then it is removed the following day.
I hope this helps?

Peter Hart - 15/1/12

In S. Barnabas Crewe we leave it until Candlemass. Although this may seem strange to the secular world at least it is a reminder that we celebrate the Birth of Our Lord from Christmass onwards and not from October!!

Peter Hart

15/1/12

A friend of mine, a lay reader, confirms that it is Candlemass; though it would be nice for the children to have the scene longer.

Rick Savage -16/1/12

In the Church of England, the season of Epiphany continues until the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemass). Hence some churches leave the crib up till then but, as Sue said, the Christmas decorations should definitely not be left in place. When there was an Octave of the Epiphany, extending the feast by 8 days to 13 January, the end of the Octave provided a break point at which to take down the crib.

So the answer to your question is either straight after the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (as is common in the Roman Church) or at the end of the Epiphany season, the Presentation of the Lord.

Rick Savage
Secretary of the Chapter of the Incarnate Word

19/1/12

The Christmas crib should be removed after the celebration of epiphany

4/2/12

I can't for the life of me recall when they take away the crib from St Peter's Square in Rome, but I checked the camera in the piazza a few minutes ago and it's still there, Christmas tree and all

4/2/12

I suppose it ought to be noted that the crib is not strictly a liturgical matter, but would come under the heading of popular devotions, so presumably any acceptable local custom can be followed