Celebrating Christmas, Part II
Thanks to those who sent in comments about how they celebrate Christmas during the actual Christmas season! Like I said in my previous post, I think it would be great if all Christians threw off the retail sales-imposed calender. Sure, there are those people who might look at you funny if you play Christmas carols during January, or give gifts on Epiphany, but the more of us who allow ourselves to be guided by the Church instead of the Retailers, the better (after all, let’s remember that one insitution is infallible and one wants you to believe that the styles of the 80’s are making a comeback.)
Father Paul wrote:
The Mexicans already have a custom called “Las Posadas”. They start a novena before Christmas, going from home to home each night, with children dressed as Mary and Joseph looking for an Inn with room – with prayers, processions, and singing. Then the host provides refreshments, piñatas and lots of fun.
I plan on introducing this custom to my American parish this year.
I love this idea, most of all because it is a custom that is exciting for children (dressing up, singing, good food, etc.) that also involves the church praying together and witnessing in a way that would be very attractive to non-Catholic Christians (who are also celebrating Christmas, after all, and who wouldn’t be averse to a good party… in fact, this could be an excellent Ecumenical function!)
And while we are on this subject, am I the only one who would LOVE to have a good Eucharistic procession now and then? You know, the kind where people set up little altars adorned with flowers along the street, and there is a legion of altar boys, seminarians and priests with incense and banners and we all sing the Te Deum? (A lot like the end of the first act of the MET’s prodction of ‘Tosca’ in other words.) Everyone dressed beautifully, with children in costumes of saints who were known to be especially devoted to our Eucharistic Lord, and people carrying pictures of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts?
An idea that I think has great merit is the one proposed by Eric Johnson: Decorate your tree on Christmas Eve, and keep it up through Epiphany. I get my Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, like many people, but this year I will leave it bare until Christmas Eve; almost like the tree is anticipating, during Advent, the coming of the birth of Christ. For those with children, I think this would be a wonderful symbol. Another reader proposed decorating the tree on Gaudate Sunday, which is also very fitting, and helps, along with the lighting of the pink candle on the Advent wreath, to teach young children about a special day on the Liturgical calender.
Of course, no Catholic household is complete with out a creche, or Nativity Scene. A wonderful idea I read about in Catholic Faith & Family was to set up the stable on the first day of Advent, and add a piece each day. Children usually love to play with manger scenes (a fact that many designers of creches understand, I think, because they often cast the figurines in sturdy resin!) Of course, the infant Jesus is added on Christmas Eve. Then, on December 26th, the three wise men can start their journey from the next room, moving a bit each day until they arrive at the stable on Epiphany.
The heretofore mentioned Advent wreath is a tradition that is still alive and well. Most parishes sell them, and you will notice that even your local grocery store runs out of pink and purple candles in December. You can get beautiful wreaths from the Catholic Wholesalers Catholic Direct.
Please keep adding your suggestions to the comment lists, or email me about what it is you and your family does to celebrate Christmas all season long!