The Advent Season,
which began for us on November 15/28, is a time for anticipating the "Good
News" of the Lord's Birth. As with all things in life, Scripture reminds
us that we must be careful of being "in the world, but not of the
world". This is especially true of the celebration of Christmas. Many
lament that the stores are decorated for Christmas from the end of October - an
example of the over-stressing and "early-stressing" of this great
Christian Holy Day. But what do we do in our homes? I have noticed that on the
Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving, people begin to put up their
decorations and turn on their Christmas lights and trees.
Our Orthodox Advent
tradition gives us some guidelines of which many of us perhaps are not aware.
Within this 40-day preparation period, a slow progression of events and
remembrances unfolds. This is seen in the general attitude, hymnology, prayers,
and fasting practices which begin to intensify on the Feast of St. Nicholas
(December 6/19), and progress through the feasts of St. Spyridon (December
12/25), St. Daniel (December 17/30) and St. Ignatios (December 20/Jan-uary 2).
The latter is specifically called "the day of preparation". What do
you think this tells us?
Add to this the tradition
of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" that begins on Christmas Day, and
runs to January 5/18, the day before Theophany, the next great feast. The 'food
fast' is most intense on the 12 days preceding December 25/January 7, and there
is no fasting on the 12 days after Christmas, not on Wednesday or Friday!
Again, what do you think this tells us?
It is interesting
to note that historically we do not have an exact date of Jesus' birth. The
date of His Nativity was specifically selected by the early Church to coincide
with the pagan celebrations held in late December. They were rather riotous and
foolish in nature, not becoming of a follower of Christ. Thus this date had a
dual purpose: (1) to mark the Lord's coming to earth in human form, and (2) to
do it at a time which would help defeat an attitude and lifestyle which went
against the Lord's teachings. The early Church leaders knew that these
Christians struggled with the temptation to return to their former ways. Once
again, what would you think this tells us? The Orthodox tradition is clearly
not to "pre-celebrate" Christmas, but rather to withhold the
celebration until the designated time. Once it arrives, we are to celebrate it
joyously, not with over riotous activity as did the pagans. Some 40 or 50 years
ago here in America, people decorated their Christmas trees on Christmas Eve.
Slowly, through the influence of merchants and media, we started to put up our
decorations and trees earlier and earlier each year. As a result, we take them
down earlier and earlier, not waiting for the Theophany observances of January
5-7 [January 18-20], which are specifically part of the 12-day cycle beginning
on Christmas.
Every year there
are more and more parties held during the height of the Christmas Fast, instead
of during the festive period of December 25-January 5 [January 7-18]. On the
day after Christmas we hear people say that Christmas is over, and the
Christmas trees are out on the curb. Since they have pre-decorated and
pre-celebrated and feasted, in their minds "it's over", when really
it should just be beginning.
I offer the
following practical applications of our Orthodox theology and practice:
- Do decorate, but don't pre-decorate. Use
the December 6-20 [December 19-January 2] guide as a starting point.
- Do celebrate, but don't pre-celebrate. Use
the December 25-January 5 [January 7-18] time frame for your festivities.
The Scriptures
instruct us: "In all things be not like the pagans, but rather calm,
joyful in praise and giving of love to glorify Christ who came for us."
Since we Christians are called to be "in the world, but not of the
world", we are to transform the world and not have the secular world
transform us. Secularism has crept into our Christmas observances. It is up to
us as individuals to purify the celebration. This begins with our families, our
households, doing the more proper and fitting things and teaching others to do
likewise by example. I urge you to plan for a Christmas observance that will
hold true to our Orthodox view and pattern for celebration.
By Fr. Andrew George,
taken from “Orthodox Family Life”
Source: http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/xmas/precele.htm
CONVERSATION