What happens at the beginning and end of a Holy Year?

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The Holy Year (or Year of Jubilee) begins with the pope opening the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Christmas Eve (December 24), followed by the Holy Doors of the three other papal basilicas in Rome. These openings are typically staggered so that the opening at the fourth basilica takes place on the Vigil of Epiphany (January 5). The Holy Year ends with the closing of the doors at St. Peter’s on the following year’s Epiphany (January 6).