Don’t you hate when one light goes out and they all go out? Me too, but I am not referring to any challenges like that. In centuries past and even in decades past, Christians celebrating Christmas led the culture in such celebrations. Christians celebrated Christmas on December 25th, so the culture celebrated Christmas on December 25th. Since then, things have flip-flopped. Now we have the culture leading many of us Christians in our celebrations. Here’s an example. Many are familiar with the carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. When Christians led the culture, Christmas was celebrated from Christmas Day on December 25th until Epiphany on January 6th. Now you would be lucky to hear a Christmas carol or find a decorated Christmas tree after New Years Day.
The shift probably happened because of secular commercialism. Christmas gift exchanges spur big business. I remember as a child, once Thanksgiving was over, everything was decorated for Christmas. Now it seems like once Halloween is over, Christmas decorations are everywhere at the beginning of November.
The Church still has a liturgical calendar that brings us these holidays; and this is where the challenges come in. This year Advent starts on December 2, the First Sunday of Advent. While we Christians are supposed to be focusing on a hopeful anticipation of the coming of Christ, the secular culture around us has him already wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in the manger. We even hear Old Testament readings at Mass during Advent. These remind us of the hopeful anticipation of the Jewish people for their longed-for Messiah.
While we Catholics are thinking about the communal Advent Penance Service at the Parish, our friends in the secular world are inviting us to Christmas parties in the middle of Advent. Isn’t it odd that very few people have Christmas parties in the Christmas Season?
During the beginning of Advent we Christians are supposed to be decorating things with the penitential color of violet and the Marian color of blue. Meanwhile, the secular world is already using the red of Santa Clause. So the challenge is: During Advent, especially the beginning, to decorate for Advent. Put out an Advent Wreath or a Jesse Tree. There are ample depictions on the internet. It looks similar to a Christmas tree but has symbols of the Old Testament genealogy of Jesus.
Since we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8th, during Advent, it is very proper to decorate things with Marian blue. This also celebrates the huge role of Mary in bringing us the Reason for the Season, Jesus Christ.
During the middle of Advent, on December 17, a shift occurs. This is a time to ratchet up our anticipation for the coming of the Messiah. On December 17th, the “O” Antiphons begin. You are already familiar with the “O” Antiphons from the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. There is one “O” Antiphon sung every day through December 23 at Vespers (Evening Prayer). This increased anticipation would warrant one to trim the Christmas tree even though some people still wait until December 23 or 24.
Finally, as the secular world forgets Christmas around the time of New Years, we Christians continue celebrating Christmas until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This year, the feast falls on January 13. In many places in Christendom, people will even leave Christmas trees and decorations up until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2, thus celebrating Christmas for a full 40 days. But Christmas trees past Groundhog Day; that would just be crazy.
Challenge 1: During Advent, decorate using an Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree, and the colors purple and blue.
Challenge 2: Wait until December 17 to put up a Christmas tree.
Challenge 3: Leave the Christmas tree up until the end of the Christmas season, Sunday, January 13, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Challenge for the hardcore: Leave Christmas trees and decorations up until February 2nd.
I LOVE THIS POST!!!!! This is something we have really focused on changing in our family for the past 2 years. We bought a little $5 two ft. high artificial evergreen tree at Big Lots and we use that for our Jesse Tree. It is awesome to read about a different person each day and see God's plan unfold through the lives of the people in the Old Testament, as it leads up to the birth of Jesus!! Last year, we went out as a family and chopped down our tree 2 days before Christmas and left it up until the Baptism of Our Lord!! It was awesome to know that we were following traditions of our faith how they were meant to be. Advent is a beautiful and very exciting time of year, don't "short change" your family by missing out on this exciting Church season and all it has to offer!!
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