Massacre of the Innocents

Feast days

The Massacre of the Innocents first appears as a feast of the western church in the Leonine Sacramentary, dating from about 485. The feast has formerly been called Childermas, Children's Mass, Holy Innocents' Day, though probably not Herodmas. The Eastern Orthodox Church calls the victims "Holy Innocents", the first martyrs for Jesus Christ, and commemorates them each year on December 27. The Roman Catholic Church and Church of England (as The Holy Innocents) commemorate it on December 28. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia,

Related Topics:
485 - Eastern Orthodox Church - Martyr - December 27 - Roman Catholic Church - Church of England - December 28

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:The Latins keep it on December 28, the Greeks on December 29 , the Syrians and Chaldeans on 27 December.

Related Topics:
December 28 - December 29 - 27 December

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The Roman Catholic Church keeps a simple octave in memory of the Holy Innocents; they are also commemorated in the liturgy of January 4. They are the only martyrs whose feastday is kept by the wearing of purple vestments at Mass, as opposed to red.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - January 4

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In Spain and Iberoamerica, December 28 is a day for pranks, equivalent to April Fool's Day in many countries. Prank victims are called inocentes. In some cultures it is said to be an unlucky day and no new project should be started.

Related Topics:
Spain - Iberoamerica - December 28 - Pranks - April Fool's Day

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