A novena (from Latin: novem, “nine”) is an ancient tradition of devotional praying in Christianity, consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days or weeks. The nine days between the Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples gathered in the upper room and devote themselves to prayer, is often considered to be the “birth” of the practice of praying for nice successive days before a feast, or for a cause.

Incarnate Word Sisters in the United States have the tradition of praying the “Christmas Novena.”

The Christmas novena was composed by an Italian priest, Rev. Charles Vachetta, C.M., in 1721, for his parish in Turin, Italy. He wanted his parishioners to understand the intertwining of the Old and New Testaments that together tell the story of salvation – to see for themselves the love of God unfold from the beginning of time and for all eternity.  Most of the material comes from the Old Testament prophecies and the Psalms referring to the promised Redeemer. The novena’s primary components are the Opening Responsory (dialogue), the prophecies, Psalm/canticle (Let the Heavens Be Glad), Scripture Reading, Magnificat with Daily “O” Antiphon and Closing Prayer.

The Christmas novena begins on December 16, nine days before Christmas, and ends on Christmas Eve.

Obtained from https://www.ccvichapel.org/post/novena