Christmas Eve is the longest
day in the monastery year, starting pretty much as normal
and not stopping till after the Midnight Mass around
2.00 a.m.!
It
is all hands on deck for the sanctuary carpets and vestments.
Meanwhile unseen hands have been preparing the crib, this
year with a tartan theme. At Downside we make a new crib
for the Epiphany. The figures were hand carved in Northen
Italy in the Dolomite village of Ortisei.
Christmas Day
filled the church with light if not warmth.
