Christmas Mass for Dummies

Attending Christmas Eve Mass is a time-honored tradition in Germany. So much so, that on this one day of the year, normally empty churches are suddenly packed to overflowing with people jostling for a seat. It would therefore not be amiss to suggest that most people at Christmas Mass are not regular church-goers, and as such, not overly familiar with the proper procedure.

But never fear, help is at hand, just in time for this Christmas Eve. Germany's Protestant press service, the Evangelische Pressedienst (epd), has published a handbook of 10 Golden Rules to ensure that any once-a-year worshiper can survive Christmas Mass unscathed.

At the top of the epd's list of rules: No mobile phones! And seriously, is there anything more mortifying than your freshly downloaded "Jingle Bells" ringtone reverberating through the church in a moment of quiet prayer? Be prepared to live without your cell for about an hour, the epd advises.

Navigating holy water and hymns

Church attendees who wind up in a Catholic house of worship may be puzzled about the little dish of water at the entrance. Why is everyone putting their fingers in it, and then touching their head, chest and shoulders? Don't panic. It's holy water, and Catholics use it to bless themselves with the sign of the cross when they enter. According to the epd, you can follow suit, but you don't have to.

Rule three deals with singing. In some churches, you'll be handed a hymnal at the entrance. The numbers on the board next to the altar indicate which hymns are meant to be sung throughout the service. If the tune is unfamiliar, or you feel uncomfortable singing in public, don't worry. Just sing along quietly or keep silent.

Assuming you arrive at the church early enough, you may have a choice of seating -- for some, a conundrum in itself. The epd's guide reassuringly informs you that you may sit wherever you like without your pew-mates wondering what business you have being in their church.

Please don't clap when it's over

But getting a seat is just the first hurdle. All through the service, you will notice people around you at times sitting, standing, or kneeling. How do they know when to do what? What if you give yourself away as a novice by standing when everyone else kneels? Slow down, says the fifth rule. Watch the people around you, and do the same as they do.

The sixth rule is all about the sermon. It usually lasts about 15 minutes and refers to a passage in the Bible. Please don't clap when it's over. You can always discuss the sermon with the priest afterwards.

Other useful advice included in the Golden Rules concerns the collection basket. You got into Christmas Mass for free, so don't skimp when the basket comes your way as the proceeds generally go to a good cause.

Once you've made it this far, you're practically home free. But how do you recognize when the service has come to an end? Watch for the blessing, the epd advises. Sometimes, you may hear organ music. Just stay seated and listen. Then, it's polite to wish your neighbor a Merry Christmas.