Does anyone go to Midnight Mass?

I always try to go to Midnight Mass.It is one of the highlights of Christmas and to me what it is all about.

I’ve often meant to go, but have always felt too tired when it came to the point, or else was still frantically wrapping presents! I’m a lot more organised now, but haven’t even thought of going for quite a while.

I absolutely can’t miss King’s College on Christmas Eve, though.

I live in a large rural parish and when Midnight mass was moved from midnight to 8.00pm, the congregation nearly doubled.

This was 25 years ago.

I went to my first midnight mass when I was ten. It made Christmas so special and taught me that Christmas isn't all about shopping and eating!

I can't imagine Christmas without mass- whatever time. I spend the festivities with my family and going to Christmas mass with my grandchilden is the most important thing for me still.

Christus natus est.

We will have a Midnight Mass in the Cathedral, have to get there really early to get a seat. The time has moved to 11.00 pm instead of 11.30 pm so we wish each other Happy Christmas as we go out, rather than during the peace. I have been going for many decades. On one occasion, driving home on my own full of the Christmas spirit, it was snowing and I stopped to offer a lift to the long blonde haired figure stuggling against the wind. Imagine my horror when the 'girl' turned out to be a man! But I had stopped, so I drove him home way out of my way, and he was very grateful!

Our Midnight Mass has been at 9pm for quite a few years. Its a compromise to suit elderly parishioners, and elderly priests! My sisters and I will be going. We are travelling to see DGC on Christmas day. There are Carols before and during the Mass. The youngest altar server carries Baby Jesus to the crib.
I remember going to 'real' Midnight Mass as a youngster, to sing in the choir. Our Mum would send us to bed after dinner and wake us later. It felt magical and exciting to be out so late in adult company. Although we all wished each other Happy Christmas after Mass, we weren't allowed to open any presents on our return home, it was back to bed and wait until Christmas morning!

I was brought up by Irish Catholic parents. We had religion rammed down our throats and were always forced to go to mass. When I got to about 13, me and my friend used to go to midnight mass as it was exciting to be out that late and to listen to drunken men hammering on the church door demanding to be let in. I am no longer religious.

I used to love Midnight Mass, and we were part of the merry gang that would roll up the road from our packed local. Now our local’s on its last legs and Midnight Mass didn’t happen last year. I’m hoping that was just a one off. If it’s on again we’ll definitely attend.

We've traditionally had a midnight communion service at our church but the last vicar didn't like having to travel to and from our village at that time of night as well as getting up early-ish for a Christmas Day service in another of the group's churches. The best we got was a 9pm service.

We're without a vicar at present and the person looking after us is happy to do a midnight communion. In the past we often went back to someone's house after the service for "refreshments", sometimes until 4am. Always a good start to Christmas.

My totally non-religious son and his equally non-religious wife always attend a midnight service at Christmas, and have chosen the Church of Scotland service in place of Mass for the last two years. Apparently the music is better!
I was a Midnight Mass attender when we sang at Mass, but later I preferred to go with our children on Christmas morning. They were all invited to bring along their favourite toys, which were shown off, then blessed!

We used to go to midnight Mass at our local church, but stopped during the pandemic. There is still a service at midnight but I don’t know how many people go. The carol service in the afternoon will be rammed, standing room only!

Madmeg
Happy days!
I think I was one of them.

Yes - until 3 years ago. I don’t like night driving now.

We attend Christmas Eve late afternoon and Christmas Day after breakfast.

I am a Catholic and my regular church ( a cathedral) has two Masses on Christmas Eve, one at 4pm and the other at 8pm.
The actual Midnight Mass was dropped a long time ago as many people did not feel safe going home at that time, and the roads were full of drunk drivers.

Our Catholic Churches have moved to an evening service rather than midnight.
The midnight one was always busy but priests are rarely young. Christmas is a very busy time for them, especially those who look after more than one parish.
The move to an earlier service was with their wellbeing in mind, as well as stopping rowdy participation.

My childhood memories are of midnight Mass then a dash home for warm sausage rolls - advent ‘fasting and abstinence’ was still observed then.

I have not been to Midnight Mass since my teens and I only go near a church for weddings and funerals.

My local Catholic church is too far away- I do not drive in the dark, I live on my own and I would not feel safe to be out in the dark, living in London. I will be in bed.

Our vicar would like the choir to sing at Midnight Mass but most of us don’t plan to be there. Either busy, with families staying, or, like me, live alone and don’t want to be driving home at that time of night.
The church will be packed earlier for Christingle, and I will go at 10am on Christmas Day.

Tonight at the PPC, we discussed Christmas Mass times and we will be having having Midnight Mass.

I am always the duty sacristan and love being in the candlelit church, with the choir practising carols before the parishioners arrive.

Our local c of e does. It is very popular.

night

The midnight service always feels special. When my son was a cathedral chorister they weren’t allowed to stay up for that mass until they were 12. Younger choristers could only sing at the earlier Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning services - it seemed so exciting when they finally got there and he still loves it as an adult. There is something magical about going out late at nigh, gathering in a sacred place then walking home under the stars.

surfingsal

Our local church is not doing Midnight Mass this year, I am not religious but several of my friends are and they are very disappointed, the vicar says it is not worth heating the Church for around 20 people I wonder if other Churches are still holding Midnight Mass?

20 people?

Midnight Mass used to have a large congregation of people who'd just poured out of the pubs.
The smell of alcohol was not coming just from the chalice!

The Festival of 9 Lessons and Carols at Durham Cathedral is absolutely packed out - it’s so popular seats are reserved from one year to the next. The rest of the seats are occupied anything up to 3 hours before the Service begins.
Standing room at the back and out of sight in an adjacent chapel, but crowds turned away.

Yes