THAT Christmas is a high point in the Christian calendar requires no explanation - 'Jesus is the reason for the season,' as the saying goes.
Yet like every other facet of life upended by Covid-19 during the past nine months, the traditional Christian celebrations that accompany Advent and find their focus on Christmas Day and the birth of Jesus look and feel very different this year.
Nativity scenes and Christmas trees may be present but congregations will be smaller, thanks to social distancing measures and caps on the numbers who can be safely accommodated in a church building.
They'll be quieter, too. Congregational singing has been generally discouraged since churches were allowed to reopen in the summer in the wake of the spring lockdown. Carols are a much-loved Christmas highlight for many, but where they do happen they'll be muffled by face coverings - bringing a new dimension to Silent Night, if nothing else.
Each church building is different, so there is no 'one size fits all' approach, but roped off pews, widely spaced chairs, one-way systems and stewards to oversee seating, movement and cleaning are among the features of worship in the second half of 2020, along with hand sanitising stations and perspex screens.
Many churches operate a ticket-type system, were one needs to apply online or by telephone to secure a place. This keeps numbers safe and facilitates contact tracing.
It means that should you turn up without a ticket, you likely won't be able to go into the church - a Covid-era twist on 'no room at the inn'.
Churches embraced online worship with alacrity when lockdown was introduced, adopting YouTube, Zoom, Facebook and webcams with the same sort of enthusiasm that earlier generations greeted the printing press and radio.
Many continued with their digital offerings when public worship resumed - and relied upon them during the recent 'circuit breaker' - and are encouraging people to participate in Christmas celebrations from their homes.
In the Catholic Church, for example, the obligation to attend Mass in person during Christmas has been suspended, an echo of what happened at Easter when churches were closed altogether.
"We strongly encourage the faithful to keep Christ at the centre of Christmas this year," said the Catholic bishops in a Christmas message.
"Clearly it will be impossible for our usual large congregations to assemble for Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
"Christmas Masses will also be widely available over webcam and we strongly encourage families to 'tune in' from the 'domestic churches' of their living rooms and join with those who are gathering in their local churches in welcoming the birth of the Christ-child."
Should you turn up without a ticket, you likely won't be able to go into the church - a Covid-era twist on 'no room at the inn'
The Church has developed resources to support online Advent and Christmas worship.
"The season of Christmas is a season of celebration, but this year it is essential that we celebrate safely," said Fr Eddie McGee, spokesman for the Diocese of Down and Connor. Its measures are typical of those being taken across Ireland.
"Normally at Christmas time large numbers of people wish to attend Mass.
"This year, however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our churches simply cannot accommodate such crowds if we are to ensure the health and safety of all and conform to Public Health Agency guidance and NI Executive legislation."
Down and Connor is holding some public Masses throughout the diocese "with restricted numbers following social distancing measures and places booked in advance".
"It is, however, likely that most parishioners and families will celebrate Christmas Mass at home, joining their local parish via online streaming services such as webcam," said Fr McGee.
This approach is being adopted across Ireland, with details of which parishes are celebrated public Mass and which are online available on diocesan websites.
Parishes have shown remarkable imagination in their Christmas events.
One of the most inventive was on Friday evening when the Church of Ireland parishes of Trory and Killadeas in Fermanagh held a drive-in 'Carols by Runway Lights' concert.
St Michael's, Trory is situated at the end of the runway of St Angelo airport, which is also the site of a Covid testing centre.
A programme of music, interspersed with bible readings, was broadcast to up to 500 people parked on the runway in their cars.
St Patrick's Cathedral Parish in Armagh will be another to add a drive-in dimension to its Christmas celebrations.
It is holding ticket-only drive-in Masses in the car park of CBS Primary School in the city on Christmas Eve.
These will be something to "make this a Christmas to remember", said parish administrator Fr Peter McAnenly.
"It will be completely safe because people must remain in their cars," he said.
"We're encourage all families and young people in our parish to attend the drive-in Masses."
The Cathedral will be also hosting an online 'A Family Christmas' event tomorrow from 7.30pm.
It will be led by Archbishop Eamon Martin, with Karl McGuckin, Eilis Fox and Malachi Cush.
A similar event earlier this year was watched by more than 80,000 people; another example of how Covid-19, in forcing change upon churches, is also opening up new ways of reaching larger congregations than ever.
