Advent - Are we doing it right

[Philip_B]

The season of Advent marks the lead up the Christmas each year. Often described as being a 'little lent', using the colour purple and parish life is marked by study groups, and I wonder if we are doing the right thing with the season.

The Old Sarum rite of pre-conquest England used the deep ashen indigo of the night sky of the northern winter as the colour, punctuated on Gaudate (Rejoice) Sunday with rose and the promise of the day in the offing, but not quite here on the third Sunday of Advent.

The O Antiphons of the the last week of Advent, and probably best known in the hymn Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel are about expectation, about looking for the new day, about getting ready, it is about excitement and promise.

When Queen, the rock band, sang Are you ready, are you ready for this, are you hanging on the edge of your seat? maybe they were catching more of what Advent should be like for us, than it is.

 

[Mountainmike]

Is there an objective way to do it "right?"

Disregarding theology completely, people find spiritual connection in different ways.

I accept entirely that many christian congregations find connection with the lord in joyful singing: and I admire many of the southern US congregations for the way they put life and soul into that.

But it is not for me. I think I am a contemplative. In another age, I think I might have been a hermit or a cloistered religious.
I find spiritual connection in meditation and silence, in the places that Teresa of Avila (interior castles ) and John of the Cross (dark night of the soul) found it.
But imagery also helps remind me of those things on which I meditate, and there the colour purple helps remind that a new beginning is coming.

Whilst I love queen as entertainiment, if I must do religious music at all, I would much rather hear a salvation army brass band, gregorian chant, or such as Celtic Woman singing christmas songs, or panis angelicus, pie jesu.

The point I make is we are all different, and resonate to different things.

The season of Advent marks the lead up the Christmas each year. Often described as being a 'little lent', using the colour purple and parish life is marked by study groups, and I wonder if we are doing the right thing with the season.

The Old Sarum rite of pre-conquest England used the deep ashen indigo pf the night sky of the northern winter as the colour, punctuated on Gaudate (Rejoice) Sunday with rose and the promise of the day in the offing, but not quote here on the third Sunday of Advent.

The O Antiphons of the the last week of Advent, and probably best known in the hymn Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel are about expectation, about looking for the new day, about getting ready, it is about excitement and promise.

When Queen, the rock band, sang Are you ready, are you ready for this, are you hanging on the edge of your seat? maybe they were catching more of what Advent should be like for us, than it is.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yes, if it's about musical styles, I admit Queen does nothing for me and I'd much rather hear O Come O Come Emmanuel.

What has made the biggest impact on me though, was the idea of Advent altogether. I grew up in regular American culture, with a joyous "Christmas Season" beginning right after Thanksgiving, filled with hustle and bustle of decorating, if not much else. We did gifts but were not well off, so it wasn't much of a focus, and we also didn't do a lot of parties. But there were glistening stars, drawings of holiday things, singing lots of Christmas carols, and a fair share of cookies and treats. But this kind of thing, especially adding in shopping and parties, tends to build up to the point that by Christmas Day, many people are ready for it to be "over". I'll never forget spending Christmas with my sister one year, and seeing the stripped Christmas tree, forlorn and on the curb by the evening of Dec. 25.

Last year was the first time I kept our Church's Advent fast. I purposely waited until right before Christmas Day to do any decorating. And Christmas came in a way it never had before, and I understood the anticipation, and the glory of His birth, and rejoiced. Like my first Pascha, it was incredible.

I learned that the Advent season of anticipation was how the world had celebrated Christmas, until fairly recently. I'd heard little bits, like the tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, but I assumed it was a safety issue with live trees and candles. I also read of newcomers to the US being surprised to find there was no Advent.

I think we gave up something very significant and meaningful, in trade for a little extra merrymaking and glitter. And then the intense commercialization dealt the death blow.

I'm trying to figure out how to make a balance this year. Everyone else in my family has the typical approach, and I'm trying to make it significant for all of us.

