Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV Historical Roots and Theological Foundations One of the beautiful and sometimes misunderstood traditions of the Catholic Church is the celebration of the *eve* of certain solemnities, such as Christmas Eve, Easter Vigil, and the vigil of major feasts. For many Catholics, the celebration on the night before appears almost as important as the feast day itself. This practice is not accidental, nor is it merely cultural. It is deeply rooted in history, Sacred Scripture, and the Church’s theological understanding of time, worship, and salvation. The Biblical Understanding of Time: “Evening Came, and Morning Followed” The foundation of celebrating a feast from its eve is found first in Sacred Scripture. In the Book of Genesis, the rhythm of creation is described repeatedly with the phrase: Evening came, and morning followed” (Genesis 1). In the biblical worldview, a day does not begin at midnight, as in modern civil reckoning, but at sunset. This Jewish unders...