Definition

Proper noun 1. A Christian feast day: In the liturgical calendars of the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, this is a feast day that commemorates the circumcision of Jesus Christ, which, according to Jewish tradition, occurred on the eighth day after his birth (January 1st). The day also celebrates the conferral of the name "Jesus."

Usage

• The term is used specifically in a religious and liturgical context to refer to the January 1st holy day.
• It is a formal name for a specific feast day within certain Christian traditions.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The parish will hold a special Mass for the Feast of the Circumcision.
  • January 1st is observed in some churches as the Feast of the Circumcision.

Advanced Usage

• The observance focuses on the themes of Jesus's submission to Jewish law, the first shedding of his blood, and the naming of Jesus.
• In many modern liturgical calendars, the emphasis of the January 1st celebration has shifted and is now more commonly known as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Catholic) or the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican and others), though the commemoration of the circumcision remains part of the day's theological significance.

Variants and Related Words

• Circumcision (n): The surgical removal of the foreskin, especially as a religious rite in Judaism and Islam.
• Octave of Christmas (n): The eighth day after Christmas (January 1st), of which the Feast of the Circumcision is a traditional observance.
• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (n): The modern Catholic title for the holy day on January 1st.
• Feast of the Holy Name (n): A common Anglican and Protestant title for the January 1st feast, emphasizing the naming of Jesus.

Synonyms

• (Historical/Liturgical) Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord
• (For the date) January 1st (in a religious context)

Noun

1. (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st