 

[Mountainmike]

It is really hard trying to avoid all the commercialism, but we do try.

This time of year we order even more online, so we don't have to go out and see all the Christmas stuff. And our tree goes up only the week before!

One of the saddest things I saw as a visitor to someone's home a couple of years ago, was young kids given so many presents by well meaning but misguided relatives, they literally gave up unwrapping them, left them in a pile, and many they had unwrapped were never touched again,

But there's something about street brass bands playing Carols that I find very moving!

Yes, if it's about musical styles, I admit Queen does nothing for me and I'd much rather hear O Come O Come Emmanuel.

What has made the biggest impact on me though, was the idea of Advent altogether. I grew up in regular American culture, with a joyous "Christmas Season" beginning right after Thanksgiving, filled with hustle and bustle of decorating, if not much else. We did gifts but were not well off, so it wasn't much of a focus, and we also didn't do a lot of parties. But there were glistening stars, drawings of holiday things, singing lots of Christmas carols, and a fair share of cookies and treats. But this kind of thing, especially adding in shopping and parties, tends to build up to the point that by Christmas Day, many people are ready for it to be "over". I'll never forget spending Christmas with my sister one year, and seeing the stripped Christmas tree, forlorn and on the curb by the evening of Dec. 25.

Last year was the first time I kept our Church's Advent fast. I purposely waited until right before Christmas Day to do any decorating. And Christmas came in a way it never had before, and I understood the anticipation, and the glory of His birth, and rejoiced. Like my first Pascha, it was incredible.

I learned that the Advent season of anticipation was how the world had celebrated Christmas, until fairly recently. I'd heard little bits, like the tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, but I assumed it was a safety issue with live trees and candles. I also read of newcomers to the US being surprised to find there was no Advent.

I think we gave up something very significant and meaningful, in trade for a little extra merrymaking and glitter. And then the intense commercialization dealt the death blow.

I'm trying to figure out how to make a balance this year. Everyone else in my family has the typical approach, and I'm trying to make it significant for all of us.

 

[~Anastasia~]

My daughter's second Christmas - Lord forgive me I tried to spoil her, maybe making up for my own childhood in my mind, but thankfully I did not succeed - have you ever seen a child in the store being offered a toy by their mother and saying "no, thank you, I don't need it, I have enough toys"? I can recall only two toys in her entire childhood she actually asked me for in the store.

Anyway, I bought her so many gifts, she unwrapped one and immediately wanted to play with it, and watch someone else open a gift, or give another toy to the cat ... she didn't finish unwrapping them all on Christmas. It just wasn't her priority. I helped her finish the next day.

But I suppose though it's the same scenario, at least part of the story is different, not due to any credit of my own.

(I'm glad that only lasted a few years!)

 

[Mountainmike]

Lovely anecdote.
The child is a credit to you! And a blessing from our Lord!

My daughter's second Christmas - Lord forgive me I tried to spoil her, maybe making up for my own childhood in my mind, but thankfully I did not succeed - have you ever seen a child in the store being offered a toy by their mother and saying "no, thank you, I don't need it, I have enough toys"? I can recall only two toys in her entire childhood she actually asked me for in the store.

Anyway, I bought her so many gifts, she unwrapped one and immediately wanted to play with it, and watch someone else open a gift, or give another toy to the cat ... she didn't finish unwrapping them all on Christmas. It just wasn't her priority. I helped her finish the next day.

But I suppose though it's the same scenario, at least part of the story is different, not due to any credit of my own.

(I'm glad that only lasted a few years!)

 

[~Anastasia~]

Lovely anecdote.
The child is a credit to you! And a blessing from our Lord!

Well, I did the best I could, but I made a mountain of mistakes. She is a blessing from the Lord though!

 

[ViaCrucis]

Yes, if it's about musical styles, I admit Queen does nothing for me and I'd much rather hear O Come O Come Emmanuel.

