Blue Christmas Service

A Blue Christmas service recognizes the loss and loneliness that can be felt during the holidays due to death, disease, poverty, or abuse. It is a service that specifically enables individuals to experience their grief, as well as express what they are feeling, so they can find a sense of calm and hope. While some churches have foregone this kind of service, many churches choose to hold space for those grieving during the holidays. In Western Christian tradition, a Blue Christmas service has been called the Longest Sleep and was sometimes held on the longest night of the year, or winter solstice.