Wait, wait, not yet!
As I write this article on the Monday before Christmas, I am nostalgic about how my family celebrated the Christmas holiday when I was a boy. In the Roman Catholic Church at that time (and in the Episcopal Church, as well), Advent was a penitential season, and Christmas began at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, which really started at 12:00 AM on December 25. My memory tells me that December 24th was a day of partial abstinence from meat (except for seafood), which is why, in the Polish tradition, we had a “Wigilia” (pronounced vee-GHEE-lee-yah), or “Vigil” meal before Christmas. That meal was festive, a kind of glorified “fish fry” with seven courses, although it featured no other meat and no dessert. “Why no dessert?” you might ask. That’s because it wasn’t “Christmas” until December 25th. After the Midnight Mass, we went to our Aunt Helen’s house, where we had a simple meal with lots of desserts! After that rather unhealthy late-night meal, we returned to our home where, after some last-minute gift wrapping, we managed to get about four hours of sleep.
Happily, the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Churches have adapted to celebrate Christmas Eve Services on the actual “eve” of Christmas, after sunset on December 24th. So, we don’t need to wait until midnight to have a festive meal celebrating Jesus’ birthday! However, I’ve noticed a “sea change” regarding the observance of time in our culture over the past few years, which has some negative repercussions.
For instance, when people like my mother “bought” Christmas presents before the holiday, she made a deposit for the item with the store and made periodic payments until the item was completely paid up; then she could take the item home. With the increasing availability of credit cards, people can now “pay” for their goods, receive their items, and then make periodic payment AFTER their purchase.
In the Church, Advent was, and is, the season before Christmas, preparing us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday and his Second Coming at the end of time. The “three big feasts” of the Church –Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost – had a period of preparation (i.e., Advent, Lent, the nine-day “Novena to the Holy Spirit” between the Feast of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven and the Day of Pentecost, respectively). They also had an extended period of celebration. In the revised calendar of the Church, Pentecost is now rightly seen as the end and culmination of the Easter Season, and as such, does not need a prolonged period of celebration. (The Church, however, celebrates a prolonged “Season AFTER Pentecost,” which is the longest season of the Church Year.)
So, the Church Seasons of Christmas and Easter still have extended days for us to celebrate these sacred events of Jesus’ birth and resurrection. Easter has 50 days of celebration, from Easter Eve/Day through the Day of Pentecost, inclusive. And Christmas has 12 days of Celebration, called the “Twelve Days of Christmas” (Remember the song?), starting on Christmas Eve/Day and ending on January 5th (“Twelfth night”), the day before the Feast of Epiphany (“Three Kings”).
I realize that, because we are a more global society with family members sometimes not living in close proximity to their relatives, “Christmas” needs to be celebrated on days other than Dec. 24/25 in order to accommodate people’s schedules. That being said, I heartily endorse the practice that my family had when I was younger – visiting one another during the Christian “12 Days of Christmas,” from December 24th through January 6th, and inviting those who have no family members nearby to dinner at our homes.
Many of us Christians have been influenced by the culture that encourages us to buy, buy, buy, (and celebrate) until “Christmas is over” on Dec. 25th. SO, wait, wait! If you have a Christmas tree, is it still up (if it’s not a fire hazard yet)? If so, why not keep it up until January 6th (or if it’s a real tree, when it’s no longer safe)? Is your Advent Wreath still in your home? If that’s the case, light all FIVE candles, including the center white “Christ candle” through January 6th (greenery permitting). How about our Christmas decorations? Please keep your nonperishable ones up through Jan. 6th or the Sunday after. Why? Because when some of the Christian world are saying “Put baby Jesus back in the box until next year!”, we are telling the people around us that “Jesus is STILL HERE!” – loving us and caring for us through the Holy Spirit and one another.
I know that we can’t bring back some of the good things that commercialism has taken away. But we can make a difference! Hopefully, by our celebrating the “12 Days” in a festive manner, we can recall the fact that we can’t box up Jesus! HE IS HERE TO STAY! And he calls each of us who receives the gift of Himself to share that gift, not only during the 12 Days of Christmas, but for the rest of our lives.
Blessed and merry “Twelve Days of Christmas” to you and yours, in Christ!
-Father Jim
P.S. Thank you to those of you who have sent Christmas cards to us! For the past two years, we have joined our daughter and son-in-law in using the money we spend on Christmas cards to donate to an area nonprofit organization.
Thank you also for your prayers for my wife, Sandy. And thank you to those of you who offered meals for us after her back surgery in September! Although she recovered from that surgery, she is still recuperating from and being treated for lymphedema in her calves. Currently, she uses a walker to assist her walking in the house and uses a wheelchair for transportation. I would ask that you pray, or continue to pray, for Sandy’s full recovery. Sandy and I cherish your prayers!