What has made the biggest impact on me though, was the idea of Advent altogether. I grew up in regular American culture, with a joyous "Christmas Season" beginning right after Thanksgiving, filled with hustle and bustle of decorating, if not much else. We did gifts but were not well off, so it wasn't much of a focus, and we also didn't do a lot of parties. But there were glistening stars, drawings of holiday things, singing lots of Christmas carols, and a fair share of cookies and treats. But this kind of thing, especially adding in shopping and parties, tends to build up to the point that by Christmas Day, many people are ready for it to be "over". I'll never forget spending Christmas with my sister one year, and seeing the stripped Christmas tree, forlorn and on the curb by the evening of Dec. 25.

Last year was the first time I kept our Church's Advent fast. I purposely waited until right before Christmas Day to do any decorating. And Christmas came in a way it never had before, and I understood the anticipation, and the glory of His birth, and rejoiced. Like my first Pascha, it was incredible.

I learned that the Advent season of anticipation was how the world had celebrated Christmas, until fairly recently. I'd heard little bits, like the tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, but I assumed it was a safety issue with live trees and candles. I also read of newcomers to the US being surprised to find there was no Advent.

I think we gave up something very significant and meaningful, in trade for a little extra merrymaking and glitter. And then the intense commercialization dealt the death blow.

I'm trying to figure out how to make a balance this year. Everyone else in my family has the typical approach, and I'm trying to make it significant for all of us.

Long before I was actually Lutheran I made it an effort to put the observance of Advent a thing. I really didn't know much, I didn't know what sorts of prayers there were or specifically what sorts of Scripture readings were appropriate; but I went ahead and got a wreath and some candles. And every Sunday in Advent that first year I would in the evening dim or turn off all the lights and light the number of candles of which Sunday in Advent. I read Scripture from the Prophets, from the visitation narratives in Matthew and Luke, and prayed the O Antiphons as I found them online.

I completely ignored the Christmas hype train, very intentionally, and insisted on ignoring Christmas music, but did let myself listen to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

There was a completely different feeling. It was hope. I tried to put myself into the perspective of the ancient Prophets who looked forward to the coming of Israel's salvation in the Messiah, in the joyous news delivered to the blessed mother of God that she would bear the Christ Child. And it placed me in a place of reflecting on myself, and my own hope in His return. That our precious hope in this Holy One of Israel is that justice shall flow like a river throughout the earth, there is good news to all men, for all nations.

When Christmas morning came, there was something fundamentally new about it. And I wanted to carry Christmas with me.

There is Light amid the darkness, there is Hope amid the despair, there is Peace within the storm. His name is Jesus. Emmanuel. Our God is with us.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[~Anastasia~]

Long before I was actually Lutheran I made it an effort to put the observance of Advent a thing. I really didn't know much, I didn't know what sorts of prayers there were or specifically what sorts of Scripture readings were appropriate; but I went ahead and got a wreath and some candles. And every Sunday in Advent that first year I would in the evening dim or turn off all the lights and light the number of candles of which Sunday in Advent. I read Scripture from the Prophets, from the visitation narratives in Matthew and Luke, and prayed the O Antiphons as I found them online.

I completely ignored the Christmas hype train, very intentionally, and insisted on ignoring Christmas music, but did let myself listen to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

There was a completely different feeling. It was hope. I tried to put myself into the perspective of the ancient Prophets who looked forward to the coming of Israel's salvation in the Messiah, in the joyous news delivered to the blessed mother of God that she would bear the Christ Child. And it placed me in a place of reflecting on myself, and my own hope in His return. That our precious hope in this Holy One of Israel is that justice shall flow like a river throughout the earth, there is good news to all men, for all nations.

When Christmas morning came, there was something fundamentally new about it. And I wanted to carry Christmas with me.

There is Light amid the darkness, there is Hope amid the despair, there is Peace within the storm. His name is Jesus. Emmanuel. Our God is with us.

