When to put out the nativity scene?
When to put out the nativity scene?
By IBP in Brazil - Christmas, Epiphany and Presentation of the Lord are like three panels of a liturgical triptych
Note from the translator: I know this has become somewhat a controversial topic in some groups on USA. Nevertheless, we have readers all around the world. So here is the instruction from priests from IBP. (The original in portuguese here)
According to the immemorial custom of the Church, the nativity scene is conserved until February 2nd, the day of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and Legal Purification of the Blessed Virgin. Forty days after the birth of the Savior, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph took the Child Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem, in order to fulfill the ritual of purification of the Most Holy Mary and to carry out the redemption of the firstborn, confirm the Mosaic law, being the Child God thus presented to God the Father.
This feast brings the Christmas cycle to a close, with the last contemplation of the Child God, and in which we begin the Easter cycle, already glimpsing the redemptive sacrifice of Calvary in the words of the prophet Simeon to Our Lady:
Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.
Christmas, Epiphany and Presentation of the Lord are like three panels of a liturgical triptych, with the Feast of the Presentation being the last panel.
In this way, the three Magi Kings are installed in the nativity scene on January 6th, Feast of the Epiphany, being dismantled (put out) on February 2nd, when the Christmas cycle ends.