Some years ago I was having coffee with a friend in a family restaurant in town. In the background was the oh so familiar tune of Jingle Bells playing slightly louder than was comfortable. “Oh what fun it is to ride . . . “ This was followed by that new classic of recent years, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. . .“Oh Rock’n around the Christmas tree at the Christmas Party Hop …”
Somehow my ”holiday spirit” sank pretty low. Why do they do that to us? Why do they start the Christmas music five weeks too early and play it at a volume that is at least as loud as “Are You Ready For Some Football?” on Monday nights?
We get hooked. It’s one of a kind music and fresh every year . . . for awhile.
Did you know the Church encourages us to avoid flagrant displays of Christmas prior to Christmas? Rather, she encourages us to enter into that beautiful and subtle season we know as Advent. (You remember “subtle”, right? Webster says it’s “keen, acute, discriminating. Not dense or heavy. Penetrating, delicately skillful.”) “Subtle” points to something coming but not here yet. It helps us to learn how to wait.
Advent is subtle. It gets us ready for Christmas. It builds expectation and longing. It makes us hungry for the feast day. It builds a tension that wants to celebrate what is to come. The world would rather have Christmas without the wait or the tension. Sort of like the fancy cake before the quiet potatoes. Ever get sick of Christmas before Christmas?
How can we keep the proper order? Advent first, then Christmas? Here are some suggestions . . . and I mean suggestions. Each family has to make their own decisions here but I think you’ll see my point:
- Christmas carols were written as prayers and statements of faith. Save the big ones (Joy to the World, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Today our Savior is Born, Wish you a Merry Christmas, etc.) for Christmas.
- Decorate for Advent. The Advent Wreath, colors of Purple and Rose.
- Christmas Parties? Sure. But remember they’re only a warmup for the Feast.
- Keep Santa sightings to a minimum. And those Christmas Specials on TV . Do you really like those? They tend to be big and over the top as they encourage us to heights of joy none of us can achieve.
- If you hear the words “holly, jolly”, run away!
- It’s okay that you don’t find the “perfect” gift and it probably won’t be “the best Christmas of all”. God comes to us in Jesus Christ; what more do we need?
- Advent is a season for Hope. Christmas is a season for Joy. Advent first . . . then Christmas.
Okay, here we go . . . let’s start waiting.
Bless you,
Fr. Tim
PS. Oh, by the way, Christmas is celebrated for three weeks!! All the more reason to not be sick of Christmas before Christmas. I hope these beautiful Advent Days help you to be ready to really celebrate the birth of our Savior.