-CryptoLutheran

That's beautiful.

I'm not very familiar with some of the traditions you mention, but I do think there are many beautiful expressions that help put us in this frame of mind. I'm glad you set out to discover and experience those, and thank you for sharing your experiences.

I'd like to find more ways to incorporate such observances and experience that mindset more and more myself.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Philip_B]

​

Wishing everyone a Holy Advent Season. The last part of Advent is marked by the O Antiphons, Which are here, in Advent Blue of Old Sarum. I hope it helps mark this season of expectation for you. May none of us lose that sense of eager anticipation.

 

[Paidiske]

I find it very hard, even in the parish, to keep Advent from being pre-Christmas rather than a season in its own right. Partly because there is so much build up and preparation for Christmas things.

For myself I find fasting through Advent useful. It helps to counteract the commercialism, which otherwise I can find overwhelming to the point of sensory overload in the shopping centres.

 

[Shane R]

I too have returned to the Marian blue in my home advent wreath. This separates the fast from lent in my mind. They are fundamentally different, as advent continuously builds to a peak, whereas lent builds to a precipitous crash at Good Friday, to be redeemed by Easter. On Christmas Eve, we have the service of nine lessons and carols (probably my favorite service of the year), whereas Holy Week offers us the stripping of the altar (or at least a veiling).

My marriage has enriched my appreciation of this time of the year as well. My wife is Puerto Rican, and for them, much of what Americans do to celebrate Christmas is transferred to Epiphany - Dia de los tres Reyes Magos. This serves to push the seasonal climax back so that we actually think of and recognize Christmas in terms of a twelve day period.

 

[All4Christ]

Anyone know the reason why the Eastern Rites uses Red for Advent vs the Blue used in the Western Rites?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Anyone know the reason why the Eastern Rites use Red for Advent vs the Blue used in the Western Rites?

I was wondering that too.

 

[Philip_B]

 

[All4Christ]

We sing Christ is Born for the first time on the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (last week)...We don't sing this entire canon, but we do sing this refrain. Enjoy a taste of what is soon to come!

 

[Arcangl86]

Anyone know the reason why the Eastern Rites uses Red for Advent vs the Blue used in the Western Rites?

And it's not even all of the Western Rites that use blue. The Romans and at least in the US many Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans use purple.

 

[Philip_B]

And it's not even all of the Western Rites that use blue. The Romans and at least in the US many Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans use purple.

The ashen indigo blue as I understand it is a colour that was used in Old Sarum (pre-conquest England) so it would be more true to say that the colour used by Churches in the Western Rites is Purple, save for some eccentric quirky Anglicans who want to retain some connection with our history (if their are others I don't know about, pardon my lack of awareness). The reason why I raised it was because it differentiates Advent from Lent, which I think is not without merit.

 

[Arcangl86]

The ashen indigo blue as I understand it is a colour that was used in Old Sarum (pre-conquest England) so it would be more true to say that the colour used by Churches in the Western Rites is Purple, save for some eccentric quirky Anglicans who want to retain some connection with our history (if their are others I don't know about, pardon my lack of awareness). The reason why I raised it was because it differentiates Advent from Lent, which I think is not without merit.

It's used by some Lutherans as well, and my understanding is that blue was actually fairly common in most of north Europe.

 

[graceandpeace]

There are different traditions surrounding Advent. I don't know that any of them are wrong.

In my Episcopal Church & in my home, we use 3 blue candles & 1 pink. The blue is associated with Mary & with hope, anticipation.

It is difficult, especially with kids, to distinguish Advent & Christmas. Our culture considers Advent to be the same as Christmas - or at least the anticipation of Christmas. We participate in holiday festivities, but I still stress that Advent is preparing our hearts to celebrate Christmas/Jesus. I talk about it, we light the candles...but I think it will always be a balancing act.