Is Watch Night Service A Christain Tradition?
Watch Night Service
Many consider it a Christian Tradition to go to Church on New Year’s Eve to usher in the New Year. So many believe that where you are on New Year’s eve will determine the kind of year that you have. Well, this information came to me via my email and I saw it this morning and decided it was a very important topic and so I want to share it here on the blog.
Where does this fit in on a personal development blog about attracting wealth, law of attraction and positive thinking?
The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. To 10 p.m. And ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year.
Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate.
For others, church is the only New Year’s Eve event.
Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service — made a bit more Afro centric because that’s what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the Black Church.
Still, it seemed that predominately White Christian churches did not include Watch Night services on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs.
In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of linking religious services with a secular holiday like New Year’s Eve.
However, there is a reason for the importance of New Year’s Eve services in African American congregations.
The Watch Night Services in Black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings on December 31, 1862, also known as “Freedom’s Eve.”
On that night, Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation actually had become law.
Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863, and all slaves in the Confederate States were declared legally free.
When the news was received, there were prayers, shouts and songs of joy as people fell to their knees and thanked God.
Black folks have gathered in churches annually on New Year’s Eve ever since, praising God for bringing us safely through another year.
It’s been 145 years since that first Freedom’s Eve and many of us were never taught the African American history of Watch Night, but tradition still brings us together at this time every year to celebrate
“how we got over.”
PS- Pass this information on so we can educate more of our Family and Friends about African American History!
Wow – as an Australian, born in England, I had never heard of Night Watch! I really love the many different ways we’ve developed all over the world to celebrate and show our respect and gratitude for the moments of positive change; and I get what you’re saying about tribes, Iyabo.
However, I believe we can choose to change our tribe when our tribe no longer feels ‘right’ to us. I’m very proud to be an Australian. We live in one of the best countries in the world. We have the only constitution in the world which was written by the people (our drafters were elected to their committee positions). Most of us are laid-back, with a ‘fair go’ attitude that wants to see everyone thrive.
But the behaviour of some of my Aussie tribe over the past decade or so has made me rethink to what extent I feel that I belong. We’ve shown appalling mistreatment of refugees. Our nation was founded on dislocation and – sometimes – genocide of the original inhabitants. And we turn a blind eye to racism in all kinds of ways (though it is no longer government policy, I’m glad to say!). It’s hard to be loyal to a version of my nation which chooses to be exclusive instead of inclusive.
And that makes me realise that I struggle to understand the concept of a tribe based on national boundaries. My tribe extends to folks from all over the world, thanks to the Internet, and I have friends I’ve made online who are closer than anyone in the town where I live. And I’m just fine with that!
No doubt some Aussies reading this would tell me I’m no longer welcome in their tribe. Well, that’s okay too. I have a good strong tribe full of Aussie mates alongside my overseas mates. There is more than enough love to go around!!
Iyabo, as far as I’m concerned you’re a member of my tribe and you can be an honorary Aussie too, if you like
Jannette, I absolutely believe in choosing your own tribe. It is important to do this as an act of emancipation.
I love what you wrote about Australians mistreating refugees.
It is the same issue in the United States.
The Pilgrims came to the United States and basically took this land from Native Americans. Now, with immigration issues, we want to exclude Mexican nationals from this country who are here illegally. In all fairness, the exclusion is towards all illegal aliens but the overwhelming majority seem to be Mexicans. Yet, parts of this country were taken from Mexico.
Anyhow!
We as humans, love to exclude those that do not fit into the tribe. I consider the tribe more about inclusion rather than exclusion.
Hugs to you my dear friend. I accept being an honorary Aussie. I do wnat to come visit someday soon.
Iyabo
Iyabo,
What a wonderful history lesson! I did not grow up in the traditional “black church,” and did not know of this tradition — much less it’s powerful historical context. I love how this opens up an entirely new way of looking at and anticipating the New Year, if we choose to embrace it (or any tradition!)
Tshombe´s last blog ..How to avoid kinking up your gratitude vibe
Thank you Tshombe, I appreciate you!
I love how this kind of information gives us a different perspective.
Hugs,
Iyabo
hi,
the interesting thing about watch night church service on the African continent is that it is not exclusive to Christians alone.
everyone including Muslims, animists(the whole works) all flock into church to usher in the new year in an atmosphere of prayer.
i have seen gangs battling for turf break off the fighting, run into church for the benediction and after the bell is tolled and people are congratulating each other return the next hour to continue.
though the watch night is now observed globally ,the one unique feature of the African watch night is that prayers are always started 10 minutes to crossover and the new year begins in the middle of the prayers.
we pray as one tribe first , say see you next year and return to our past wars, divisions but that,s us.
we start the year in prayer and end it in prayer.
Thank you for that Banji. We do understand religious tolerance in Nigeria don’t we? Even with all the fighting, at some point, all that stops and we still know God.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving us a comment.
Iyabo
I actually grew up in the black church and all the way up until I was 18 I spent every New Year’s at church; however, I never knew the history behind it, thanks for this!
Thank you for dropping by!