Hi, D.C. —
It arose sometime after Vatican II.
The document Eucharisticum Mysterium [Adoremus][CatholicLiturgy.com] from May 25, 1967 addresses the topic in paragraph 28:
"Where permission has been granted by the Apostolic See to fulfill the Sunday obligation on the preceding Saturday evening, pastors should explain the meaning of this permission carefully to the faithful and should ensure that the significance of Sunday is not thereby obscured. The purpose of this concession is in fact to enable the Christians of today to celebrate more easily the day of the resurrection of the Lord."
This seems to suggest that permission had already been granted. Precisely which date, I'm not sure. I believe it was phased in over time.
Eric
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