A.A. Milne's Vespers A.A. Milne's "Vespers" is a profound religious poetry. Christopher Robin's nighttime ritual and prayers are depicted. "Vespers" is one of Milne's numerous poems that feature characters from his Winnie-the-Pooh books. It was first published in 1969. Here is how the beginning of Vespers sounds: "When evening had come, then would Christopher Robin go out into the woods again with his bear friend Piglet to say his vespers." The word "vespers" is derived from the Latin word vigilia which means "night watch". So, "vespers" are those who say their prayers at night. In Christianity, vespers refers to the prayer service held between 5 p.m. and midnight on weekdays and all day on weekends. On holy days and during certain seasons of the year, the vespers service is held at different times. For example, when the sun is not down yet, Christians say their evening prayers; this is when they say their vespers. In Catholicism, vespers is the name given to the prayer said by Catholics throughout the world at 6 p.m. (local time) on weekdays and at 7 p.m. on weekends and holy days.