There’s no more Advent season anymore- just Christmas. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, it’s the Christmas season, not Advent, that is all across America.
However, I believe we lose a big chunk of what it means to celebrate Christmas by skipping the Advent season.
“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Reasons we should celebrate Advent:
- It reminds us what we’re celebrating, namely Jesus. It isn’t Santa Claus and reindeer, but Jesus and the coming of the Messiah.
- You lose out on the anticipation and preparation. The Jews waited 4,000 years for the Messiah (and some are still waiting) and we can wait 4 weeks after Thanksgiving to celebrate him as well.
- There’s a rich heritage and many traditions tied to the Advent season that enrich one’s understanding of the culture they live in.
Just what I needed on this morning! Thank you for your insight! Having said that I have a little push back… preparing for Christmas causes me personally a great deal of stress (mom hat). In order for me to be fully present on Christmas Day I have found if I’m fully ready a week before, I can destress and enjoy every moment of this beautiful holiday!
One thought that I am going to ponder is extending the celebration! I have a tendency to stop celebrating way too soon!
In the meantime podcasts like this one will allow my mind to prepare for Jesus birth!
I know it’s hard, especially for moms. We found some ways to do it that were easy though when I was a kid.
We’d leave Jesus out of the nativity scene until Christmas. And ours had the three wisemen so I’d move them closer after Jesus was born until the epiphany when they finally arrive. Advent wreaths and calendars are another way to let kids get involved and realize that they’re waiting for Jesus to come.
Plus, St. Nicholas Day is a great one to celebrate so you can explain who Santa really is.
As for us, a little fasting or extra prayer can help.
I’m glad you enjoyed this episode! Keep the feedback coming- I like to hear what listeners are thinking.