AUSTIN, Texas — It’s standing room only at churches around the world on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day during midnight mass.

  • Millions celebrate Christmas at midnight mass around the world
  • It's an annual tradition for many families

“Midnight mass is very special to me because that’s when Jesus was born, or supposedly when the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced that Jesus was on his way,” Mary Cruz, an Austin-area churchgoer said.

It’s an annual tradition for many families, including Cruz’s.

“I remember as a child them bringing us to mass, especially at midnight, so this is something that’s been going back many many years for us,” Cruz said.

“Even though we’re really tired, we still enjoy it, and usually my whole family comes out, it’s great,” 13-year-old Ema Avila said.

Those who stay up get to experience a special service.

“The liturgy during midnight is actually a little bit different. There is the solemn proclamation of the birth of Jesus, usually sung by a deacon, I'm going to sing it,” Deacon Karl Romkema of St. Ignatius in Austin said, “It actually maps out the history, the exact history, of when Jesus was born… and it's this beautiful song, this beautiful story that grounds the story of the birth of Jesus right in the actual historical time frame. And that for me is so beautiful because we are people who live in time and have stories and lives of our own, and our lord Jesus also had a real life and story that he shares with us. There are also other hymns and songs that we don't hear for the rest of the year... which really come alive a lot more when it's dark, everything is just lit by candles. The atmosphere and the ambiance is much more reminiscent of the first Christmas."